Barra Head

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the Scottish island. For the Danish band, see Barra Head (band).
For other places with the same name, see Berneray.
Barra Head
Location
Barra Head (Scotland)
Barra Head
Barra Head
Barra Head shown within Scotland.
OS grid reference: NL553799
Names
Gaelic name: Ceann Bharraigh (Bearnaraigh)
Meaning of name: Head of the Isle of Barra (Bjorn's Island)
Area and Summit
Area: 204 ha
Area rank (Scottish islands): 108=
Highest elevation: Sotan 193 m
Population
Population (2001): 0


Groupings
Island Group: Uist and Barra
Local Authority: Outer Hebrides
Scotland
References: [1][2][3][4]
Puddles on the cliff tops of Mullach a' Lagain
Puddles on the cliff tops of Mullach a' Lagain

Barra Head, also known as Berneray, is the southernmost of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. Within the Outer Hebrides, it forms part of the Barra Isles archipelago.

Originally, Barra Head only referred to the southernmost headland of Berneray, on which its lighthouse is located, but is now the most common name for the entire island.

The lighthouse, built by Robert Stevenson, has operated since 1833. From 1931, the island was inhabited only by the lighthouse keepers and their wives. The lighthouse is now automated and the island completely uninhabited.[5]

[edit] Wildlife

Berneray is known for its large seabird colony and was designated a SSSI in 1993. The National Trust for Scotland have owned the island since 2000. They acquired it through a bequest by Miss J M Fawcitt in memory of her parents and brother.

The island is largely covered by maritime grassland, with some machair and heath. Barra Head and the neighbouring island of Mingulay form an important breeding site for around a hundred thousand pairs of seabirds, and are especially important for the Razorbill Alca torda, the two islands having at least 2.0% of the breeding population in 1985.[6] Other species present include auks, gulls, puffins, guillemots, Black-legged Kittiwakes, shags and fulmars. As such the islands are designated as a SSSI[7] and a Special Protection Area.[6]

[edit] Sotan

The highest point of the island is Sotan, a Marilyn.

Sotan
Elevation 193 m (633 ft)
Location Barra Isles, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Prominence 193 m
Coordinates 56°47′0″N 7°38′41″W / 56.78333, -7.64472
Topo map OS Landranger 31
OS grid reference NL553799
Listing Marilyn


[edit] External links

  1. ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
  2. ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543. 
  3. ^ Ordnance Survey. Get-a-map [map].
  4. ^ Iain Mac an Tailleir. Placenames. Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
  5. ^ Barra Head Lighthouse. Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved on 2008-01-06.
  6. ^ a b Mingulay and Berneray SPA. JNCC. Retrieved on 2008-01-06.
  7. ^ Mingulay, Berneray And Pabbay. NTS. Retrieved on 2008-01-06.
v • d • e
Barra Isles/Bishop's Isles (Outer Hebrides)

 · Berneray (Barra Head)  · Flodday  · Heishival Mòr  · Lingay  · Mingulay  · Muldoanich  · Pabbay  · Sandray  · Uineasan ·

Coordinates: 56°47′0″N 7°38′41″W / 56.78333, -7.64472

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