Risga Explained

Location Map:Scotland Highland
Caption:Risga shown within Highland
Coordinates:56.6708°N -5.9017°W
Gridreference:NM6105760026
Area:12ha[1]
Highest Elevation:43m[2]
Population:0
Island Group:Inner Hebrides
Local Authority:Highland

Risga is an uninhabited[2] island in between Càrna and Oronsay, in the centre of Loch Sunart,[3] about 800yd from the north shore,[4] in the council area of Highland, Scotland. Its area is 12ha[1] and its highest elevation is 43m (141feet).[2] In 1950, over 50 pairs of Lesser black-backed gull were recorded.[5] The island is included in the grounds of Glenborrodale Castle[6] and is part of Sunart SSSI.[7] Ross Rock is located about 200yd from Risga.[8] Risga has at least 60 crotagans along the east coast, used for fishing.[9] Risga is a rocky island.[10]

History

The name "Risga" is Norse[11] and includes the Old Norse word for island.[12] In 1920–21 some Mesolithic materials were recovered during the excavation of a kitchen. They are now in the Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.[1] There is a shell midden, a scheduled monument that is at least 30by, which is visible as a grass-covered mound.[13] The shell heap is on top of a raised beach, similar to those at Oronsay.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Risga, Loch Sunart. Canmore. 10 October 2018.
  2. Web site: Risga. Gazetteer for Scotland. 10 October 2018.
  3. Book: The Scottish Islands: The Bestselling Guide to Every Scottish Island. Hamish Haswell-Smith. 128. 5 February 2019. 9781782116783. 2015.
  4. Web site: Sailing Directions for the West Coast of Scotland: Mull of Galloway to Cape Wrath Including the Hebrides. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1951. 10 October 2018.
  5. Web site: Atlantic Seabirds: Quarterly Journal of the Seabird Group and of the Dutch Seabird Group, Volumes 1-4. Seabird Group, 1999. 10 October 2018. 1999.
  6. Web site: Glenborrodale Castle. Bell Ingram. 10 October 2018. 2 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190202042301/http://bellingram.reapitcloud.com/belrps/pdf.php?p=OBN160181. dead.
  7. Web site: Loch Sunart. Forestry Commission Scotland. 17 December 2018.
  8. Web site: Sailing Directions for the West Coast of Scotland: Mull of Galloway to Cape Wrath Including the Hebrides. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1951. 10 October 2018. 1951.
  9. Web site: Bait Hole(S). Canmore. 30 November 2018.
  10. Web site: OS1/2/61/99. ScotlandPlaces. 5 February 2019.
  11. Web site: The place-names of Argyll. Electric Scotland. 10 October 2018.
  12. Web site: Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, Volume 54. Inverness Gaelic Society. 21 October 2018. 1987.
  13. Web site: Risga. Glasgow Museums Collections Online. 10 October 2018.
  14. Book: The Irish Stone Age: Its Chronology, Development & Relationships. Rhinns of Galloway, Wigtownshire. 27 January 2019. 9781001408668. 1942.

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