Bac Mòr is a Scottish island, one of the

Treshnish Isles The Treshnish Isles are an archipelago of small islands and skerries, lying west of the Isle of Mull, in Scotland. They are part of the Inner Hebrides. Trips to the Treshnish Isles operate from Ulva Ferry, Tobermory, Ardnamurchan and Tiree. Geo ...

, sometimes referred to as The Dutchman's Cap in English because of its shape.

Origin of name

The

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

name has more than one possible interpretation. Although ''Mòr'' clearly means "large" (as opposed to Bac Beag, its smaller sister), the word ''Bac'' can mean either a "bank", or an "obstacle" or "hindrance". The island's profile is one of the more distinctive amongst the

Scottish Islands This is a list of islands of Scotland, the mainland of which is part of the island of Great Britain. Also included are various other related tables and lists. The definition of an offshore island used in this list is "land that is surrounded by ...

Geology

Fratercula arctica and Uria aalge -Scotland-8

Bac Mòr is of ancient volcanic origin, and the peak in the middle is a former cone. The low-lying plain surrounding it is a glassy lava field. The remains of summer sheilings have been found on the island, suggesting that it was inhabited at one time, even though it has no safe landing places.

Wildlife

The

, which are uninhabited today, are owned by a charity, the

Hebridean Trust The Hebrides (; gd, Innse Gall, ; non, Suðreyjar, "southern isles") are an archipelago off the west coast of the Scottish mainland. The islands fall into two main groups, based on their proximity to the mainland: the Inner and Outer Hebri ...

. They have been collectively designated as a

Site of Special Scientific Interest A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Great Britain or an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle of ...

and a

Special Protection Area A Special Protection Area (SPA) is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union (EU) have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and cert ...

, due to their importance for breeding seabirds. The islands are also home to a number of wildflowers.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bac Mor Treshnish Isles Special Protection Areas in Scotland Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Mull, Coll and Tiree Special Areas of Conservation in Scotland Uninhabited islands of Argyll and Bute