Muck, Scotland
| Scottish Gaelic name | |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | "sea pig", from Gaelic muc, "pig", a short form of muc-mhara, "whale". |
| Location | |
| OS grid reference | NM408794 |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Small Isles |
| Area | 559 ha (2.2 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 70 [1] |
| Highest elevation | Beinn Airein 137 m (449 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Highland |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 30 |
| Population rank | 60 [1] |
| Largest settlement | Port Mòr |
 | |
| References | [2][3][4][5] |
Muck (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean nam Muc, pronounced [ˈelan nə ˈmuʰk]) is the smallest of four main islands in the Small Isles, part of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It measures roughly 2.5 miles (4 km) east to west and has a population of around 30, mostly living near the harbour at Port Mòr. The other settlement on the island is the farm at Gallanach. The island's only road, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length connects the two.
History
Photo: David Crocker
A causeway and slipway were built at Port Mòr in 2005. This allows vehicles to be driven on and off the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry, MV Lochnevis, which links Muck and its neighbouring Small Isles of Canna, Rùm and Eigg, with the mainland port of Mallaig (2 1/2 hours away). However, visitors are not normally permitted to bring vehicles to the Small Isles. During the summer months the islands are also served by Arisaig Marine's ferry MV Sheerwater from Arisaig, 10 miles south of Mallaig.
The island's main hill is Beinn Airein (137m). Muck is also known for its seal population, and for the porpoises in the surrounding waters. The name may derive from the Gaelic word for porpoise. An earlier owner, who disliked the name, attempted to persuade Samuel Johnson and James Boswell that the authentic name was Isle of Monk.
Muck's main landowner is currently Colin MacEwan, who was the successor of his father Lawrence MacEwan, and Muck is ownership to the MacEwans whose family have owned the island since 1896.[3] The island has an hotel known as Port Mor House.[6] and is featured in the the on-line newspaper the West Word.[7]
Population
The current population of Muck is 46, and will soon be reduced to 40, due to the departure of the Murray-John family. Their has been advertisement in News Papers trying to pursuade people to come and live on Muck and raise the population. After the family leave their will be only three pupils left in the School (including the nursery). The pupil amount will soon be raised to five when two new pupils go into nursery, one of which will be Jasper Fichner-Irvin, grandson of Lawrence MacEwan.
Landownership
| Predecessing Landlord | Current Landlord | Successing Landlord |
|---|---|---|
| Lawrence MacEwan | Colin MacEwan | Unknown, possibly Archie Fichner-Irvin (nephew to Colin MacEwan) |
Youth of Muck
The youth of Muck is aproximately 12, and will soon be reduced to 8 with the departure of the Murray-John Family, later this year, who have four children...Hooraaaayyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
References
- ^ a b Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ a b Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. pp. 132–4. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ Iain Mac an Tailleir. "Placenames" (PDF). Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved 2007-07-28.
- ^ "Isle of Muck" road-to-the-isles.org.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "West Word" road-to-the-isles.org.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
External links
56°50′3″N 6°14′56″W / 56.83417°N 6.24889°W
Inhabited islands of the Hebrides | ||
|---|---|---|
| Inner Hebrides |  | |
| Outer Hebrides | ||
