The Bishop's Isles, also known as the Barra Isles, are a small archipelago in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. They lie south of the island of Barra, from which their alternate name originates. The group consists of nine islands and numerous rocky islets, skerries, and sea stacks.
In 1427, the Lords of the Isles awarded the lairdship of Barra (and its associated islands) to Clan MacNeil of Barra. However, after acts of piracy by the MacNeils, King James VI transferred ownership of the southern archipelago to the Bishop of the Isles, hence the islands became known as the Bishop's Isles.Murray, W.H. (1966) The Hebrides. London. Heinemann. p. 230 Murray writes that they belonged "to the Bishop of the Isles de jure although to MacNeil de facto".
Many of the islands are extremely small; only the largest, Vatersay – which is now linked by the Vatersay Causeway to Barra – remains inhabited. Berneray (also known as Barra Head), Pabbay, Sandray and Mingulay have been inhabited in the past. The four smallest named islands are Flodday, Lingay, Muldoanich and Uineasan.
The Bishop's Isles are featured in several Viking sagas.
In addition to the larger islands there are various smaller islets, stacks and skerries. Biruaslum is a stack to the west of Vatersay. It reaches in height and there is a ruined prehistoric fort on the southern side. Francis G. Thompson describes it as "high and virtually inaccessible";Francis G. Thompson, The Uists and Barra (David and Charles, 1974), 168 James Fisher mentions a "fulmar flying up and down its tiny cliff."James Fisher, Rockall: The Islet of Birds 114.
+List of the Bishop's Isles (roughly north to south)NameAlternativenameArea(ha)Position inrelation toVatersayVatersayBhatarsaigh960—MuldoanichMaol Dòmhnaich785 km EUineasan—~50 km EFloddayFlodaigh234 km SWSandraySanndraigh3854 km SLingayLingeigh278 km SWPabbayPabaigh25010 km SSWMingulayMiùghlaigh64014 km SSWBernerayBeàrnaraigh20416 km SSW
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