View source for Luing

{{Short description|Island in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Scottish island
|Image=LuingIsland.JPG
|ImageCaption=View from near Toberonochy, Luing
|location_map=Scotland Argyll and Bute
|caption=Luing shown within Argyll and Bute
|coordinates = {{coord|56.22829819|-5.64124049|display=inline}} 
|GridReference=NM740100
|celtic name= Luinn
|norse name=
|meaning of name=pre-Gaelic name of unclear meaning
|area= {{cvt|1430|ha|sqmi|frac=8}}
|area rank= 40
|highest elevation= Binneinn Furachail, {{cvt|87|m|ft|0}}
|Population=187<ref name=RESAS>{{RESAS}}</ref>
|population rank= 35=
|population density ={{cvt|11.5|PD/km2}}
|main settlement= [[Cullipool]]/Culapul
|island group=[[Slate Islands, Scotland|Slate Islands]] 
|local authority=[[Argyll and Bute]]
|references=<ref name=Smith>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 70</ref><ref name=OS55>{{cite map|title=Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 55 ''Lochgilphead & Loch Awe''|ISBN=9780319231227|publisher=Ordnance Survey|date=2011}}</ref>
<ref name=MacanT>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 83</ref>
}}
'''Luing''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɪ|ŋ}} {{respell|LING}}; {{langx|gd|Luinn}}) is one of the [[Slate Islands, Scotland|Slate Islands]], [[Firth of Lorn]], in the west of [[Argyll]] in [[Scotland]], about {{convert|16|mi|km}} south of [[Oban]]. The island has an area of {{convert|1430|ha|acre}} and is bounded by several small skerries and islets. It has a population of around 200 people, mostly living in [[Cullipool]], [[Toberonochy]] (''Tobar Dhonnchaidh''), and Blackmillbay.<ref name=Undis>{{cite web| url=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/luing/luing| title=Luing| publisher=Undiscovered Scotland| access-date=28 July 2007}}</ref>

== Geology ==
The larger part of the bedrock of Luing is provided by the [[Neoproterozoic]] age Easdale Slate Formation, a [[pyrites|pyritic]], [[graphite|graphitic]] [[pelite]] belonging to the Easdale Subgroup of the [[Dalradian]] [[Argyll Group]]. Thin bands of [[quartzite]] are also present. Zones of [[metamorphism|metamorphosed]] intrusive [[igneous rock]]s occur within the northeast of the island. Luing is cut by NE-SW aligned [[Silurian|Siluro]]-[[Devonian]] [[felsite]] [[dike (geology)|dykes]] and by numerous later NW-SE aligned [[basalt]] and micro[[gabbro]] dykes which form a part of the ‘Mull Swarm’ which is of early [[Palaeogene]] age.
[[Raised beach|Raised marine deposits]] of sand and gravel occur widely around the margins of the island, a legacy of late [[Quaternary]] changes in relative sea-level.<ref>{{cite web |title=Onshore Geoindex |url=https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html |website=British Geological Survey |access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Kilmartin, Scotland sheet 36, Bedrock and Superficial deposits |url=http://www.largeimages.bgs.ac.uk/iip/mapsportal.html?id=1002368 |website=BGS large map images |publisher=British Geological Survey |access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>

==Economy and culture==
A regular [[ferry]] service crosses the {{convert|200|m|ft|abbr=off|adj=mid|-wide}} [[Cuan Sound]] which separates Luing from the neighbouring island of [[Seil]], which is in turn connected by bridge to the mainland.<ref name=Undis/>

The main industries on Luing are [[tourism]], [[European lobster|lobster]] fishing and [[beef]] farming, although [[slate]] [[quarry]]ing was important until 1965,<ref name=Smith/> with quarries at Toberonochy, Cullipool, and a smaller one at Port Mary. Slate from Luing was used in the construction of the [[University of Glasgow]] and re-roofing of [[Iona Abbey]].

For such a small island, Luing has produced numerous [[Mod (Scotland)|mòd]] gold medallists: Nan MacInnes (1926, in [[Oban]]), Sandy Brown (1938, in [[Glasgow]]) and Hughie MacQueen (1985, in [[Lochaber]]).

[[Luing cattle]] were first developed here, as a commercial beef breed hardy enough to prosper under adverse weather.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.luingcattlesociety.co.uk/| publisher=Luing Cattle Society| title=Luing Cattle| access-date=2007-07-28}}</ref> They are a breed of red beef cattle, produced by the Cadzow family in 1947 from a cross between [[Beef Shorthorn]] and [[Highland cattle]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1521.html | title=Overview of Luing| publisher=[[Gazetteer for Scotland]]| access-date=2007-07-28}}</ref>
{{clear left}}

==Etymology==
According to Haswell-Smith (2004) the name "Luing" may derive from the [[Old Norse]] ''lyng'', meaning "heather" or ''long'' meaning ship.<ref name=Smith/> However, Mac an Tàilleir (2003) states "this is probably a pre-Gaelic name of unclear meaning."<ref name=MacanT/>

==History==
[[File:Kilchatton Church.jpg|thumb|left|Ruins of Kilchattan Church]]
In the early part of the Christian era Luing would have formed part of the Gaelic kingdom of [[Dalriada]]. From the 9th to 13th centuries almost all of the [[Hebrides]] came under the control of Norse settlers and formed part of the [[Kingdom of the Isles]]. However, when [[Edgar of Scotland]] signed a treaty with [[Magnus Barefoot]] in 1098, formally acknowledged the existing situation by giving up Scottish claims to the Hebrides and Kintyre, Luing and [[Lismore, Scotland|Lismore]] were retained by the Scots.<ref>Sellar (2000) p. 191</ref>

The graveyard at the ruined church of Kilchattan documents the lives of past islanders, with quarriers, sailors and crofters side by side. Gravestones of note include those of [[Covenanter]] Alexander Campbell.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.isleofluing.co.uk| title=Luing: Heritage| publisher=Isle of Luing Website| access-date=2007-07-28}}</ref>

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
{{Commons category|Luing}}

* {{Haswell-Smith}}
* {{Gaelic Placenames}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sellar |first=William David Hamilton |author-link=David Sellar |contribution=Hebridean sea kings: The successors of Somerled, 1164–1316 |title=Alba: Celtic Scotland in the middle ages |editor1-last=Cowan |editor1-first=Edward J. |editor1-link=Edward J. Cowan |editor2-last=McDonald |editor2-first=Russell Andrew |year=2000 |publisher=Tuckwell Press |isbn=978-1-86232-151-9 }}
{{Slate Islands}}
{{Hebrides}}
{{Islands of Scotland}}
{{Portal bar|Scotland}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|56|13|45|N|5|38|44|W|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Luing}}
[[Category:Luing| ]]
[[Category:Slate Islands]]
[[Category:Islands of Argyll and Bute]]