View source for Scarba

{{Short description|Island in Argyll and Bute, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Scottish island
|location_map=Scotland Argyll and Bute
|caption=Scarba shown within Argyll and Bute
|GridReference=NM690044
|coordinates = {{coord|56.177|-5.72|display=inline}}
|Image=Cruach Scarba - geograph.org.uk - 725175.jpg
|ImageCaption=Cruach Scarba
|celtic name=Sgarba
|gaelic pronunciation={{IPA|gd|ˈs̪kaɾapə||Sgarba.ogg}}
|norse name= Skarpoe
|meaning of name=  Old Norse for "sharp, stony, hilly terrain"
|area=  {{cvt|1474|ha|sqmi|frac=8}}
|area rank=39  
|highest elevation= Cruach Scarba {{cvt|449|m|ft|0}}
|Population=Not permanently inhabited since the 1960s
|population rank=
|main settlement=Kilmory Lodge
|island group=[[Islay]]
|local authority=[[Argyll and Bute]]
|references=<ref>{{NRS1C}}</ref><ref name=Smith>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 60</ref><ref>{{Ordnance Survey}}</ref>
}}

'''Scarba''' ({{langx|gd|Sgarba}}) is an island, in [[Argyll and Bute]], Scotland, just north of the much larger island of [[Jura, Scotland|Jura]].  The island has not been permanently inhabited since the 1960s.<ref name=Smith/>  

Until his death in 2013 it was owned by [[Richard Hill, 7th Baron Sandys]]; its owner now is Shane Cadzow who farms [[Luing cattle]] on the nearby island of [[Luing]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://whoownsscotland.org.uk/property-map/ | title=Property Map &#124; Who Owns Scotland }}</ref> and [[grazing|grazes]] some of the cattle on Scarba.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.incheochfarm.co.uk/2020/08/26/lorem-ipsum-dolor-sit-amet-consectetur-adipiscing-elit/ | title=The 'In Thing' is Luing | date=26 August 2020 }}</ref>  Kilmory Lodge is used seasonally as a shooting lodge, the island having a flourishing herd of [[red deer]].

The island's name is from the [[Old Norse|Norse]] and may mean "sharp, stony, hilly terrain"<ref name=Smith/> or "cormorant island".<ref name=M104>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 104</ref>

==Description==
{{left|{{Infobox mountain
| name = Cruach Scarba
| other_name = ({{langx|gd|'Cruach Sgarba'}})
| photo = 
| photo_caption = 
| elevation_m = 449
| elevation_ref = 
| prominence_m = 449
| prominence_ref = 
| listing = [[Marilyn (hill)|Marilyn]]
| translation = Hill of Scarba
| language = [[Scottish Gaelic language|Gaelic]]
| pronunciation = {{Audio|CruachSgarba.ogg|ˈkʰɾuəx ˈs̪kaɾapə|lang}}
| location = [[Inner Hebrides]], [[Scotland]]
| range = 
| coordinates = 
| grid_ref_UK = NM690044
| topo = [[Ordnance Survey|OS]] ''Landranger'' 55
| type = 
| age = 
| last_eruption = 
| first_ascent = 
| easiest_route = 
}}}}

Scarba is not served by any public ferries, but access from [[Craobh Haven]] or [[Crinan, Argyll and Bute|Crinan Harbour]] is possible by arrangement with local boatmen. The rough summit ridge can be accessed from the harbour at the north end, from where a vehicle track leads up past Kilmory Lodge to a height of about 200 metres. After that, there are no paths or well defined routes, and the terrain becomes rough and boggy. The island rises steeply to a peak (Cruach Scarba) of {{convert|449|m|ft|0}}. A cylindrical [[triangulation point]] marks the highest of several summits, which are surrounded by several small [[lochs]].

{{clear left}}

== Geology ==
The western two-thirds of Scarba is formed from the [[Neoproterozoic]] aged coarse-grained [[quartzite]]s of the Jura Quartzite Formation ascribed to the Islay Subgroup of the [[Dalradian]] [[Argyll Group]]. Separated from these rocks by a north–south aligned [[fault (geology)|geological fault]], the bedrock of the eastern third is the Neoproterozoic Scarba Conglomerate Formation, and the subordinate Jura Slate Member belonging to the Easdale Subgroup of the Argyll Group. North-south aligned [[dike (geology)|dykes]] of [[amphibolite]] are found throughout the Jura Quartzite whilst [[lamprophyre]] dykes of [[Silurian|Siluro]]-[[Devonian]] age and [[basalt]] and micro-[[gabbro]] dykes forming part of the [[Palaeogene]] age ‘Mull Dyke Swarm’ cut through both the Quartzite in the west and the conglomerate in the east.

[[Raised beach|Raised marine deposits]] of sand and gravel occur on the northeast coast, a legacy of late [[Quaternary]] changes in relative sea-level. [[Peat]] deposits are common within the island's interior.<ref>{{cite web |title=Onshore Geoindex |url=https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html |website=British Geological Survey |publisher=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>

==Corryvreckan==
[[File:The Corryvreckan Whirlpool - geograph-2404815-by-Walter-Baxter.jpg|thumb|left|The whirlpool, with Scarba in the background]]
Between Scarba and Jura lies the [[Gulf of Corryvreckan]], known for its [[whirlpool]]. Writing in 1549, [[Donald Monro (Dean)|Dean Monro]] wrote of "Skarbay" that between it and "Duray": 
<blockquote>Ther runnes ane streame, above the power of all sailing and rowing, with infinite dangers, callit Corybrekan. This stream is aught myle lang, quhilk may not be hantit bot be certain tyds. This Skarbay is four myles lange from the west to the eist, and an myle breadth, ane high rough yle, inhabit and manurit, with some woods in it.<ref>Monro (1594) "Skarbay" No. 16</ref></blockquote>

Scarba and a few nearby islets ([[Lunga, Firth of Lorn|Lunga]] and [[Garvellachs|the Garvellachs]]) are collectively the [[Scarba, Lunga and the Garvellachs National Scenic Area]], one of [[National Scenic Area (Scotland)|40 such areas]] in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection by restricting certain forms of development.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/safeguarding-protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/national-designations/national-scenic-areas/|title=National Scenic Areas|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|access-date=2018-05-24}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Corryvreckan.jpg|The Corryvreckan whirlpool
File:Scarba1.JPG|The view from [[Luing]] looking towards Scarba
File:Scarba.jpg|Na h-Urrachann, Isle of Scarba, looking north towards the [[Slate Islands, Scotland|Slate Islands]]
File:Scarba-ridge.jpg|A view northwards along the summit ridge from a short distance north of the highest point
</gallery>

{{clear left}}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{Haswell-Smith}}
* {{Monro}}
* {{Gaelic Placenames}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Scarba}}

{{NSAs in Scotland}}
{{Argyll Islands}}
{{Hebrides (uninhabited)}}
{{Jura}}
{{Portal bar|United Kingdom|Scotland|Scottish Islands|Islands}}
{{coord|56.17607|-5.72324|type:landmark_region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(NM690044)|display=title}}

[[Category:Islands of the Inner Hebrides]]
[[Category:Uninhabited islands of Argyll and Bute]]
[[Category:National scenic areas of Scotland]]