List of islands called Linga explained

There are several islands called Linga, or similar names, in Scotland. "Linga", in the Northern Isles, and sometimes "Lingay" and "Lingeigh" in the Hebrides, is a common name for an island, and occurs most frequently in Shetland. It is derived from the old Norse lyngey meaning 'heather island'. The Scottish Gaelic equivalent is Eilean Fraoch or Fraoch Eilean.

Shetland

Linga, Bluemull Sound (near Gutcher and Yell)
- - - - Linga, Busta Voe Linga, Scalloway Islands Hogg of Linga Linga, Vaila Sound
Linga (near Vementry)
Linga, Yell Sound
- Linga Skerries
Off Whalsay
- West Linga
  - - - Calf of Linga, West Linga Little Linga Calf of Little Linga
- East Linga
  - - Calf of Linga, East Linga Linga Skerries in South Nesting Bay off Mainland, Shetland
Urie Lingey off Fetlar

Orkney

Off Stronsay
- Linga Holm (off St Catherine's Bay)
- Little Linga, Stronsay (off Links Ness)
Off Auskerry
- Linga Skerries

Hebrides

Lingay, Fiaray north of Barra and west of Eriskay
Lingay, Killegray south east of Killegray in the Sound of Harris
Lingeigh in the Bishop's Isles, south of Barra
Lingay, Wiay off Benbecula
Langay or Langaigh, an islet north of Lingay, Killegray and east of Killegray in the Sound of Harris
Lingay Fhada north of Fuiay and Barra, and south west of Hellisay
Garbh Lingay also north of Fuiay and Barra, and south west of Hellisay
Lingeam (from Norse "Lyng Holm")
Lingeigh, North Uist south east of Boreray

Similar names

There are also a number of Scottish islands with similar names, including:

Langa, Shetland, off Hildasay, Shetland
Longa, near Gairloch in Wester Ross
Longa Skerry, off West Linga, Shetland
Longay off Skye
Luing in the Slate Islands
Luinn, (the Gaelic for Luing)
Lunga, Treshnish Isles off Mull
Lunga, Firth of Lorn in the Slate Islands, Argyll
Lunna Holm off Yell, Shetland

References

Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.