Cairn na Burgh Mòr & Beag (Treshnish Isles)

3D Model

Rising from the Atlantic, the twin isles of Cairn na Burgh Mòr and Cairn na Burgh Beag are among the most striking in the Treshnish archipelago. Their sheer basalt cliffs and flat summits made them natural strongholds, shaping their role in Scotland’s turbulent past. Unlike the softer, low-lying islands nearby, these rocky outposts were well-suited for defense, evidenced by medieval fortifications and later military use.

Cairn na Burgh Mòr holds the ruins of a castle linked to the MacLeans of Duart and a small medieval chapel. Cairn na Burgh Beag, though smaller, shares a similar history. Both islands were strategic sites in clan conflicts and Jacobite uprisings, offering refuge and resistance.

Today, these fortress-like isles stand abandoned, their histories carved into crumbling walls and weathered stone. As part of the Treshnish Isles, they remain untouched by modern development, a haven for seabirds and a testament to Scotland’s island past.