Island Davaar facts for kids
| Gaelic name | Eilean Dà Bhàrr |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | "Barr's island" |
 Davaar Island and Lighthouse |
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| OS grid reference | NR760200 |
| Coordinates | 55°25′N 5°32′W / 55.42°N 5.54°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Firth of Clyde |
| Area | 52 ha |
| Area rank | 198 |
| Highest elevation | 115 m |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Argyll and Bute |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
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Davaar Island is a small, interesting island located in Scotland. You can find it at the entrance of Campbeltown Loch, which is off the eastern coast of Kintyre. It's part of Argyll and Bute, a region in Scotland.
What makes Davaar special is that it's a tidal island. This means it's connected to the mainland by a natural path of pebbles and stones. This path is called the Dhorlin. You can walk across it from Campbeltown when the tide is low. The walk usually takes about 40 minutes.
The island was once known as "Sanct Barre's island" between 1449 and 1508. The name "Davaar" comes from an older name, "Do Bharre," which means "thy St Barre." Some people also think the name means "Double-pointed Island."
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Davaar Lighthouse
A tall lighthouse was built on the north side of Davaar Island in 1854. It was designed by two famous lighthouse engineers, David and Thomas Stevenson. This lighthouse helped guide ships safely into Campbeltown Loch.
The lighthouse became automatic in 1983, meaning it no longer needed people to operate it all the time. Today, a few caretakers live on Davaar Island. You might also spot sheep, goats, and mink living there.
The Lookout Building
Close to the lighthouse, there's a square building called The Lookout. This building was important during World War II. It was used by naval crews whose job was to stretch special nets across the water. These nets helped protect Campbeltown from enemy submarines. Today, The Lookout is rented out as a holiday home for visitors.
The Famous Cave Painting
Davaar Island is also famous for its seven caves. One of these caves holds a very special secret: a life-sized cave painting. This painting shows the crucifixion, a scene from the Bible.
A local artist named Archibald MacKinnon painted it in 1887. He said he had a dream that told him to create the painting. When people in the nearby town first saw it, they thought it was a sign from God! But when they found out MacKinnon had painted it, he was asked to leave the town for a long time.
The painting has been fixed up many times over the years. Archibald MacKinnon himself restored it twice. Sadly, in 2006, someone damaged the painting by drawing over it. Luckily, it has been restored again and can still be seen today.
Walking to Davaar Island
Davaar Island is one of 43 tidal islands in Great Britain that you can walk to from the mainland. It's also one of 17 such islands that you can reach from the Scottish mainland. If you want to stay longer, there are two cottages on the island that you can rent for holidays.
Images for kids
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Davaar Island and Lighthouse
See also
In Spanish: Isla Davaar para niños
