Skip to content
Benbecula
EntityQ755739· pop 35· linked from 267 articles

Also known as Beinn na Faoghla

Benbecula ( ; or ) is an island of the Outer Hebrides in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Scotland. In the 2022 census it had a resident population of 1,255 including a sizable percentage of Roman Catholics. It is in a zone administered by or the Western Isles Council. The island is about from west to east and a similar distance from north to south. It lies between the islands of North Uist and South Uist and is connected to both by road causeways. Benbecula's main settlement and administrative centre is Balivanich (Scottish Gaelic: ''Baile a' Mhanaich'', meaning "Town of the Monk").

Key facts

Scottish island.GridReference
NF807525
Scottish island.location_map
Scotland Outer Hebrides
Scottish island.caption
Isle of Benbecula shown within the Outer Hebrides
Scottish island.meaning of name
hill of the fords
Scottish island.area rank
16
Scottish island.highest elevation
Ruabhal,
Scottish island.Population
1,255
Scottish island.population rank
11
Scottish island.main settlement
Balivanich
Scottish island.island group
Uist and Barra
Scottish island.Image
Aird, Benbecula - geograph.org.uk - 3163152.jpg

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Population
1219
Area
82.3
Elevation
124
Image
Benbecula Beach.jpg
Show 2 more facts
Commons category
Benbecula
Sources (3)

via Wikidata · CC0

~20 min read

Article

24 sections
Contents
  • Language
  • Etymology
  • Current language use
  • Geology
  • Geography
  • Climate
  • Settlements
  • Nearby islands
  • History
  • Early history
  • Kingdom
  • Lordship
  • Lairdship
  • Tenancy
  • Refuge
  • Eviction
  • Modern island life
  • Community buy-out
  • Mythology
  • See also
  • Notes
  • References
  • Bibliography
  • External links

Benbecula ( ; or ) is an island of the Outer Hebrides in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Scotland. In the 2022 census it had a resident population of 1,255 including a sizable percentage of Roman Catholics. It is in a zone administered by or the Western Isles Council. The island is about from west to east and a similar distance from north to south. It lies between the islands of North Uist and South Uist and is connected to both by road causeways. Benbecula's main settlement and administrative centre is Balivanich (Scottish Gaelic: ''Baile a' Mhanaich, meaning "Town of the Monk").

In 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie was caught in a storm and forced to land on Benbecula. The population of Benbecula were sympathetic to the Jacobite cause, and smuggled him off the island to safety, as the song has it: "over the sea to Skye".

Gallery (20)

On the map

3 mapped locations

Connections

Categories