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Davaar Island

Island
Davaar Island
Photo: Michael Earnshaw, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Original Geograph photograph · Report the wrong picture

What is recorded here

Davaar is a tidal island guarding Campbeltown Loch, reached across the Dhorlin causeway at low water. A lighthouse began work in 1854, strengthening navigation into the busy harbour. In 1887 local art teacher Archibald MacKinnon painted a Crucifixion inside a sea cave; initial anger gave way to acceptance, and…

Read the whole record

Davaar is a tidal island guarding Campbeltown Loch, reached across the Dhorlin causeway at low water. A lighthouse began work in 1854, strengthening navigation into the busy harbour. In 1887 local art teacher Archibald MacKinnon painted a Crucifixion inside a sea cave; initial anger gave way to acceptance, and repeated restoration made the hidden image an unusual place of pilgrimage.

How it formed

Rock, ice and tides shaped the island and its shingle causeway, which the sea covers at high water and exposes again as the tide falls.

People and events

Lighthouse keepers served from 1854, Archibald MacKinnon painted the cave Crucifixion in 1887 and later hands repeatedly restored it.

Local stories

Islanders first suspected a miraculous image, then learned its maker's identity; the painting nevertheless retained a strong sacred pull.

What can be seen

The lighthouse, keepers' houses, tidal Dhorlin, caves, paths and restored Crucifixion painting remain around the island.

Why it mattered

Davaar mattered because navigation, tidal access and an unexpected work of popular religious art created a distinct Campbeltown landmark.

Sources for this account

Sources checked 16 August 2026.

From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors) r10323151

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Photo credits
  • Steve Partridge, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Calum McRoberts, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Alpin Stewart, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Colin Kinnear, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Gordon Brown, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Johnny Durnan, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Richard Webb, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Bob Jones, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Derek Tootill, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
  • James Emmans, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Rose and Trev Clough, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Island DavaarBuilding · 267 ydIsland Davaar, CaveCave, Mural (19th Century) · 461 ydIsland Davaar, Davaar LighthouseLighthouse (19th Century) · 499 ydKildalloig BayBay · 725 ydCatherine: Macringan's Point, Campbeltown Loch, Firth of ClydeKetch (20th Century) · 1177 ydCampbeltown LochBay · 1.1 miBaraskomillDun (later Prehistoric) · 1.2 miCampbeltownNo Class (event) · 1.2 miKilkerran CemeteryCemetery · 2.0 miKnock RuanMountain / peak · 2.1 miFox: Old Quay, Campbeltown Harbour, Kintyre, Firth of ClydeSmack (19th Century) · 2.2 miLinda McCartney MemorialMemorial · 2.3 mi

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