title: Soa, Tiree
text: # Soa, Tiree
  
  Soa is an uninhabited tidal island off the coast of Tiree, to the south of the settlement of Ruaig.
  
  At low tide it is joined to mainland Tiree by a sand tombolo and numerous rocky outcrops. The largest of the rock platforms, Carsamull is itself a little island at high tide.
  
  Soa is not populated and probably never was on a permanent basis, but a former building has been identified on the south-eastern limb (Eilean an Triogh)
  
  There is also a track which runs along the northern coast of Soa.
  
  Statistics: (Areas calculated based MHWS contour using Magic.defra)
  
  Soa - Area 24.9 hectares (62 acres) - High point c.12m (40')
  
  Carsamull - Area 2.1 hectares (5.2 acres) (only rises to a few metres/feet)
  
  At low tide the area of rocky land separated from the mainland by sand and incorporating Soa, Carsamull and other rocky outcrops more than doubles to c. 58 hectares (140 acres)
  
  ## History
  
  The name "Soa" is Old Norse and means "sheep island".
  
  