Bernera Island
Scottish Gaelic nameBeàrnaraigh
Meaning of nameBjørn's island, from Norse
The eastern shore opposite Achadun Castle
The eastern shore opposite Achadun Castle
Location
Bernera Island is located in Argyll and Bute
Bernera Island
Bernera Island
Bernera Island shown within Argyll and Bute
OS grid referenceNM794393
Coordinates56°29′N 5°35′W / 56.49°N 5.58°W / 56.49; -5.58
Physical geography
Island groupMull
Area34 ha (1⁄8 sq mi)[1]
Highest elevation58 m (190 ft)
Administration
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Council areaArgyll and Bute
Demographics
Population0
Lymphad
References[2][3][4]

Bernera Island[5] (Scottish Gaelic: Beàrnaraigh) or simply Bernera is a tidal island off Lismore, in Argyll, Scotland.

History

In the 6th century, Bernera was settled by monks of the Irish Culdee church under the leadership of St. Moluag.[6] St. Columba used the island as a private place for retreat, meditation and prayer, and may have preached under (and possibly planted) a vast yew tree.[6] It is reported that the wood was turned into a staircase for Lochnell Castle[3] at Ardmenhuis and survived at least two fires, which burned down the rest of the building.[6]

The island has the remains of an ancient chapel and burial ground.[7]

Natural history

The island is limestone and this reflected in the diversity of species found on the island.

Bernera Island is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest on the basis of its feature of limestone maritime cliffs along with the presence of the nationally scarce rock whitebeam.[8]

The common seal is a regular visitor to the coastal strip between the high and low water marks. This littoral zone forms part of the Eileanan agus Sgeirean Lios mòr Special Area of Conservation along with the nearby islets of Eilean na Cloich and Eilean Dubh in the Lynn of Lorn to the east and Dubh Sgeir and Eilean Gainimh in the Lynn of Morvern to the west.[9]

References

  1. ^ Rick Livingstone’s Tables of the Islands of Scotland (pdf) Argyll Yacht Charters. Retrieved 12 Dec 2011.
  2. ^ National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland's Inhabited Islands" (PDF). Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland Release 1C (Part Two) (PDF) (Report). SG/2013/126. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
  4. ^ Ordnance Survey. OS Maps Online (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure.
  5. ^ "Bernera Island". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "St. Columba's Yew, Bernera – a Miracle of Yew Regeneration". Ancient Yew Group. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  7. ^ "Bernera Island". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  8. ^ "Bernera Island Citation". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 5 September 2010.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Eileanan agus Sgeiran Lios mór Special Area of Conservation: Advice under Regulation 33(2) (2006) Scottish Natural Heritage.

56°29′40″N 5°35′0″W / 56.49444°N 5.58333°W / 56.49444; -5.58333


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