Eilean nan Ròn

Island known for grey seals in Highland, Scotland, UK

Not to be confused with Eilean an Ròin Mòr or Eilean nan Ròn off Oronsay, Inner Hebrides.

Eilean nan RònScottish Gaelic name| Eilean nan Ròn

|

Meaning of name| island of the seals
Location

Eilean nan Ròn

Eilean nan Ròn shown within Highland Scotland

OS grid reference| NC637656
Coordinates| 58°33′N 4°20′W﻿ / ﻿58.55°N 4.34°W﻿ / 58.55; -4.34
Physical geography
Island group| Highland / Islands of Sutherland
Area| 138 hectares (9⁄16 sq mi)
Area rank| 129= [1]
Highest elevation| Cnoc an Loisgein, 76 m (249 ft)
Administration
Council area| Highland Council
Country| Scotland
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Demographics
Population| 0
References| [2][3]

Eilean nan Ròn (Scottish Gaelic: island of the seals) is an island near Skerray, in the north of Sutherland, Scotland.[4] An estimated 350 seal pups are born here annually.

Yacht moored in Port na h-Uaille, Eilean nan Ròn.

## History

[edit]

Eilean nan Ròn was populated for many years. 73 people lived there in 1881 and 30 in 1931 but it has been uninhabited since 1938.[5] The final evacuation list contained nine people from the Mackay family – Christina Bella Mackay, Hector Sinclair Mackay, Jessie Ann Mackay, Willie John Mackay, Hugh Campbell Mackay, Donald Mackay, Ina Mackay, Chrissie Dolina Mackay and Christina Mackay.

The ruins of a settlement can be seen from the Skerray and in the waist of the island, between Mol na Coinnle ("Pebble Beach of the Candles") and Mol Mòr ("big pebble beach").[3]

## Geography and geology

[edit]

Eilean nan Ròn is not one of the Hebrides, which lie off the west coast of mainland Scotland. The island is mainly sandstone with steep cliffs on the north and east coasts and a natural arch at Leathad Ballach.,[3] which is 150 ft (46 m) high, and 70 ft (21 m) wide.[4] The high points are Cnoc an Loisgein at 76 m (249 ft), and Cnoc na Caillich at 75 m (246 ft). As Rev. Wilson wrote in 1882:

It looks like two islands, is mostly engirt with high precipitous rocks, includes a low tract of very fertile soil.[4]

There are several islets and islands off Eilean nan Ròn. These include the tidal Eilean Iosal (low island), and beyond it Meall Thailm (or "Meall Holm"). To the south west is the dully named An Innis ("small island"). The Rabbit Islands are in Tongue Bay to the south west.

## Wildlife

[edit]

As the name implies, Eilean nan Ròn is popular with grey seals, that come here in their hundreds each autumn to pup.[6] About 350 calves are born each year.[3] The island also has large numbers of seabirds, and sheep, which were left when the Island was evacuated.

## Media Coverage

[edit]

The island was subject of a BBC news report[7] in 2024, when a BBC reporter traced his family history to the island and subsequently visited it.

## See also

[edit]

* Scottish islands portal

* List of islands of Scotland
* List of outlying islands of Scotland

## Footnotes

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eilean nan Ròn.

1. ^ Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
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 c d Smith (2004) pp. 201-03
4. ^ a b c Wilson, Rev. John The Gazetteer of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1882) Published by W. & A.K. Johnstone
5. ^ "Kitty Ann NicCuithein, Eilean nan Ròn, 1918-2019". 20 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
6. ^ "Talmine". Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
7. ^ "Family history hunt ends on tiny island home to just seals and sheep". BBC News. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.

## References

[edit]

* Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.

* v
* t
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Islands of Scotland

Geography

| Northern Isles|

* Shetland
* list
* Orkney
* list

|

Hebrides|

* Outer Hebrides
* list
* Inner Hebrides
* list
* St Kilda

Other|

* Islands of the Clyde
* Islands of the Forth
* Freshwater Islands
* Outlying Islands
* Sea Stacks

Prehistory

| Prehistoric Orkney|

* Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site:
* Maeshowe
* Ness of Brodgar
* Ring of Brodgar
* Skara Brae
* Standing Stones of Stenness

|

Prehistoric Shetland|

* Zenith of Iron Age Shetland:
* Broch of Mousa
* Jarlshof
* Old Scatness

Prehistoric Western Isles|

* Callanish Stones
* Dun Carloway
* Rubha an Dùnain
* Dun Nosebridge

History

| Dál Riata|

* Columba
* Hinba

|

Kingdom of the Isles|

* Scandinavian Scotland
* Rulers of the Kingdom of the Isles
* Bishop of the Isles

Lordship of the Isles|

* Treaty of Perth
* Treaty of Ardtornish-Westminster
* Finlaggan

Earldom of Orkney|

* Buckquoy spindle-whorl
* Udal law

18th and 19th Century|

* Clearances
* Jacobite risings
* Flora MacDonald

Literature|

* Orkneyinga Saga
* Description of the Western Isles of Scotland (Monro)
* A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland (Martin)
* A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland (Johnson)
* The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides (Boswell)

Etymology

| General|

* Scottish island names
* Northern Isles
* Hebrides
* Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba

|

Specific|

* Arran
* Gigha
* Islay
* Skye
* St Kilda

Economy

| Towns|

* Kirkwall
* Lerwick
* Rothesay
* Stornoway
* Stromness

|

Agencies|

* Community Energy Scotland
* Crofters Commission
* Highlands and Islands Enterprise
* Scottish Islands Federation

Oil industry|

* Flotta
* Sullom Voe

Culture

| Shetland|

* Aly Bain
* Thomas Fraser
* Peerie Willie Johnson
* Shetland Amenity Trust
* Up Helly Aa
* Vagaland

|

Orkney|

* George Mackay Brown
* Peter Maxwell Davies
* F. Marian McNeill
* Kirkwall Ba game
* Orkney Heritage Society
* St Magnus Festival

Outer Hebrides|

* Compton Mackenzie
* Fèis Bharraigh
* Free Church of Scotland
* Iain Crichton Smith

Inner Hebrides|

* Islay whisky
* Runrig
* Sorley MacLean
* West Highland Free Press

Politics

| Local authorities|

* Shetland Islands Council
* Orkney Islands Council
* Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
* Highland Council
* Argyll and Bute
* North Ayrshire

|

Wildlife

| Fauna|

* Fair Isle wren
* Orkney vole
* Shetland wren
* St Kilda field mouse
* St Kilda wren

|

Flora|

* Arran whitebeams
* Scottish Primrose
* Shetland Mouse-ear

Domesticated animals|

* Cairn Terrier
* Eriskay Pony
* Hebridean Blackface
* Luing cattle
* North Ronaldsay sheep
* Scottie
* Sheltie
* Shetland cattle
* Shetland Goose
* Shetland pony
* Shetland sheep
* Soay sheep
* Westie

Geology

| Shetland|

* Geopark Shetland

|

Geology of Orkney|

* Eday Group
* Orcadian Basin
* Yesnaby Sandstone Group

Hebrides|

* Colonsay Group
* Great Estuarine Group
* Hebridean terrane
* Lewisian complex
* Lorne plateau lavas
* Moine supergroup
* Moine Thrust Belt
* Mull
* Rhinns complex
* Skye
* Staffa
* Torridonian

Islands of the Clyde|

* Highland Boundary Fault

58°33′27″N 4°20′27″W﻿ / ﻿58.55750°N 4.34083°W﻿ / 58.55750; -4.34083
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