Eilean nan Ròn

Infobox Scottish island |


latitude=58.55
longitude=-4.34
GridReference=NC637656
celtic name=Eilean nan Ròn
norse name=
meaning of name=island of the seals
area=138 ha
area rank= 130=
highest elevation= Cnoc an Loisgein 76 m
Population=0
population rank=
main settlement=
island group=Highland / Islands of Sutherland
local authority=Highland Council
references= [2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland] Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) "The Scottish Islands". Edinburgh. Canongate.]

Eilean nan Ròn (Gaelic: "island of the seals") is an island near Tongue, in the parish of the same name, in the north of Sutherland in ScotlandWilson, Rev. John "The Gazetteer of Scotland" (Edinburgh, 1882) Published by W. & A.K. Johnstone] . 350 seal pups are born here annually.

History

Eilean nan Ròn was populated for many years, with seventy three people living there in 1881. It has been uninhabited since 1931, around the same time as Tanera Mòr and St Kilda. Ruins of settlement can be seen in the waist of the island, between Mol na Coinnle ("Pebble Beach of the Candles") and Mol Mòr ("big pebble beach").

Geography and geology

It is not technically one of the Hebrides as it is too far away from them. The island is mainly sandstone with steep cliffs on the north and east coasts and a natural arch at Leathad Ballach., which is 150ft high, and 70ft wide. The high points are Cnoc an Loisgein (76 metres/244 feet) and Cnoc na Caillich (75 metres). 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."

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 east.

Wildlife

As the name implies, Eilean nan Ròn is popular with grey seals, that come here in their hundreds each autumn to pup.cite web| url=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/tongue/talmine/index.html| title=Talmine| publisher=Undiscovered Scotland| accessdate=2007-12-14] About 350 calves are born each year. The island is also home to large numbers of seabirds.

Footnotes