Eilean nan Ròn
{{Short description|Island known for grey seals in Highland, Scotland}}
{{distinguish|text=Eilean an Ròin Mòr or Eilean nan Ròn off Oronsay, Inner Hebrides}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox Scottish island
|location_map=Scotland Highland
|caption=Eilean nan Ròn shown within Highland Scotland
|coordinates = {{coord|58.55|-4.34|display=inline}}
|GridReference=NC637656
|Image= Port na h-Uaille, Eilean nan Ron.jpg
|ImageCaption=Yacht moored in Port na h-Uaille, Eilean nan Ròn
|area= {{convert|138|ha|sqmi|frac=16}}
|area rank= 129=
|highest elevation= Cnoc an Loisgein, {{cvt|76|m|ft}}
|Population=0
|population rank=
|main settlement=
|island group=Highland / Islands of Sutherland
|local authority=Highland Council
|references={{NRS1C}}Smith (2004) pp. 201-03
}}
Eilean nan Ròn (Gaelic for "island of the seals") or Roan Island is an island near Skerray, in the north of Sutherland, Scotland.Wilson, Rev. John The Gazetteer of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1882) Published by W. & A.K. Johnstone An estimated 350 seal pups are born here annually.
History
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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/naidheachdan/47303877|title=Kitty Ann NicCuithein, Eilean nan Ròn, 1918-2019|date=2019-02-20|access-date=2019-02-26|language=en-GB}} 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").
Geography and geology
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, which is {{convert|150|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} high, and {{convert|70|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} wide. The high points are Cnoc an Loisgein at {{convert|76|m|0|abbr=on}}, and Cnoc na Caillich at {{convert|75|m|0|abbr=on}}. 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 southwest is the dully named An Innis ("small island"). The Rabbit Islands are in Tongue Bay to the southwest. Neave Island is also nearby.
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=14 December 2007}} About 350 calves are born each year. The island also has large numbers of seabirds, and sheep, which were left when the Island was evacuated.
Media Coverage
The island was subject of a BBC news report{{Cite news |date=2024-01-05 |title=Family history hunt ends on tiny island home to just seals and sheep |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-67884187 |access-date=2024-01-06 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} in 2024, when a BBC reporter traced his family history to the island and subsequently visited it.
See also
{{Portal|Scottish islands}}
Footnotes
{{Commons category|Eilean nan Ròn}}
{{Reflist}}
References
- {{Haswell-Smith}}
{{Islands of Scotland}}
{{coord|58|33|27|N|4|20|27|W|display=title|region:GB_type:isle}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eilean Nan Ron}}
Category:Islands of Sutherland
Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in North West Sutherland