Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 6

MOUNTAINS, LAKES, RIVERS, AND ISLANDS.
15
ISLANDS.
The islands of Scotland were at the census of 1S61 ascertained to number 787, by the
word island being understood any piece of solid land surrounded by water, which affords
sufficient vegetation to support one or more sheep, or which is inhabited by man. Some of the
uninhabited islands have pasturage for 300 or 400 sheep ; others again only admit of one sheep
being left at one time. The Hebrides extend for 205 miles along the west coast, and consist
of about 160 islands and islets, of which 100 are inhabited. Another archipelago, the Orkneys,
numbering 52 considerable islands, though only 28 are permanently inhabited, is separated from
the north-western extremity of Caithness by the Pentland Firth, 6 miles broad ; and a third
archipelago, that of Shetland — 100 islands, 29 permanently inhabited — is 48 miles north-north-
east of Orkney. Islands not belonging strictly to any group are Mugdrum (32 acres), in the
Firth of Tay; the Isle of May (146-J), Inchkeith, Cramond, Inchcolm, Inchgarvie, Inchmickery,
Craigleith, Lamb, Fidra, and the Bass Rock, in the Firth of Forth ; and Arran, Bute, Great
Cumbrae and Little Cumbrae, Sanda, Devar, Pladda, Holy Isle, and Ailsa Craig, in the Firth
of Clyde. Of seaward rocks, the chief are Carr, a reef 1 mile north-north-east of Fife Ness ;
the Bell Rock or Inchcape, a reef nf miles south-east of Arbroath.
The following table gives the areas and population of the more important islands :
Area.
Area
1
Name.
Pop.
1881.
Name.
Pop.
1881.
Square
Miles.
Acres.
Square
Miles.
Acres.
Long Island, i.e., Lewis & Harris,
859
549,357
28,339
Egilsay (Orkney),
2-55
1,636
155
Lewis (Ross), ....
683
437,221
24,876
Muck (Argyll), .
2.4
1,585.940
51
Skye (Inverness),
643.28
411,703.652
16,889
Mingalay (Inverness),
2-44
1,562.760
150
Mull (Argyll), ....
347.21
222,214.868
5,229
Ronay (North Uist, Inverness]
2-3
1,531.810
6
Mainland (Shetland),
242,310
20,821
Monach Island (Inverness),
2-3
1,495.966
13
Islay (Argyll), ....
246.6
157,851.449
7,559
Kirkibost (Inverness),
2.2
1,450.061
12
Pomona (Orkney),
206.9
132,477
17,165
Gometra (Argyll),
2
1,284.907
30
Harris (Inverness), .
176.7
113,142.177
3,463
St Kilda (Inverness),
1.0
1,200
77
Arran (Bute), ....
168.08
107,572.774
10,998
Shuna (Inverness), .
1.83
1,173.560
118
Jura (Argyll), ....
142.9
91,516.772
773
Graemsay (Orkney), .
1.8
1,152
236
North Uist (Inverness), .
135-7
86,858.333
3.371
Wiay (Inverness),
1.6
1,057.500
5
Yell (Shetland), ....
82.69
5=.9=3
2,529
Sanderay (Inverness),
1.6
1,053.130
10
Hoy (Orkney), ....
52.8
33.819
1,380
Vementry (Shetland),
1-5
960
Bute (Bute), ....
48.68
31,161.421
10,998
Isle of Noss (Shetland), .
1. 19
762
3
Unst (Shetland),
46.76
29,929
2.173
Fuday (Inverness), .
1
760.170
6
Rum (Argyll), ....
41.85
26,785.790
J 9
Hascosay (Shetland),
1.17
751
Benbecula (Inverness),
35-7
22,873.783
1,661
Little Cumbrae (Bute),
1
722.914
23
Tiree (Argyll), ....
33-54
21,471.896
2,73°
Trondra (Shetland), .
1. 12
722
r33
Coll (Argyll), ....
30.6
19,596.508
643
Boreray (North Uist, Invernes
s),
1
717-513
137
Sanday (Orkney),
25-77
16,498
2,o32
Lunga (Jura, Argyll),
1
699.558
17
Barra (Inverness),
25.1
16,117.688
1,869
Holy Island (Arran, Bute),
1.08
691.662
15
Westray (Orkney), .
24.24
15,516
2,000
Inchmarnock (Bute),
1.05
675.054
18
Raasay (Inverness), .
24.5
15,704.384
478
Erraid (Argyll),
1
642.481
51
South Ronaldsay (Orkney),
20.43
13,080
2,557
Killegray (inverness),
626.090
6
Rousay (Orkney),
18.65
11,938
873
Pabbay (Barra, Inverness),
614. 4S0
26
Colonsay (Argyll), .
16.00
10,878.915
387
Calf of Eday (Orkney), .
599
Fetlar (Shetland), .
16.77
io,734
431
Uyea (Shetland),
598
5
Stronsay (Orkney), .
15-3
9,840
'.274
Sanday (Argyll),
577.712
16
Eigg (Inverness),
12
7,803.717
291
Pabay (Strath, Inverness),
559.290
10
Eday (Orkney),
n-5
7.372
73o
Oronsay (Morven, Argyll),
539-r57
| Shapinsay (Orkney),
11. 2
7,172
974
Ensay (Inverness), .
537.080
'6
Bressay (Shetland), .
10.81
6,919
847
Berneray (Barra, Inverness),
460.920
72
Scalpay (Strath, Inverness),
10
6,489.830
J 7
Wiay (Inverness),
451.060
4
Lismore (Argyll),
9-39
6,014.579
621
Hellisay (Inverness),
384.240
9
Ulva (Argyll), ....
7.6
4,924.546
„ 53
Sanda (Argyll), .
381.500
J 4
Whalsey (Shetland), .
7.62
4,881
870
Garbh Eileach (Argyll), .
342.083
Baleshare (Inverness),
7- 2
4,631.321
266
Stromay (Inverness),
348-090
Grimsay (Inverness),
7
4,505.223
292
Eilean Fladday (Inverness),
336.910
87
Muckle Roe (Shetland), .
6.81
4.362
230
Torsay (Argyll),
275.060
IO
Sell (Argyll), ....
5.96
3,820.344
661
Gighay (Argyll),
■•
264.930
378
Luing (Argyll)
5-93
3,797.560
527
Gunna (Argyll),
260.190
Gigha (Argyll), .
5-79
3,709.471
382
Eorsa (Argyll), .
259.228
Scarba (Argyll),
5-74
3.675-493
19
Inch Kenneth (Argyll),
248.864
'8
Taransay (Inverness),
5.69
3,601.770
55
Isay (Inverness),
234.320
Bernera(y) (Harris), .
5- 2 7
3.376.777
452
Hemetray (Inverness),
233.480
Foula (Shetland),
S-I5
3,300
267
Fuiay (Inverness),
217.300
Kerrera (Argyll),
4-9
3,140.570
103
Soa (Argyll), .
210
Great Cumbrae (Bute),
4.87
3,126.397
1,856
Cara (Argyll), .
203.875
4
Burra, East and West (Shetland),
4.72
3,024
642
Muldoanich (Inverness), .
203.530
Canna (Argyll),
4i
2,008.046
57
Cliasay Mor and Beg,
201.790
South Walls (Orkney), .
4.46
2,855
Little Colonsay (Argyll), .
200
Burray (Orkney),
4.'i9
2,683
685
Lunga (Argyll),
195. 26S
17
Flotta (Orkney),
4.15
2,661
425
Ascrib Islands (Inverness),
187
Soay (Inverness),
4.15
2,634.660
102
Eilean an Iasgaich (Inverness),
..
183.121
Rona (Portree, Inverness),
4
2,564.905
176
Tahay (Inverness), .
171.600
Vatersay (Inverness),
3-9
2,519.320
19
Eileach an Naoirch, .
169.270
North Ronaldsay (Orkney), .
3-72
=,387
547
Longay (Inverness), .
164.950
Eriskay (Inverness), .
3-56
2,299.970
466
Stockinish (Inverness),
I55-970
Iona (Argyll), .
3i
2,264.285
243
Vaccasay (Inverness),
154.400
Pabbay (Harris, Inverness).
3-37
2,168.840
3
Texa (Islay, Argyll),
151.992
Oronsay (Colonsay, Inverness),
3-°75
1,968.532
47
Nave (Argyll), .
150.531
Fair Isle (Shetland),
3.02
1.939
214
Flodday More (Inverness),
149.580
Scalpa(y) (Harris, Inverness), .
3
1,917.240
540
Flodday (North Uist, Inverness),
149.050