| Bernera | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
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Bernera
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| Bernera shown within Argyll and Bute | |
| OS grid reference | NM794393 |
| Names | |
| Gaelic name | Bearnaraigh |
| Meaning of name | Bjørn's island, from Norse |
| Area and summit | |
| Area | 42 hectares (0.2 sq mi) [1] |
| Highest elevation | 58 m |
| Population | |
| Population | 0 |
| Groupings | |
| Island group | Mull |
| Local Authority | Argyll and Bute |
| References | [2][3][4] |
| If shown, area and population ranks are for all Scottish islands and all inhabited Scottish islands respectively. Population data is from 2001 census. | |
Bernera Island (Scottish Gaelic: Bearnaraigh) is a tidal island off Lismore, in Argyll, Scotland.
In the 6th Century, Bernera was settled by monks of the Irish Culdee church under the leadership of St. Moluag.[5] 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.[5] 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.[5]
The island has the remains of an ancient chapel and burial ground.[6]
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 Maritime Cliff [1].
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