Gunna

Gunna
Location
Gunna
Gunna shown within Argyll and Bute
OS grid reference NM100513
Names
Gaelic name Gunnaigh
Norse name Gunni
Meaning of name "Gunni's island"
Area and summit
Area 69 hectares (0.27 sq mi)
Area rank 176
Highest elevation 35 metres (115 ft)
Population
Population 0
Groupings
Island group Mull
Local Authority Argyll and Bute
References [1][2][3]
If shown, area and population ranks are for all Scottish islands and all inhabited Scottish islands respectively. Population data is from 2001 census.

Gunna (Gaelic: Gunnaigh) is an uninhabited island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.

Contents

Geography and geology

Gunna lies between Coll and Tiree, closer to Coll. It is 69 hectares (0.27 sq mi) in area, 35 metres (115 ft) at its highest point, and currently uninhabited. Nowhere is it wider than 500 metres (550 yd).

It is surrounded by various smaller islands including Eilean Frachlan (just off the north coast), Eilean nan Gamhna off the south coast, Soy Gunna to the north east, and Eilean Bhoramull, which is nearer Coll. It is surrounded by many rocks, especially in Gunna Sound (Scottish Gaelic: "Am Bun Dubh"[4]), between it and Tiree.

According to Haswell-Smith, the island is:

bedrock of paragneiss schist with a light sandy soil. Metasediments in the west grade into undifferentiated gneiss in the east[2]

History

"Gunni" is a Norse forename, but it is not recorded for which Gunni the island was named.

It was possibly an anchorite/culdee's island at some point - beside the old well, there is Port na Cille, which means Port of the Monk's Cell. Uamh Mòr, (big cave) on the north coast, could well be where the hermit sheltered.

Wildlife

Gunna supports a wide range of sea birds, as well as geese, and shelducks. Grey seals also breed here.

It is currently used for grazing from Coll.[2]

References

  1. ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
  2. ^ a b c Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543. 
  3. ^ Ordnance Survey. Get-a-map (Map). http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/. 
  4. ^ "translation". http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/faclair/sbg/lorg.php?facal=Gunna%20Sound&seorsa=Beurla&tairg=Lorg&eis_saor=on. Retrieved 2008-01-06.