"there occasionally, but are more common off the West Beach. The grey seal now breeds on Hirta but did not do so before the 1930 evacuation. The beach at Village Bay in St Kilda is unusual in that its short stretch of summer sand recedes in winter, exposing the large boulders on which it rests. A survey of the beach in 1953 found only a single resident species, the crustacean isopod ""Eurydice pulchra"". Amongst the more exotic species found off the Outer Hebrides, is the giant squid (""Architeuthis"") - specimens are occasionally washed up on the islands. There are only"
"Eileach an Naoimh Eileach an Naoimh, also known as Holy Isle, is an uninhabited island in the Inner Hebrides of the west coast of Scotland. It is the southernmost of the Garvellachs archipelago and lies in the Firth of Lorne between Mull and Argyll. The name is Gaelic for ""rocky place of the saint"". About 542, St. Brendan the Navigator founded a monastery on ""Eilach"", presumed to be the island, possibly because of the combination of its isolation and good grazing. Columba is believed to have visited the island and it is one of the proposed locations of the Columban"
"Religion in the Outer Hebrides The Outer Hebrides are a unique religious area in contemporary Scotland and Britain. The northern island (Lewis and Harris) is dominated by Calvinist 'free churches', and has been described as ""the last bastion of Sabbath observance in the UK"". It is also home to a unique form of Gaelic psalm singing known as precenting. The southern islands of South Uist and Barra are the last remnants of native pre-Reformation Scottish Catholicism. Barra was once dubbed ""the island the Reformation did not reach"". The Outer Hebrides are also home to some of Britain's most important pre-Christian"
"Eilean Chaluim Chille Eilean Chaluim Chille (Gaelic: island of Saint Columba, Calum Cille) is an unpopulated island in the Outer Hebrides. It lies off the east coast of Lewis at the mouth of Loch Erisort. At low tide Eilean Chaluim Chille is connected by a causeway to the mainland of Lewis at Crobeag. At the southern end of the island lie the ruins of St Columba's Church. This was once an important centre of religion, being cited in a report of 1549 as the main place of worship for the parish of Lochs. There was probably a church there from"
"Flannan Isles The Flannan Isles () or alternatively, the Seven Hunters are a small island group in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, approximately west of the Isle of Lewis. They may take their name from Saint Flannan, the seventh-century Irish preacher and abbot. The islands have been devoid of permanent residents since the automation of Flannan Isles Lighthouse in 1971. They are the location of an enduring mystery that occurred in December 1900, when all three lighthouse keepers vanished without trace. The islands are split into three groups: the main cluster of rocks that lie to the northeast include the"
"Outer Hebrides The Outer Hebrides (), also known as the Western Isles ( or ' ), ' (""islands of the strangers"") or the Long Isle or the Long Island (), is an island chain off the west coast of mainland Scotland. The islands are geographically coextensive with , one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. They form part of the archipelago of the Hebrides, separated from the Scottish mainland and from the Inner Hebrides by the waters of the Minch, the Little Minch, and the Sea of the Hebrides. Scottish Gaelic is the predominant spoken language, although in"
"St Kilda, Scotland St Kilda () is an isolated archipelago situated west-northwest of North Uist, in the North Atlantic Ocean. It contains the westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The largest island is Hirta, whose sea cliffs are the highest in the United Kingdom. Three other islands (Dùn, Soay and Boreray) were also used for grazing and seabird hunting. The islands are administratively a part of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar local authority area. The origin of the name ""St Kilda"" is a matter of conjecture. The islands' human heritage includes numerous unique architectural features from the historic"
"Îles des Saintes The Îles des Saintes (""Islands of the Saints""), also known as Les Saintes, is a small archipelago of the French Antilles (West Indies) located to the south of Basse-Terre Island, west of Marie-Galante and north of Dominica. It is a dependency of Guadeloupe, which, in turn, is an overseas department and ""region"" of France. ""Les Saintes"" is a volcanic archipelago fully encircled by shallow reefs. It arose from the recent volcanic belt of the Lesser Antilles from the Pliocene Epoch. It is composed of rocks appeared on the Tertiary age between (4.7 to 2 million years ago)."
"about 800 AD, built by St Columba's followers. St Columba died on Iona in 597 AD. The cemetery was in use until 1878. Eilean Chaluim Chille is protected by Historic Scotland as an ancient monument. Eilean Chaluim Chille Eilean Chaluim Chille (Gaelic: island of Saint Columba, Calum Cille) is an unpopulated island in the Outer Hebrides. It lies off the east coast of Lewis at the mouth of Loch Erisort. At low tide Eilean Chaluim Chille is connected by a causeway to the mainland of Lewis at Crobeag. At the southern end of the island lie the ruins of St"
"Seaforth Island Seaforth Island ( or ""Mulag"") is an uninhabited island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Unlike many other islands of the Outer Hebrides which are mainly surrounded by open sea, Seaforth Island lies in a narrow fjord-like sea loch named Loch Seaforth, from the open waters of The Minch. There are two different Gaelic names for the island. ""Mulag"" is from the Old Norse name ""Múli"", which describes its geographical location, and the other is after the family of Francis Mackenzie, 1st Baron Seaforth, who inherited the island in 1783. The island has poor soil which only supports"
"Inner Hebrides The Inner Hebrides (; Scottish Gaelic: ""Na h-Eileanan a-staigh"", ""the inner isles"") is an archipelago off the west coast of mainland Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which experience a mild oceanic climate. The Inner Hebrides comprise 35 inhabited islands as well as 44 uninhabited islands with an area greater than . The main commercial activities are tourism, crofting, fishing and whisky distilling. In modern times the Inner Hebrides have formed part of two separate local government jurisdictions, one to the north and the other to the"
"Ensay (Outer Hebrides) Ensay (Gaelic ""Easaigh"") is a currently unpopulated island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The island lies in the Sound of Harris between the islands of Harris and Berneray. The name originates from the Old Norse for Ewe Island. It is nothing to do with the Gaelic for Jesus - ""Iosa"" - as sometimes stated. Although the island has had no permanent population since the 1930s, it is still used for summer grazing. The small chapel of Christ Church is maintained and services are held biannually. The island is classified by the National Records of Scotland as"
"inspired by the island of Iona and Columba's life. Iona Iona (, sometimes simply ""Ì"") is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. It is mainly known for Iona Abbey, though there are other buildings on the island. Iona Abbey was a centre of Gaelic monasticism for three centuries and is today known for its relative tranquility and natural environment. It is a tourist destination and a place for spiritual retreats. Its modern Gaelic name means ""Iona of (Saint) Columba"" (formerly anglicised ""Icolmkill""). The Hebrides have been occupied by"
"Eilean Mhealasta Eilean Mhealasta (Mealista Island) is an uninhabited island off the west coast of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It takes its name from Mealista, a nearby township on Lewis. Nearby Mealista had a shrine to St Catan, but it is not known if the island itself had a Culdee settlement. The ruins of old buildings of a previous community can still be seen. In 1823 the island was incorporated into a sheep farm. Thereafter no permanent inhabitants were recorded. A folk myth says that anyone born on Eilean Mhealasta will grow up to be an idiot."
"Caher Island Caher Island (""Cathair na Naomh"" in Irish), an uninhabited island off the coast of County Mayo in Ireland, is situated between the larger Clare Island and Inishturk. ""Cathair na Naomh"" in Irish means the ""City of the Saints"". An ancient centre for pilgrimage, it is still visited for this reason today. On 15 August each year, the Feast of the Assumption, there is a pilgrimage to the island. The island has an Early Christian monastery with the remains of a chapel in an enclosure and several carved slabs. The island appears to hold the remains of hermitages of"
"Haskeir Haskeir (), also known as Great Haskeir () is a remote, exposed and uninhabited island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It lies west north west of North Uist. to the south west lie the skerries of Haskeir Eagach made up of a colonnade of five rock stacks. to the north west is the St Kilda archipelago. There is no anchorage or shelter and access via the steep rocky cliffs may be difficult, even in calm conditions. There are several natural rock arches and a high cliff on the northern end of the island called ""Castle Cliff"". Various small"
"Barra Isles The Barra Isles, also known as the Bishop's Isles, are a small archipelago of islands in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. They lie south of the island of Barra, for which they are named. The group consists of nine islands, and numerous rocks. In 1427, the Lords of the Isles awarded Lairdship of Barra (and its associated islands) to Clan MacNeil of Barra. However, following acts of piracy by the MacNeils, king James VI transferred ownership of the southern archipelago to the Bishop of the Isles, hence the islands became known as the ""Bishop's Isles"". Murray writes that"
"Inaccessible Islands The Inaccessible Islands (""Islas Inaccesibles"" in Spanish) are a group of small precipitous islands ranging from high, the westernmost features of the South Orkney Islands, lying west of Coronation Island in Antarctica. They were discovered in December 1821 by Captain George Powell, a British sealer in the sloop ""James Monroe"", though it is possible they are the ""Seal Islands"" seen by Nathaniel Palmer a year earlier. The islands were so named by Powell because of their appearance of inaccessibility. They are considered part of the British Antarctic Territory by the United Kingdom and part of the Province of"
"Saint Brendan's Island Saint Brendan’s Isle, also spelled St Brendan’s Isle, is a phantom island or mythical island, supposedly situated in the North Atlantic somewhere west of Northern Africa. It is named after Saint Brendan of Clonfert. He and his followers are said to have discovered it while travelling across the ocean and evangelising its islands. It appeared on numerous maps in Christopher Columbus's time, most notably Martin Behaim's Erdapfel of 1492. It is denominated ""La isla de San Borondón"" and ""isla de Samborombón"" in Spanish. The first mention of the island was in the Latin text ""Navigatio Sancti Brendani"
"Pabaigh Mòr Pabay Mòr or Pabaigh Mòr is an uninhabited island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The island's name comes from ""papey"", an Old Norse name meaning ""Island of the ""papar"" or culdees"". The remains of St Peter's Church and burial ground are in the south east around Loch na Teampall (""temple loch""), and to the south east of the loch itself is Cnoc na Cille (""hill of the monk's cell""). The island was connected to Clan MacLeod throughout much of its history. Sergeant Evander MacIver was given the island on retirement from the Seaforth Regiment in 1800, in"
"with a depiction of the crucifixion. There are also some beehive huts of a similar type to those on Inishglora. Unlike those on Inishglora, there is no 'saint' or religious house affiliated with the islands. The tomb is known as 'Uaimh na Naoimh' (The Saint's tomb). Duvillaun Duvillaun (Black Island) (""Gaelic: Dubhoileán"") is the name of a cluster of islands lying south to the Inishkea Islands and Inishglora in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Mayo. The main island is known as Duvillaun More (Big Black Island). The other islands are known as Duvillaun Beg (Little Black Island),"
"uninhabited, are islands close to the shore of Harris. On the map to the right of this page, the islands of North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist are coloured red (the thinner red strip to the south) as if they were part of Lewis/Harris - the red strip shows the entire Western Isles, or Outer Hebrides. Lewis/Harris are actually one island, which causes confusion for many at first acquaintance, Harris being the portion of land just south of Tarbert where the sea comes in somewhat, but there is still a continuous land joint between Lewis (to the North) and Harris"
"transformed into a church. Carinish Carinish (), is a hamlet on North Uist, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It is in the south of the island, about from the causeway to Benbecula. The hamlet is known for the Carinish Stone Circle and the Trinity Temple. Carinish is within the parish of North Uist and is situated on the A865. Carinish Stone Circle is not in good condition - it has the A865 main road running almost through the middle of it. About 50 metres to the north, a Neolithic settlement was found. Trinity Temple or ""Teampall na Trionad"" is the"
"1997 operated by Northern Lighthouse Board and the remains of a bothy, possibly built by fishermen from the Monach Islands. Haskeir Haskeir (), also known as Great Haskeir () is a remote, exposed and uninhabited island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It lies west north west of North Uist. to the south west lie the skerries of Haskeir Eagach made up of a colonnade of five rock stacks. to the north west is the St Kilda archipelago. There is no anchorage or shelter and access via the steep rocky cliffs may be difficult, even in calm conditions. There are"
"Helier Saint Helier (died 555 AD) was a 6th-century ascetic hermit. He is the patron saint of Jersey in the Channel Islands, and in particular of the town and parish of Saint Helier, the island’s capital. He is also invoked as a healing saint for diseases of the skin and eyes. According to hagiography, Hellerius or Helier was born to pagan parents in Tongeren (now in Belgium). His father was Sigebert, a nobleman from Tongres and his mother was Lusigard. Having had difficulties conceiving a child, they had turned to Saint Cunibert who had advised them to pray to God"
"Saint Serf Saint Serf or Serbán (""Servanus"") (c. 500 — d. 583 AD) is a saint of Scotland. Serf was venerated in western Fife. He is called the apostle of Orkney, with less historical plausibility. Saint Serf is connected with Saint Mungo's Church near Simonburn, Northumberland (off the Bellingham Road, north of Chollerford). His feast day is 1 July. David Hugh Farmer wrote that the legend of Serf is ""a farrago of wild impossibilities"" stating that Serf was the son of Eliud, King of Canaan, and his wife Alphia, daughter of a King of Arabia. Childless for a long time,"
"name Haemodae (Hebrides???). Other ancient writers such as Pliny the Elder, the Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy, and Solinus (3 AD) all seem to mention the Hebrides, attesting to some contact of the peoples there with the Roman world. Little is known of the history of the peoples of the Hebrides before the 6th century as they, like the rest of Scotland, were in the depths of what centuries later became known as the Dark Ages. The first written records of the islands come with the arrival of St. Columba in the 6th century. It was this Irish-Scottish saint who first brought"
"as itinerant, coming from the British Isles without being fixed on the continent. Rivoare Saint Rivoare, also known as Saint Riware, Saint Riwall, Riware, Rivoal, Rioual or Rivoaré, is one of a number of semi-legendary Breton saints from Armorica not recognized by the Catholic Church. Her feast is 19 September. He was a sixth century priest, uncle to Saint Herve. His sister was Saint Urfol's mother. Rivoare is called ""the first emigrant priest on the continent"". The Latin term which designates it -- ""antistes"" -- implies an ecclesiastic power. Only after his arrival in Armorica would monasteries and bishoprics be"
"and a rich flora. Grey herons nest in some of the abandoned buildings. There are no trees on the islands. Monach Islands The Monach Islands, also known as Heisker ( / , ), are an island group west of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The islands are not to be confused with Hyskeir in the Inner Hebrides, or Haskeir which is also off North Uist and visible from the group. The main islands of (once home to a nunnery), and Shivinish are all linked at low tide. It has been claimed that it was at one time"
"The British dependency of Anguilla was historically also a part of this union, which was then known collectively as Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla. To the north-northwest lie the islands of Sint Eustatius, and Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten and Anguilla. To the east and northeast are Antigua and Barbuda, and to the southeast is the small uninhabited island of Redonda, and the island of Montserrat, which currently has an active volcano (see Soufrière Hills). Saint Kitts and Nevis were among the first islands in the Caribbean to be settled by Europeans. Saint Kitts was home to the first British and French colonies"
"to recent times. Inishmurray Inishmurray () is an uninhabited island situated off the coast of County Sligo, Ireland. The island covers . Inishmurray may be named after the early saint, Muiredach mac Echdach (fl. early 6th century) of Killala. There are remains of an early Irish monastic settlement. Laisrén (Saint Molaise) Mac Decláin reputedly founded a monastery here in the 6th century. He was confessor of Saint Columba (Colmcille) after the Battle of Cúl Dreimhne on the mainland nearby. His feast day is the 12 August. The island's ecclesiastical settlement was attacked in 807 by the Vikings. The enclosure wall"
"of less than 5 metres, peaks can rise and break unexpectedly. Caher Island Caher Island (""Cathair na Naomh"" in Irish), an uninhabited island off the coast of County Mayo in Ireland, is situated between the larger Clare Island and Inishturk. ""Cathair na Naomh"" in Irish means the ""City of the Saints"". An ancient centre for pilgrimage, it is still visited for this reason today. On 15 August each year, the Feast of the Assumption, there is a pilgrimage to the island. The island has an Early Christian monastery with the remains of a chapel in an enclosure and several carved"
"Montserrat Montserrat () is a Caribbean island in the Leeward Islands, which is part of the chain known as the Lesser Antilles, in the West Indies. It is a British Overseas Territory (BOT). Montserrat measures approximately in length and in width, with approximately of coastline. Montserrat is nicknamed ""The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean"" both for its resemblance to coastal Ireland and for the Irish ancestry of many of its inhabitants. On 18 July 1995, the previously dormant Soufrière Hills volcano, in the southern part of the island, became active. Eruptions destroyed Montserrat's Georgian era capital city of Plymouth. Between"