Gunna
| Gunna Gaelic: Gunnaigh | |
| Location | |
| Location: | 56°33’36"N, 6°43’12"W |
| Grid reference: | NM100513 |
| Area: | 171 acres |
| Highest point: | 115 feet (35 m) |
| Data | |
| Population: | 0 |
Gunna is an uninhabited island in the Inner Hebrides belonging to Argyllshire.
Name and history
"Gunni" is a Norse forename, and Haswell-Smith suggests that Gunni-øy means "Gunni's Island", though it is not recorded for which Gunni the island was named, though a conceivable alternative is to derive it from Eilean nan Gamhna, Gaelic for "island of the stirks". Mac an Tàilleir suggests that the Norse means "Gunnar's island".
This was possibly an anchorite's or 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.
According to Mac an Tàilleir Gunna is mentioned in the lines of a song, "Farewell beyond Gunna to Mull of the great mountains".
Geography and geology
Gunna lies between Coll and Tiree, closer to Coll. It is 171 acres in area, 115 feet (35 m) at its highest point, and currently uninhabited. Nowhere is it wider than 550 yards.
Gunna 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 between it and Tiree.
According to Haswell-Smith, the island has a: "bedrock of paragneiss schist with a light sandy soil. Metasediments in the west grade into undifferentiated gneiss in the east".[1]
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.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543.
Coordinates: 56°34′N 6°43′W / 56.567°N 6.717°W