Berneray, North Uist
501904
225352547
2008-07-13T06:33:03Z
Morrismaciver
536965
Headings
{{otherplaces3|Berneray}}
{{Infobox Scottish island |
|Map=
|latitude=57.72
|longitude=-7.19
|GridReference=NF912817
|celtic name=Beàrnaraidh
|norse name=
|meaning of name=From [[Old Norse]] Bjorn's Island
|area= 1010 ha
|area rank= 49
|highest elevation=Beinn Shleibhe (Moor Hill) 93 m
|Population=136
|population rank= 37
|main settlement= Borve and Rushgarry
|island group=[[Uist]]s and [[Barra]]
|local authority=[[Outer Hebrides]]
|references=<ref>2001 UK Census per [[List of islands of Scotland]]</ref><ref name=Smith>Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.</ref><ref>[http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey]</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/pdfs/placenamesA-B.pdf| title=Placenames| author=Iain Mac an Tailleir| publisher=Pàrlamaid na h-Alba| accessdate=2007-07-22}}</ref>
}}
'''Berneray''' ([[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]]: ''Beàrnaraidh'') is an [[island]] in the [[Outer Hebrides]] of [[Scotland]].
Berneray is one of two inhabited islands in the [[Sound of Harris]]. With an area of 10.1 square kilometres (2496 acres), Berneray rises to a height of 305 feet (93 m) at Beinn Shleibhe (Moor Hill) and 278 feet (85 m) at Borve Hill. There is strong evidence that points to Berneray being inhabited since the [[Bronze Age]], and possibly before. The island is scattered with ancient sacred sites, [[stone circles]], signs of [[Viking]] inhabitation and historical buildings, some several centuries old.
[[Image:Borve-berneray.jpg|thumb|right|Borve and the machair]]
==Demographics==
In common with most islands in the Outer Hebrides, the population has declined over the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the past few years has seen a gradual rise; as of [[20 October]] [[2006]], the permanent resident population of Berneray stood at 130.
Most people on Berneray speak Scottish Gaelic, many as a first language. Berneray is known as the birthplace of the [[gigantism|giant]] [[Angus MacAskill]] and for its sandy [[beach]]es backed with [[Dune|sand dunes]]. The west beach, a three mile stretch of wide, clean and often deserted sand, is widely acclaimed as one of the world's great beaches.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
==Industry==
The main industries are [[fishing]], [[Croft (land)|crofting]] (small-scale individual farming), media/IT and tourism.
A key feature of Berneray is its [[machair]]. The machair is a coastal plain made up of windblown shell sand. Traditional crofting practice, which involves summer agriculture using [[seaweed]] together with dung from winter grazing animals as natural [[Fertilizer|fertiliser]], has, over time, bound together and stabilised the land. The machair is ploughed in rotation, giving a patchwork of crops and fallow of different ages which supports a wide range of flowers. Berneray has a particularly fine machair, a result of careful [[Stewardship|husbandry]] by the island’s crofters, helped by the absence of [[rabbit]]s.
==Nature==
{{main|Nature of the Outer Hebrides}}
[[Image:Pabbay and boat.jpg|right|thumb|A fishing boat passes between the west beach of Berneray and the island of Pabbay]]
The crofting practises also encourage a wide array of wildlife on Berneray. On early summer evenings you can sometimes hear [[Common Snipe|snipe]] drumming, and even the rasp of a [[corncrake]]. Mute swans can be seen on Loch Brusda, and [[Greylag Goose|greylag]] geese are common. In the winter they are joined by [[Barnacle Goose|barnacle]], and a few [[Brent Goose|brent geese]]. [[Raven]]s and [[buzzard]]s are often to be seen. [[Golden Eagle|Golden eagles]] and [[Hen Harrier|hen harriers]] are rarer sights, usually in the winter. Wading birds on the shore include [[Common Redshank|redshanks]], [[sanderling]]s, [[turnstone]]s, [[Eurasian Oystercatcher|oyster catchers]], [[dunlin]], [[curlew]]s, [[whimbrel]]s, [[Ringed Plover|ringed plovers]] and [[Grey Heron|herons]].
Further out, around the shores of Berneray, are [[mallard]]s, [[Common Eider|eiders]], [[red-breasted merganser]]s, and, more rarely, [[Black-throated Diver|black-throated]] and [[great northern diver]]s. [[Common Shag|Shags]] and [[Great Cormorant|cormorants]] fish in the seas around Berneray throughout the year, and in summer you can see [[Northern Gannet|gannets]] diving. [[Common Seal|Common seals]] often congregate at low tide on the rocks in Bays Loch, and can often be seen from the parking area a little way beyond the Post Office or by taking a boat trip out into the bay. [[Grey Seal|Grey seals]], which are larger and can be distinguished by the long 'Roman' noses, also haul out there occasionally, but are more common off the West Beach. Though the [[otter]]s of Berneray are out during the day more often than on the mainland, they are still elusive, and it takes patience and luck to see one.
[[Image:Berneray Seals.jpg|thumb|left|Grey seals, from the seal view point in Bay's Loch]]
==Causeway==
Possibly the greatest change in modern times occurred in 1999 when the [[causeway]] opened between Berneray and [[Otternish]] on North Uist. This has made travelling on and off the island, for example for employment, easier. The causeway contains [[culvert]]s that allow the easy passage of otters and fish from one side of the structure to the other. In addition, broadband Internet provision became available in January 2006, providing another incentive to people wishing to relocate to Berneray and sustain the population and community.
==References==
<references/>
== See also ==
* [[Newtonferry]]
==External links==
*[http://www.isleofberneray.com Isle of Berneray website]
*{{wikitravel|Berneray}}
*[http://robinwilson.net/berneraybeach/berneraybeach.html Panorama of Berneray Beach] (QuickTime required)
*[http://www.ampaipear.org.uk Am Paipear Community Newspaper]
{{Hebrides}}
{{coord|57|43|10|N|7|11|11|W|display=title}}
[[Category:Islands of the Outer Hebrides]]
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