Great Bernera
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2008-07-14T22:50:56Z
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{{otherplaces3|Berneray}}
{{Infobox Scottish island |
|Map=<!--UK Great Bernera.PNG -->
|latitude=58.2
|longitude=-6.85
|GridReference=NB162344
|celtic name=Bearnaraigh Mòr
|norse name=bjarnar-øy
|meaning of name=''Bjørn's island'' from Norse
|area= 2122 ha
|area rank= 34
|highest elevation= 80 m
|Population=233
|population rank= 29
|main settlement= [[Breaclete]]
|island group=[[Lewis]] and [[Harris]]
|local authority=[[Outer Hebrides]]
|references=<ref>General Register Office for Scotland (28 Nov 2003) [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/occpapers/occasional-paper-10.html "Occasional Paper No 10: Statistics for Inhabited Islands"] Retrieved [[9 July]] [[2007]].</ref><ref name=Smith>Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate. pp. 287-301.</ref><ref name=OS>[http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm?mapAction=gaz&gazName=g&gazString=NB1534037023 "Get-a-map"]. [[Ordnance Survey]]. Retrieved [[12 June]] [[2008]].</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|format=PDF}}</ref>
}}
[[Image:Tobson.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Tobson]]
'''Great Bernera''' ([[Scottish Gaelic]]: '''Bearnaraigh Mòr'''), often known just as '''Bernera''' (Gaelic: '''Bearnaraigh''') is an [[island]] in the [[Outer Hebrides]] of [[Scotland]]. With an area of just of 21 km2 (8.2 sq.mi) it is the thirty-fourth largest Scottish island.<ref name=Smith/>
Great Bernera lies in [[Loch Roag]] on the north-west coast of [[Lewis]] and is linked to it by a road bridge. Built in 1953, the bridge was the first pre-stressed concrete bridge in Europe.<ref name=Smith/> The main settlement on the island is [[Breaclete]] (Gaelic: ''Breacleit'').
==History==
[[Image:CalanishVIII25.jpg|thumb|left|''Tursachan'', the [[Callanish VIII]] megalithic monument on Great Bernera overlooks the bridge from Lewis.]]
The island's name is Norse in origin<ref name=Smith/> as are many other names in the district, implying extensive Norse settlement.
The most common name on Great Bernera is MacDonald (MacDhòmhnaill or Dòmhnallach),
and these are said to be descended from a watchman of the MacAulays of Uig, who gave
him the island in return for his services.<ref name=Smith/>
Since 1962, the island has been owned by [[Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees]],<ref name=Smith/> a former Queen's Herald, who is recognised as Laird of Bernera. He has a house and fish farm at [[Kirkibost]].<ref name=Smith/>
===Calanais VIII===
[[Callanish VIII]] is a unique standing stone arrangement near the bridge between Lewis and Bernera, set out in a semi-circle. It is known locally as ''Tursachan''.<ref>[http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/newcanmore.details_gis?inumlink=4112 "Great Bernera, 'Tursachan', Barraglom"] RCAHMS. Retrieved [[22 June]] [[2008]].</ref> The ruins of Dun Barraglom [[broch]] are nearby.<ref name=OS/>
===Bostadh===
Bernera is also known for its [[Iron Age]] (or possibly [[Picts|Pictish]]) settlement at Bostadh, discovered in [[1992]] and now covered by sand to preserve it. A replica Iron Age house matching those now buried is sited nearby.
===Bernera Riot===
{{main|Bernera Riot}}
The island was the location of the [[Bernera Riot]], where [[croft (land)|crofter]]s resisted the [[Highland clearances]].
The Bernera Riot took place in 1872, and occurred as a reaction to heavy-handed evictions
and treatment by the factor of Sir [[James Matheson]], Donald Munro.
The islanders refused to send their livestock over to Lewis, and were in turn threatened with
a military visit. This did not occur, but even more eviction notices were handed out,
and the visitors were pelted with clods of earth.<ref name=Keay>Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) ''[[Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland]]''. London. HarperCollins.</ref>
{{clear}}
==Geography and geology==
[[Image:Asbestos with muscovite.jpg|thumb|right|White fibrous [[tremolite]] on grey [[muscovite]] from Great Bernera]]
The island is roughly 8 km long by 3 km wide, the length being oriented from north west to south east. The coast is much indented and there are also numerous fresh water bodies such as Loch Barabhat, Loch Breacleit and Loch Niosabhat. The highest point is an un-named eminence in the north east near the settlement of Corthair that reaches 80 metres.<ref name=OS/> There are deposits of [[muscovite]] and [[asbestos|tremolite asbestos]]. An example of a rock of tremolite on muscovite from Great Bernera is shown in the photograph to the right.
The western side of the island is included in the South Lewis, Harris and [[North Uist]] [[National Scenic Area]].<ref>[http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/scotlandsscenicareas/Part2WesternIsles2.pdf. "South Lewis, Harris and North Uist"] (pdf) SNH. Retrieved [[26 June]] [[2008]].</ref>
===Surrounding Islands===
There are many islands in Loch Roag. to the west, from north to south are [[Pabaigh Mòr]], [[Vacsay]] (''Bhacsaigh''), [[Fuaigh Mòr]] (''Vuia Mòr''), and [[Fuaigh Beag]] (''Vuia Beg'').
To the north, the island of [[Bearnaraigh Beag]] ([[Little Bernera]]), and a number of islets. To the east, there are not so many islands,
but there is [[Eilean Chearstaidh]] (Eilean Kerstay) to the south east.
==Flora and fauna==
{{main|Nature of the Outer Hebrides}}
[[Image:Grey seal flopping.jpg|thumb|[[Grey Seal|Atlantic Seal]] (''Halichoerus grypus'')]]
Sea life is especially rich where there is tidal run between the ''Caolas Bhalasaigh'' (English: "Valasay Straits/Kyles") and the inner [[sea-loch]] of ''Tòb Bhalasaigh''. There are numerous [[mollusca|molluscs]], [[sponge]]s, [[brittle star|brittlestars]] and [[starfish]], the latter growing noticeably larger in size than normal. Cup Coral, [[Snakelocks anemone|Snakelocks Anemone]] and [[Alcyonium digitatum|Dead Man's Fingers]] coral, may also be found here. Common fish include [[Shanny]] and [[Butterfish]] and [[Grey Seal|Atlantic]] and [[Common Seal]]s are regular off-shore visitors.<ref>''The Outer Hebrides Handbook and Guide'' (1995) Kittiwake. pp 97-102.</ref>
Great Bernera hosts numerous sea bird species, including gulls, waders and ducks such as [[Goldeneye]]. More unusually, a [[Jack Snipe]] was observed on the island in 2007.<ref>[http://www.thewesternisles.co.uk/birds/bird-sightings-december-2007.htm " Bird Sightings : Hebrides : December 2007"] thewesternisles.co.uk. Retrieved [[20 June]] [[2008]].</ref>
==Economy and infrastructure==
[[Image:Berneracomcentre.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The community centre at Breacleit]]
[[Image:Lobsterponds.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Lobster ponds]]
Great Bernera's population is mainly dependent on [[lobster]] fishing, crofting and tourism. Fertile [[machair]] pasture permits sheep and cattle grazing.<ref name=Keay> A processing plant was built at [[Kirkibost]] in 1972.<ref name=Smith/> There are still some weavers but this is no longer one of the main industries. [[Breacleit]] is home to a small [[museum]], mini-mart & off licence, school, a post office, church, community centre with café, petrol station, fire station and doctor's surgery.
Communications were much improved during the 20th century. The first [[telephone]] was installed on Lewis in 1897 and outlying villages were slowly connected. Great Bernera was the last exchange to link to Lewis with a single wire circuit and an earth return.<ref>Thompson, Francis (1968) "Harris and Lewis''. Newton Abbott. David and Charles. p.84.</ref> The bridge to the island from Lewis was built in 1953. It is said to be the first one of pre-stressed concrete in Europe. It was constructed after the islanders threatened to dynamite the hillside to create a causeway of their own making.<ref name=Smith/>
In 2003 the island residents were considering a feasibility study into bringing the island into community ownership, a process that has been successfully completed by the islanders of [[Gigha]] and [[Eigg]]. However, the laird is apparently popular locally and has said he is unwilling to sell.<ref>[http://www.scottishislands.org.uk/newsletters/scottish-islands-network-newsletter-march-2003.doc "(March 2003) Newsletter"] Scottish Islands Network. Retrieved [[21 June]] [[2008]].</ref><ref name=Smith/>
==Notable residents and visitors==
* [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]], [[Alistair Darling]] owns a converted [[Black house|blackhouse]] on the island, and has ancestral connections with the area through his mother.<ref name=darling> {{cite news |title=Darling hit with holiday home tax| url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1102332004| publisher=[[The Scotsman]]| accessdate=2007-03-22 |author=Angus Howarth |date=2004-03-20}}</ref>
* Callum Macdonald, arguably the most important publisher of Scottish poetry of the 20th century, who was born on the island.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19990304/ai_n14209315 "Obituary: Callum Macdonald"] ([[4 March]] [[1999]]) ''The Independent''. London. Retrieved [[7 July]] [[2008]].</ref>
==References==
<references/>
{{Lewis and Harris}}
{{Hebrides}}
{{coord|58|13|48|N|6|51|0|W|display=title}}
[[Category:Islands of the Outer Hebrides]]
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