Gaelic name Gunnaigh Meaning of name "Gunni's island" Area rank 176 Area 69 ha Council area Argyll and Bute | Norse name Gunni-øy OS grid reference NM100513 Sovereign state United Kingdom Highest elevation 35 m Lieutenancy area Argyll and Bute | |
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Island groups British Isles, Inner Hebrides | ||
Gunna (Gaelic: Gunnaigh) is an 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), 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".
Etymology and history
"Gunni" is a Norse forename, and Haswell-Smith suggests that Gunni-øy means "island of Gunni the Dane" (although it is not recorded for which Gunni the island was named) or conceivably that the modern name is from Eilean nan Gamhna, Gaelic for "island of the stirks". Mac an Tàilleir suggests that the Norse means "Gunnar's island".
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.
According to Mac an Tàilleir Gunna is mentioned in the lines of a song, "Farewell beyond Gunna to Mull of the great mountains".
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.