Càrna
Encyclopedia
Càrna is an island in Loch Sunart
, an arm of the sea, close to the Ardnamurchan
peninsula
, on the west coast of Scotland
.
Càrna lies across the mouth of Loch Teacuis, forming two narrow kyle
s which provide some of the trickiest rock-dodging for yachtsmen anywhere on the west coast. Moine schist bedrock of quartz-feldspar constitution, with mixed schists and mica schists in a west coastal strip. A north-south ridge divides the island in two. From the heather covered rocky peak of Cruachan Chàrna, there are spectacular views over Oronsay, Loch Sunart
, Morvern
, Coll
and Isle of Mull
.
s, redstart
s, wheatear
s, whinchat
s, twite
s, herons, ostercatchers, cormorants, raven
s and kestrel
s. There are also eagles here, including occasional sea eagle
s. Eilean nan Gabhar (G. goat island) to the south is often covered in seals, and there are also porpoise
s in the area.
The island has been privately owned by the same family since the 1870s and has several holiday houses.
The crofter's cottage on Carna was made into a family home in the 1920s.
At one point in the 19th Century up to 18 families lived on the island.
A graveyard still remains above and behind the Caretakers house, which is still active. The last burial occurred there in 2009 when Margaret Hewer's ashes were scattered there. Her father Dr Earnshaw Hewer was also buried on Carna in 1931.
Margaret was the granddaughter of Canon Horace Newton
, of the nearby 26000 acres (105.2 km²) Glencripesdale Estate
, of which Carna once formed part. Her father Dr Earnshaw Hewer bought the Island in 1922 out of the Estate when the rest of it was being sold, and it still remains within the family.
, Goodwin Newton
& William Newton III), ancestors of the current family, who are of direct Milward's Needles descent.
The Glencripesdale Estate
, as it was collectively known, stretched for 20 miles (32.2 km) along the entire south side of Loch Sunart, and the entire east side of Loch Teacuis. The estate comprised the smaller estates of Glencripesdale, Laudale and Rahoy, and measured 41 square miles (106.2 km²), and its centre point was the 27 bedroom Glencripesdale Castle.
Loch Sunart
Loch Sunart is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. Loch Sunart runs west from the sea, bounded to the north by the Sunart district of Ardnamurchan and to the south by the Morvern district. An inlet from Loch Sunart, Loch Teacuis, runs south-easterly into Morvern.At it is the longest sea...
, an arm of the sea, close to the Ardnamurchan
Ardnamurchan
Ardnamurchan is a peninsula in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, noted for being very unspoilt and undisturbed. Its remoteness is accentuated by the main access route being a single track road for much of its length.-Geography:...
peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
, on the west coast of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Geography
Kyle
Kyle may refer to:* KYLE, a Fox network affiliate* Kyle , a Scottish masculine given name * Kyle , a surname of Scottish origin* Kyle, Ayrshire, Scotland* Kyle, Indiana, United States...
s which provide some of the trickiest rock-dodging for yachtsmen anywhere on the west coast. Moine schist bedrock of quartz-feldspar constitution, with mixed schists and mica schists in a west coastal strip. A north-south ridge divides the island in two. From the heather covered rocky peak of Cruachan Chàrna, there are spectacular views over Oronsay, Loch Sunart
Oronsay, Loch Sunart
Oronsay is an uninhabited island in Loch Sunart, Scotland.It is low-lying, barren and rocky, deeply indented with sea lochs.The island encloses Loch Drumbuie , a popular anchorage for yachts and a temporary home to fish farm cages.-Footnotes:...
, Morvern
Morvern
Morvern is a peninsula in south west Lochaber, on the west coast of Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic A' Mhorbhairne . The highest point is the summit of the Corbett Creach Bheinn which reaches in elevation....
, Coll
Coll
Coll is a small island, west of Mull in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Coll is known for its sandy beaches, which rise to form large sand dunes, for its corncrakes, and for Breachacha Castle.-Geography and geology:...
and Isle of Mull
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
.
Wildlife
A variety of habitats support willow warblerWillow Warbler
The Willow Warbler is a very common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia, from Ireland east to the Anadyr River basin in eastern Siberia...
s, redstart
Redstart
Redstarts are a group of small Old World birds. They were formerly classified in the thrush family , but are now known to be part of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae...
s, wheatear
Wheatear
The wheatears are passerine birds of the genus Oenanthe. They were formerly considered to be members of the thrush family Turdidae, but are now more commonly placed in the flycatcher family Muscicapidae...
s, whinchat
Whinchat
The Whinchat Saxicola rubetra is a small migratory passerine bird breeding in Europe and western Asia and wintering in Africa.Its scientific name means "small rock-dweller", in reference to its habitat...
s, twite
Twite
The Twite is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.The Twite is a small finch, similar in size and shape to a Linnet. Birds of the subspecies flavirostris are long, and those of the subspecies altaica are long. It lacks the red head patch and breast shown by the Linnet and the...
s, herons, ostercatchers, cormorants, raven
Raven
Raven is the common name given to several larger-bodied members of the genus Corvus—but in Europe and North America the Common Raven is normally implied...
s and kestrel
Kestrel
The name kestrel, is given to several different members of the falcon genus, Falco. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects...
s. There are also eagles here, including occasional sea eagle
Sea Eagle
Sea eagle mainly refers to Sea eagle, birds of prey of the genus Haliaeetus.It may also refer to:-Aerospace:* Sea Eagle , British, anti-ship missile* Sea Eagle * Supermarine Sea Eagle, 1920s British passenger flying boat-Sports:...
s. Eilean nan Gabhar (G. goat island) to the south is often covered in seals, and there are also porpoise
Porpoise
Porpoises are small cetaceans of the family Phocoenidae; they are related to whales and dolphins. They are distinct from dolphins, although the word "porpoise" has been used to refer to any small dolphin, especially by sailors and fishermen...
s in the area.
Economy and history
Càrna is thought to be more fertile than its neighbour, Oronsay. The northern part of the island is named Bac a' Mhathachaidh (Scottish Gaelic: "cultivated bank").The island has been privately owned by the same family since the 1870s and has several holiday houses.
The crofter's cottage on Carna was made into a family home in the 1920s.
At one point in the 19th Century up to 18 families lived on the island.
A graveyard still remains above and behind the Caretakers house, which is still active. The last burial occurred there in 2009 when Margaret Hewer's ashes were scattered there. Her father Dr Earnshaw Hewer was also buried on Carna in 1931.
Margaret was the granddaughter of Canon Horace Newton
Canon Horace Newton
Canon Horace Newton was a well-respected priest within the Church of England, philanthropist, and country landowner.-His life:...
, of the nearby 26000 acres (105.2 km²) Glencripesdale Estate
Glencripesdale Estate
Glencripesdale Estate is situated along the south side of Loch Sunart, a sea loch in the west highlands of Scotland.Today, the Isle of Càrna is the last remaining part of the once huge 35,000 acre deer forest and grousemoor based Glencripesdale Estate, which was bought in 1870 by the three Newton...
, of which Carna once formed part. Her father Dr Earnshaw Hewer bought the Island in 1922 out of the Estate when the rest of it was being sold, and it still remains within the family.
Glencripesdale Estate
The Island is the last remaining part of the once huge 26000 acres (105.2 km²) Glencripesdale Estate, which was bought in the 1870s by the three Newton brothers (Canon Horace NewtonCanon Horace Newton
Canon Horace Newton was a well-respected priest within the Church of England, philanthropist, and country landowner.-His life:...
, Goodwin Newton
Goodwin Newton
Thomas Henry Goodwin Newton was the Chairman of Imperial Continental Gas Association , one of the United Kingdom's largest energy businesses...
& William Newton III), ancestors of the current family, who are of direct Milward's Needles descent.
The Glencripesdale Estate
Glencripesdale Estate
Glencripesdale Estate is situated along the south side of Loch Sunart, a sea loch in the west highlands of Scotland.Today, the Isle of Càrna is the last remaining part of the once huge 35,000 acre deer forest and grousemoor based Glencripesdale Estate, which was bought in 1870 by the three Newton...
, as it was collectively known, stretched for 20 miles (32.2 km) along the entire south side of Loch Sunart, and the entire east side of Loch Teacuis. The estate comprised the smaller estates of Glencripesdale, Laudale and Rahoy, and measured 41 square miles (106.2 km²), and its centre point was the 27 bedroom Glencripesdale Castle.