Hermetray
Encyclopedia
Hermetray is an uninhabited island off North Uist
, in the Outer Hebrides
of Scotland
.
Gulls and buzzards nest in the cliffs. The island periodically gets rats.
on the edge of the Minch
. It is on the south side of the sound, but is legally part of Harris. The island is 72 hectare (0.277993554186625 sq mi) in area, and 35 metres (115 ft) at its highest point, Cnoc a' Chombaiste (Compass Hill). The rock is Lewisian gneiss
.
Martin Martin
visited the island in 1695 and said of it, that it had:
Martin arguably exaggerated the fertility of the island.
Loch Hermetray and several lochans in the south are fishless.
Seòlaid na h-Eala, which is south of the island is named after the Eala Bhàn (White Swan), a famous 17th century birlinn
. Seòlaid means a sailing channel, "fairway in the sea" or anchorage.
Martin Martin mentions that there is:
Martin was referring to Lord Seaforth's fishery, set up in 1633, but which collapsed a mere seven years later. It was part of Charles I's "Company of the General Fishery of Great Britain & Ireland".
In 1841, a population of 8 was recorded as living on the island (a single household), but it is now uninhabited.
In 1921, a Norwegian ship, the Puritan was wrecked here. Reportedly the three survivors would not partake of a crate of whisky which was wrecked with them, and did not thank their rescuer, Alasdair Beag of Berneray
, when he arranged for them to be returned to their home country. Hebrideans explain this by the name of the ship, although it should be pointed out that the ship's survivors spoke neither Scottish Gaelic nor English.
North Uist
North Uist is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-Geography:North Uist is the tenth largest Scottish island and the thirteenth largest island surrounding Great Britain. It has an area of , slightly smaller than South Uist. North Uist is connected by causeways to Benbecula...
, in the Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
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...
.
Gulls and buzzards nest in the cliffs. The island periodically gets rats.
Geography and geology
Hermetray lies in the Sound of HarrisSound of Harris
The Sound of Harris is a channel between the islands of Harris and North Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-Geography:Approximately in width, the Sound of Harris provides the main sea passage through the Hebridean archipelago, from the Atlantic Ocean to The Minch. There are many islands and...
on the edge of the Minch
The Minch
The Minch , also called The North Minch, is a strait in north-west Scotland, separating the north-west Highlands, and the northern Inner Hebrides, from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides...
. It is on the south side of the sound, but is legally part of Harris. The island is 72 hectare (0.277993554186625 sq mi) in area, and 35 metres (115 ft) at its highest point, Cnoc a' Chombaiste (Compass Hill). The rock is Lewisian gneiss
Lewisian complex
The Lewisian complex or Lewisian Gneiss is a suite of Precambrian metamorphic rocks that outcrop in the northwestern part of Scotland, forming part of the Hebridean Terrane. These rocks are of Archaean and Paleoproterozoic age, ranging from 3.0–1.7 Ga. They form the basement on which the...
.
Martin Martin
Martin Martin
Martin Martin was a Scottish writer best known for his work A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland . This book is particularly noted for its information on the St Kilda archipelago...
visited the island in 1695 and said of it, that it had:
- "Moorish soil, covered all over almost in heathHeath-Habitats:* Heath or heathland, low-growing woody vegetation, mostly consisting of heathers and related species* Heaths in the British National Vegetation Classification system...
, except here and there, with a few piles of grass and the plant milkwort. Yet not withstanding this disadvantage, it is certainly the best spot of its extent for pasturage amongst these isles, and affords plenty of milk in January and February beyond what can be seen in other islands."
Martin arguably exaggerated the fertility of the island.
Loch Hermetray and several lochans in the south are fishless.
History
The island's name is Norse, and means "Herman's Island" (Hermunðrs ey), although it is not known who this person was.Seòlaid na h-Eala, which is south of the island is named after the Eala Bhàn (White Swan), a famous 17th century birlinn
Birlinn
The birlinn was a type of boat used especially in the Hebrides and West Highlands of Scotland in the Middle Ages. The Birlinn is a Norse-Gaelic variant on the Norse longship. Variants of the name in English and Lowland Scots include "berlin" and "birling". It probably derives ultimately from the...
. Seòlaid means a sailing channel, "fairway in the sea" or anchorage.
Martin Martin mentions that there is:
- "the foundation of a house built by the English in the reign of King Charles the FirstCharles I of EnglandCharles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
's time, for one of their magazines to lay up the cask, salt etc, for carrying on the fishery, which was then begun in the Western Islands; but this design miscarried because of the civil wars which then broke out."
Martin was referring to Lord Seaforth's fishery, set up in 1633, but which collapsed a mere seven years later. It was part of Charles I's "Company of the General Fishery of Great Britain & Ireland".
In 1841, a population of 8 was recorded as living on the island (a single household), but it is now uninhabited.
In 1921, a Norwegian ship, the Puritan was wrecked here. Reportedly the three survivors would not partake of a crate of whisky which was wrecked with them, and did not thank their rescuer, Alasdair Beag of Berneray
Berneray, North Uist
Berneray is an island and community in the Sound of Harris, Scotland. It is one of fifteen inhabited islands in the Outer Hebrides. It is famed for its rich and colourful history which has attracted much tourism....
, when he arranged for them to be returned to their home country. Hebrideans explain this by the name of the ship, although it should be pointed out that the ship's survivors spoke neither Scottish Gaelic nor English.