isle pronounced largest island scotland area square kilometres seventh largest scottish island council area census resident population culturally physically similar separated peninsula divided highland lowland areas described paradise continuously inhabited early period numerous prehistoric remains found 6th century onwards speaking peoples ireland island centre religious activity troubled viking age property norwegian crown formally absorbed kingdom scotland 13th century 19th century led significant end language way life economy population recovered recent years main industry tourism diversity wildlife including species tree endemic area etymology islands scotland occupied speakers languages names islands possible meaning result unusual far clear mac states said unrelated ireland means kidney shaped irish kidney unusually scottish island offers meaning high place corresponds geography significantly land immediately surrounds shores place names existed later replaced speaking spread ireland adjacent kingdom viking age island vast majority scottish islands property norwegian crown time known result norse influence current place names viking origin geography geology island lies profile north hills seen coast known sight referred sleeping warrior resemblance resting human figure highest hills goat fell metres north east highest peak north west metres largest valley island west whilst narrow east surround goat fell terrain south mountainous considerable portion interior lies metres reaches metres summit south referred scotland miniature divided highland lowland areas runs northeast southwest scotland popular destination come rocks ranging age interior northern half island taken large granite created substantial activity million years ago period comprises outer ring coarse granite inner core finer granite later granite late rocks include extensive composite south island central ring complex eroded system surrounded near continuous ring rocks rocks dominate southern half island especially old contain pitted marks created lightning strikes large sand dunes preserved near showing presence ancient desert central complex subsided blocks sandstone rare example cretaceous chalk 19th century mined near discovered nearly tons produced closed 11th duke hamilton grounds scene reopened world war operated vein ran visiting found example north near provided evidence theories age earth spot famous places study geology pleistocene entirely covered scotland ice highest peaks time retreat ice close pleistocene sea levels metres lower present likely circa island connected mainland scotland sea level changes rise land makes charting post glacial coastlines complex task evident island post glacial raised beaches king cave south west coast example raised beach cave metres long metres high lies present day sea level tall sea cliffs north east including large rock heights far north end island villages villages mainly shoreline old norse broad bay site ferry terminal hotels majority shops seat hamilton largest village island population compared villages include family principal seat north north east south west south south east surrounding islands smaller satellite islands holy isle lies east opposite located south coast tiny lies kilometres north south west connected low tide islands include climate influence atlantic_ocean create mild oceanic climate temperatures generally cool averaging january july sea level southern half island mountainous favourable climate north east coast sheltered prevailing winds west south snow seldom lies sea level frequent mainland islands west coast scotland annual rainfall generally high south west north east mountains receiving annually june months upwards hours bright sunshine recorded average history particular concentration early form gallery grave typical style structures rectangular stone earth mound chamber lined larger stone pottery bone fragments found inside chambers suggest area public display ritual good examples west village similar structures called giants graves numerous standing stones dating prehistoric times including stone circles deposits island locally making items era early bronze age items transported britain bronze age sites excavated including mound near near produced bronze dagger gold south west near ruin iron age fortified structure dating original walls metres thick enclosed circular area metres diameter medieval era ancient irish poem called recorded 13th century describes attractions island sea strikes shoulders companies men feed blue spears merry hills food refreshing water streams nuts plenty wood monastery founded 6th century active centre activities caves point contain slab ancient altar stone prints right feet said 11th century south isles isles death isles came direct rule norway restored local rule death ruled son angus scottish isles broke away completely independent kingdom battle kingdoms norway scotland king norway reclaimed norwegian provinces west arriving rewarded number grants lands given following death later year norway ceded islands western scotland scottish crown treaty perth substantial viking grave discovered near south containing iron nails fragments bronze 9th century bronze coin grave similar date nearby yielded sword shield medieval man opposite island near said taken shelter 14th century bruce returned island having earlier granted lands assistance rendered time played prominent island medieval history probably dating 13th century captured english forces wars independence taken scottish troops badly damaged action english ships sustained attack john lord isles originally seat clan stewart passed family 15th century short time reign king james 16th century isle regency 5th lord modern era commencement early modern period james 2nd lord hamilton cousin scotland helped arrange marriage princess england reward created earl local economy period based run rig system basic crops potatoes population slowly grew early 19th century alexander 10th duke hamilton embarked programme devastating effect island population improvements typically led land rented families converted single farm cases land promised canada adult male april example boarded brig month journey half paid duke arrival quebec hectares acres available heads extended families villages removed culture island devastated writer wrote hear duke hamilton away man mother son isle pity memorial constructed shore paid canadian descendant august flying international airport canada crashed north goat fell passengers crew died resident population decline figure recorded background scottish island populations growing period spoken widely beginning 20th century census reported speakers eastern island western island percentage island dropped onwards number speakers fell vague quotes reporting inhabitants island speakers showing declined population continued decline native speakers died 1990s current day speakers originate areas scotland residents age speak reasonably documented carried island reporting spoken fair number old inhabitants interviewed locations description dialect published runs pages information survey scotland collected dialect data scotland interviewed native speakers dialect falls firmly southern group referred peripheral celtic studies shows stop replacing old irish hiatus road normally dropping father normally preservation long weak fan normally unusual feature good normally mac notes island poetic native island nicknamed meaning big rabbit locally pronounced local government seventeenth century late twentieth century reorganisation local government district tier system local government lasted etc scotland act came effect regions districts replacing authorities council area constituent islands old county statistical purposes registration county ceremonial purposes area house_of_commons constituency represented labour_party previously constituency constituency currently represented labour held seat gained majority making marginal seat significantly increased majority labour_party health services island provided bed acute hospital provides primary care services supports hospital practice based base branch transport connected scottish mainland ferries isles summer day trips available board steamer service operated local resident connects neighbouring holy isle roads island kilometres long coast road island kilometres stretch road previously designated classified road travelling south goes round south coast continuing north west coast island point road east coast point coast road ventures inland climb metres pass located roads run east west island main cross island road kilometres long called string climbs kilometres minor road branches right single track road ross runs kilometres island explored public transport bus service operated economy main industry island tourism main attractions imposing owned contains hotels restaurants leisure complexes biggest employers island local businesses include opened produces range island number golf courses including hole links course founded farming forestry important industries plans large salmon farm holding fish criticised feared facility scotland marine zone announced september brewery founded march near brewery produces regular wheat beer popular brand include sunset seasonal called winter brewery open tours shop business went subsequently sold june brewery production widely available scotland culture scottish dialect died speaker died 1970s set end 1990s features note model castle adventure newspaper listed november title local newspaper closest circulation area entry reads banner founded readership cent britain seventh largest shore island online weekly publication called voice relies mainly articles contributed community members version game monopoly launched style create mistakenly associated isle natural history island endemic species tree trees scottish mountain ash cut rarity measured numbers endangered tree species world protected north end island partly national nature reserve monitored staff recorded mature trees typically trees mountain slopes close tree line grow lower altitudes preserved species bird recorded including black falcon golden eagle reported extensive surveys unable record similarly red billed longer breeds island red deer numerous northern hills populations red common offshore harbour sharks species northern marine protected area zone terms marine scotland act means fish taken designated area scottish government created scotland order protect delicate beds south fishermen breached voluntary agreement vicinity notable residents sir chancellor chief medical officer author scottish brother alexander founded daniel grandfather prime minister minister scotland scots playwright poet politician journalist children writer zoologist
Isle of Arran