scottish pronounced second largest outer scotland located miles south known important populations including black legged nest sea cliffs highest british isles iron age remains culture island influenced early christianity 15th 19th centuries lands subsequently suffered hands thousand years continuous island abandoned speaking residents remained longer grazing sheep island associated boat song composed following abandonment scotland owned geology soils pleistocene era covered ice sheets spread scotland atlantic_ocean outer retreat ice years ago sea levels lower present circa joined single large island comprising outer steadily rising sea levels time isolated island interspersed granite ice deposited erratic blocks rock boulder clay eastern island rest island covered thin acidic soils bare rock geography pre history small archipelago known bishop isles composed cluster islands surrounded sea making passage island matter considerable hazard form southern end larger group large beach eastern isle settlement note village located tiny cove old norse ship valley scots bay steep western deep sea cliffs thought highest rise sea level boasts large sea old norse mound mound natural arch cliffs boats sail rare days restless sea calm outlying including twin rocks south west south nearby island big little smaller stack called north highest hills old norse hill named relief ship sent sent discover communications island ceased called sent ashore returned report residents died disease fearing plague refused allow board survived year climbed hill day look rescue island settled granted land south western features remains iron age fort pre historic site near western landing place southern end bay stone circle year old found resting sand near village overlooking bay stone hammer discovered nearby possible date find contain remains historic times heavily influenced celtic norse scots culture evident variety names isle possesses derived misleading second largest isles lower lying appears smaller sea variants speakers turn variously described island pronunciation finally settling current variant murray states appropriately means history culture christianity clan little doubt early christianity influenced example nearby islands cross inscribed direct evidence found circa onwards viking raids outer gathered pace similarly viking graves found replicated whilst definite indications norse settlement presence island confirmed features named 12th century onwards norse power weakened reverted scots control lords isles emerged dominant local power adopted cliffs traditional crest war cry based fishing white fish herring pasture land sheep cattle pigs kept dependent bounty provided example rent chicks reformation reached south outer roman catholicism held sway 12th century early 20th lack resident priest meant services organised lay community local culture traditions songs story telling rich varied observed failure reach far 18th century journey favourable ceremony ignorant nations ceremony tradition extended savage parts scotland chief ministers abolish stated continued remembrance religion local beliefs welcome practitioners organised religion thought live near summit hill associated music taken granted generally avoided powers seventh son seventh son assumed sufficient treatment diseases tuberculosis old ways dying estates including isles sold colonel lack consideration tenants potato matched zeal create sheep farms effect increasing population families evicted chose settle ships nova scotia regard probably advantage actually reduced inherited estate visited year period tenure population island later census records residents occupying houses compared total families large children uncommon generations sharing single small house life operative fishing cutting landing boats communal activities island remote means cut 19th century fishermen sold fish glasgow ireland men women worked east coast herring fishing industry food brought mainland scotland regular basis height village life mill chapel house consisting church priest residence school despite continuous population thousand years evacuations began island completely abandoned residents evacuation numerous reasons evacuation boat neighbouring island lost crew half male population encourage confidence fishermen lack sheltered landing meant island weeks time loading unloading goods best worst hazardous meant time possessions fewer doubt population increasingly aware relative isolation writing collapse similar populations neat suggests common thread appear historically aware communities continue existence based endless physical opportunity easier taken tells story men left visiting intended new_york said work returned united_states months later great surprise met friend explained unable return met adverse sea conditions similar difficulties experienced visiting priests doctors bound constant source concern weather huge wave washed taking sheep summit metres sea level speculate quiet failure populations small islands like husband available natural resources certainly population began exceed carrying capacity land installed assist landings south end bay design flawed failure disappointment july grazing land raided isles including families followed raiders led took legal action visiting judge took view neglected duties landowner long indifference gone far drive sheltered metres construction causeway wrote better thousand times die hardships lot november families consisting individuals sheltered beach plight raiders raised westminster despite considerable public sympathy eventually sentenced months prison shortly purchased entire island aim providing new summer families living families remained planned leave dozen fishermen families living summer island finally abandoned wished stay population reduced viable number lack school closed april factor doubt parish priest encouraged claimed like travelling church receive collection box visits bears similarities island evacuated referred near distance long island 19th century visitor commented primitive especially regards houses suggesting lack permanent landing greater import sheer distance present day island evacuated purchased sold experience sheep farmer australia montana russell clearly man liked company choosing live island autumn winter pet cats joined spring summer seven years sold farmer essex visited rarely let local farmers attempted sell island success local syndicate called head isles completed purchase advent motor boats islands considerably easier company ownership continued years acquired provide area natural beauty memory parents courage late brother bernard buildings survive island chapel house recently lost roof wall flora fauna large population important breeding ground pairs european population pairs black legged pairs individuals pairs pairs storm common arctic species nest sea cliffs stack late 18th century driven away recorded sheep island rough population rabbits introduced evacuation grey seals abundant numbers having grown substantially departure human residents breed use beach winter flora island typical outer heather moss grass single tree metre high cliff overlooking sea holly rare grown late nineteenth century sea normally found sea level able grow high cliff tops ocean spray spring summer wild flowers deserted village nearby site special scientific interest visiting island attracts regular visits recent years popular rock scotland operates licensed information available tourist office occasional anchorage sheltered westerly winds landing beach difficult regular heavy swell approaching old landing place easier landing place boat song haunting boat song composed founder recorded francis family written style work songs tune invites listener imagine island singing time pulling chorus heel boys let boys bring head round heel boys let boys sailing care white care wind weather let boys inch wearing chorus wives waiting bank boys looking heather pull round boys anchor sun sets chorus recorded numerous artists including lyrics variously interpreted example hall version female vocalist rendering stanza waiting harbour waiting break day waiting harbour sun sets fame song means things popularly associated island evocative island life sung residents having composed long evacuation songs composed residents island survive include song isle written abandonment island trip written father known locally spain having attended possibly period lived songs oral tradition relating discussed literature local tradition french gold intended support rebellion hidden sea cave west coast story forms basis novel children isolated human colony book engines light series science fiction novels partly set
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