old norse comprise widespread diverse archipelago west coast mainland scotland main groups inner islands long history occupation dating culture residents affected successive influences celtic norse english speaking peoples diversity reflected names given islands derived languages spoken historic prehistoric times artists inspired experiences today economy islands dependent fishing tourism oil industry energy lack biodiversity comparison mainland britain seals present coasts internationally important numbers geology geography climate diverse geology ranging age strata oldest rocks europe divided main groups separated north south lie closer mainland scotland include small isles inhabited islands group outer chain islands small located kilometres west mainland scotland inhabited islands archipelago main islands include north south total islands area approximately square kilometres population descriptions scope scotland describes lying east include offshore islands islands lie sea described formal definitions exist past outer referred today known phrase refer general cool temperate climate remarkably mild steady northerly latitude influence outer average temperature year january summer average annual rainfall lewis millimetres sunshine hours range summer days relatively long august period history settled era earlier climatic conditions improved sustain human settlement occupation site dated years oldest evidence occupation scotland examples structures period finest example standing stones dating 3rd millennium bronze age settlement site prehistoric found celtic era greek historian wrote island called means round temple stood moon appeared little distance earth years reference stone circle traveller called related tale expedition west coast scotland shortly stated journey islands visited retreat holy men mentioned island written records native life begin 6th century founding kingdom took place encompassed roughly scotland ireland figure large history founding monastery ensured kingdom great importance spread christianity northern britain far unique territory sufficiently important death recorded frequency smaller sites known annals north inner nominally control historical record sparse hunter states relation king sixth century western isles inhabitants appear culture speech time likely regarded fairly distant presence norwegian control viking raids began scottish shores end 8th century came norse control settlement ensuing decades especially following success battle western isles dominant figure mid 9th century time amassed substantial island realm variety alliances norse leaders nominally owed allegiance norwegian crown practice control fairly limited norse control scotland formally signed islands norway scottish acceptance iii king isles came norwegian king conquered swift campaign earlier year directed local norwegian leaders island petty kingdoms capturing islands imposed direct royal control price recorded lewis fire played high heaven flame houses king dyed sword red blood rulers kings norway situation lasted time outer remained norwegian control broke royal house following ill fated expedition norway yielded result treaty perth contribution islands found personal place names archaeological record norse period limited best known find lewis date mid 12th century scottish control norse era drew close norse speaking princes gradually replaced speaking clan chiefs including lewis harris transition little relieve islands strife early 14th century isles based theory chiefs feudal superiors managed exert control lords isles ruled subjects king scots fourth lord isles family powerful position rebellion nephew provoked family lands king authorised gentleman initially successful colonists driven local forces commanded based forces colonists tried result attempt successful course time lewis held later pursued approach investing fishing particular royalist led lewis garrisoned wars kingdoms troops destroyed old castle early british era implementation new kingdom great_britain clans distant monarch strong considerable number came support earl rising including aftermath decisive effectively ended hopes stuart restoration widely felt british government strategy clan chiefs turn descendants english speaking main concern revenues estates brought welfare lived brought peace islands following century came terrible price wake rebellion clan system broken islands series landed estates early 19th century time improvement population growth roads built slate industry significant employer surrounding islands construction canals engineering works bridge atlantic improved transport access mid-19th century inhabitants parts devastated destroyed communities highlands islands human populations evicted replaced sheep farms position exacerbated failure islands industry 18th century end napoleonic wars large scale emigration endemic battle involved demonstration lack access land serving notices event instrumental creation reported situation highlands disturbances continued passing act modern economy remained new economic opportunities emerged export cattle commercial fishing tourism nonetheless emigration military service choice archipelago populations continued late 19th century 20th century lengthy periods continuous occupation notwithstanding smaller islands abandoned continuing gradual economic improvements visible replacement traditional accommodation modern design assistance highlands islands enterprise islands populations begun increase decades decline discovery substantial deposits north_sea oil sector contributed degree economic stability recent decades example yard history significant employer oil industries media arts known cave famous composed residing islands composed contemporary musicians associated islands include poet born setting best known poem novelist lived wrote whilst living contains references harris inspired holiday visit wrote screenplay film adaptation whilst song named british horror film man set fictional island experimental person adventure video game takes place unnamed island british romantic comedy bride set fictional language residents spoken variety different languages long period human occupation assumed northern language arrived ireland growing influence kingdom 6th century onwards dominant language southern time time military meant prevalent north place names existed prior 9th century viking occupation means southern isles given contrast northern isles south place names common 13th century main language entire archipelago use scots english prominent recent times contain largest concentration speakers scotland especially true outer majority people speak language scottish college based ironically given status western isles stronghold scotland language islands means isles foreigners roots time norse etymology earliest written references survived relating islands elder natural history states makes separate reference watson concludes outer writing years later drawing earlier naval expeditions writes possibly meaning later texts classical latin writers use forms recorded pre celtic use tribal root suggested irish attempt reproduce word translating tribe come root meaning horse watson notes possible relationship ancient irish tribal personal king recorded names individual islands reflect complex linguistic history majority norse roots pre celtic origin 7th century abbot records pre celtic names etymology complex include pre celtic root lewis old norse suggestions norse meaning song house origin norse credentials questionable earliest comprehensive written list island names undertaken cases provides earliest written form island inhabited islands larger ones listed lewis harris largest island scotland largest british isles great_britain ireland incorporates lewis north harris south frequently referred individual islands joined land border remarkably island common english referred lewis harris lewis harris harris lewis etc reason treated separate islands lewis pre celtic origin harris problematic refer harris possibly outer word derive ancient greek meaning desert origin similarly unclear examples inner island names originally completely replaced example records names passed usage norse era locations clear island celtic replaced similar sounding norse reverted essentially norse ending example islands names islands follow general patterns inhabited islands following largest etymology small archipelago west outer main island complex saint known theories proposed word origin dates late 16th century notes appears dutch map dated derived norse sweet mistaken dutch assumption spring dedicated saint consisting norse words origin long pre dates use similarly open interpretation watson offers old irish word meaning death possibly relating dangerous seas drawing saga describing early 13th century voyage ireland mentions visit islands speculates shape resembles norse etymology small islands complex relation believed black dismal translation noting usual natural history respects generally lack biodiversity comparison mainland britain example half number species islands provide breeding grounds important species including world largest colony northern life includes red rock dove atlantic golden eagle white tailed sea eagle named introduced successfully spread neighbouring islands including small population red billed concentrated islands red deer common hills grey seal common seal present coasts scotland internationally important numbers colonies found isles rich freshwater streams contain brown trout atlantic salmon water offshore killer sharks seen heather containing bell heather cross heath abundant diversity arctic alpine plants including alpine south national nature reserve owned managed reserve covers hectares range local habitats species flowering plants recorded reserve nationally scarce south considered best place aquatic plant slender considerable controversy animals native outer having introduced 1970s reduce garden spread posed threat eggs ground nesting birds undertook area halted trapped animals relocated mainland
Hebrides