inner scottish inner isles archipelago west coast mainland scotland south east outer island chains form experience mild oceanic climate comprise inhabited islands islands area greater hectares acres main commercial activities tourism fishing modern times formed separate local government jurisdictions north south islands area km2 population population density km2 square mile important prehistoric structures pre date written references islands roman greek authors historic period earliest known settlers north southern kingdom prior islands kingdom norse ruled years sovereignty transferred scotland treaty perth control islands held clan chiefs principally 19th century devastating effect communities recent years population levels ceased decline sea transport crucial variety ferry services operate mainland scotland islands language remains strong areas landscapes inspired variety artists diversity wildlife geography islands form disparate archipelago largest islands south north largest populous area km2 population southern group area roughly corresponding ancient kingdom incorporated modern council area northern islands county area physical largest islands follows geology islands varied mountainous whilst like relatively low lying highest mountains peaks metres common coastline fertile low lying islands swept strong tides tide race largest world smaller including small isles summer isles human inhabited islands population census grown period scottish island populations grew area greater acres records date settlement smaller islands incomplete inhabited point early historic norse periods common main island chains scotland smaller remote islands abandoned 19th 20th centuries cases continuous prehistoric times islands perceived relatively self sufficient agricultural economies view developed outsiders remote islands lacked essential services modern industrial economy populations larger islands grew overall main commercial activities tourism fishing centred including isle single overall area relatively reliant primary industries public sector dependence self employment micro business parts defined highlands islands enterprise economically fragile areas islands placed exploit energy particularly onshore offshore wind peninsula example economically robust area islands development support local economy climate influence atlantic_ocean creates mild oceanic climate temperatures generally cool averaging january july peninsula snow seldom lies sea level fewer mainland winds limiting factor vegetation speed mph recorded south common rainfall generally high mountains hills places country days sunshine typically hours bright sunshine month originally settled era diversity prehistoric sites flint found field near dated find indicate presence summer hunting party permanent settlement burnt shells microscopic found indicate settlement kind oldest evidence occupation scotland evidence large scale processing dated circa found pit dig discovered remains hundreds thousands burned shells gives insight communal activity forward planning period nuts harvested single year analysis suggests trees cut time scale activity scotland lack large game island suggests possibility contained community largely vegetarian diet time spent island stone traces red found dated earliest stone built structures found far scotland general sites lack scale drama found western isles numerous iron age sites including remains fort similar layout complex atlantic etymology earliest extant written reference islands appears elder natural history states writing years later drawing earlier naval expedition refers latin translation writes possibly specifically meaning probably took information visited britain possible information west coast scotland poor quality watson states meaning unknown root pre celtic early written references include flight people ireland north mentioned 12th century meaning deep sea isle refers meaning east near individual island place names outer mixed norse origins history map identifies tribes lived roman era written records life begin 6th century founding kingdom recorded encompassed roughly scotland ireland consisted initially main north based based end 7th century fourth emerged based eastern figure large history founding monastery ensured great importance spread christianity northern britain far unique territory sufficiently important death recorded frequency smaller sites known annals kingdom independent existence ended viking age eventually merged lands form north inner nominally control historical record sparse norse rule according conquered occupied isles unknown onwards repeated raids british isles recorded islands britain devastated sacked besieged kings likely scandinavian significant western coasts scotland 9th century references foreign appear term variously succeeding centuries refer individuals mixed scandinavian celtic descent culture dominant south west scotland parts isles early 10th century obscure period far concerned fought battle recorded king isles difficult reconcile records irish annals norse sources likely norwegian fought control period 9th 12th centuries stout earl took command position retained period killed battle period uncertainty possible son mighty ruler circa death decades later late 12th century irish influence significant feature island life mac high king ireland took possession isles records rulers obscured arrival king dublin isles ancestor succeeding rulers isles eventually ousted fled died plague clear extent dominance asserted islands north man growing irish influence seas brought rapid decisive response norway established direct norwegian second expedition saw incursions ireland august killed fighting king isles followed succession descendants kings norway ruled north years control southern lost emergence self styled lord took control met death invasion scottish mainland point black grandson took possession northern southern isles distributed sons descendant eventually known lords isles giving rise life scottish monarchs sought control islands descendants held strategy eventually led invasion king norway stalemate battle retreated died following expedition rights norwegian crown old yielded result treaty perth clans scottish rule lords isles phrase recorded continue rule subjects king scots fourth lord isles family powerful position secret treaty england negotiated castle signed servant english crown scotland found treaty issued sentence lands restored promise good behaviour unable control son defeated battle bloody bay fought coast near rebellion nephew provoked lands time powerful clans post norse period originally based following isles emerged independent clan substantial centred south bitter rivals attempt murder church retaliation previous massacre resulted failure rebellion famous rescuing prince charles edward stuart troops story strongly associated escape buried visited journey western islands scotland written johnson words mentioned history courage fidelity virtues mentioned honour wake rebellion clan system broken islands series landed estates 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 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 occasion marines deployed maintain order remained new economic opportunities emerged export cattle commercial fishing tourism nonetheless emigration military service choice archipelago populations continued late 19th 20th centuries population fell lengthy periods continuous occupation notwithstanding smaller islands abandoned isles 1880s nonetheless continuing gradual economic improvements visible replacement traditional accommodation modern design recent years assistance highlands islands enterprise island populations begun increase decades decline transport scheduled ferry services scottish mainland operate routes including peninsula ferries reach islands route ross port service form outer north services available onward journeys stations direct services glasgow scheduled flights airport airport near port ellen archipelago exposed wind tide numerous sites wrecked ships sited aid navigation locations lighthouse located remote rock warns away area nearby originally considered impossible site light loss steamer thirty hands maiden voyage astonishing vessels area storm december encouraged positive action remote lighthouse vicinity height metres tallest scotland language speakers equal population archipelago speakers languages time modern variant remains strong parts education scotland act led generations forbidden speak native language classroom recognised having dealt major blow language children beaten speaking school late 1930s recently scotland act enacted order provide continuing support language time census parish speakers overall having distributed time population speaking students travel world attend college based arts landscapes inspired variety musicians writers artists known cave famous written inspired visit contemporary musicians associated islands include song based traditional song poet born setting best known poem wrote novel whilst living wrote screenplay film adaptation whilst author train dragon spent childhood summers stated beautiful places earth kind place expect dragons overhead wildlife respects generally lack biodiversity comparison mainland britain example half number species islands offer naturalist observing local abundance found 18th century noted tables stranger received plenty wanting tract land inhabited wild scarcely remember seen dinner game sea fish needs told supplies great europe sell numerous yearly england supposed want beef home sheep goats great numbers common domestic modern era 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 mountain hare apparently absent 18th century rabbit abundant wild cat pine red deer common hills grey seal common seal present coasts scotland internationally important numbers colonies found isles abundant rich fresh water streams contain brown trout atlantic salmon water offshore killer sharks sea life seen edible crab found example sound nationally important horse beds sea heather containing bell heather cross heath abundant diversity arctic alpine plants including alpine
Inner Hebrides