small island west coast scotland island forms usually resident population people climate mild higher average sunshine hours soils fertile long history having inhabited continuously prehistoric times important role ancestral home fell control norse lords isles incorporated modern scotland saw variety conflicts medieval period population peaked eighteenth century 20th century island numerous owners caused problems developing island beginning 21st century resident numbers fallen community buy transformed island growing population variety new commercial activities complement farming tourism attractions island include gardens abundant wildlife especially numerous surrounding rocks etymology occupied speakers languages names islands possible meaning result modern authorities hold probably derived meaning good island god island norse historical text saga explicitly calls island despite suggest derived instead meaning island norse normally shows form notes isle called charter appears old maps speculates possible pre norse gig female fertility symbol offers possibility isle norse female resident nicknamed widespread pronunciation southern preserve geography geology lies kilometres coast long roughly north south direction maximum wide total area acres highest elevation reaches metres rocky central spine composed main settlement south east coast offers small anchorage sheltered north west east bays names imply lie small climate mild higher average sunshine hours minimum temperatures lower average days ground frost scotland annual rainfall typically millimetres millimetres surrounding islands lies offshore south smaller island lies west south east sandy spit connects north west north rocks called common meaning black rock sound separates attendant isles mainland west north west respectively large islands south west north ireland seen clear days rocks port ellen little coast north small rocks small rock islands seas asked tourist knew local resident replied know aren good history inhabited continuously prehistoric times standing stones island archaeological sites including standing stones stone near early historic period domain appears centred included title king number presumed kings evidence island seat power mac king mid late 6th century annals refer battle later identified taking place referred sources believe battle took place norse period nearby centre norse control later island appears norse origin meaning disputed norse vicinity possibly hill viking grave found revealed number artefacts including bronze weighing balance dated 10th century prior battle norway said visited island according saga written king sailed south anchored king john met came ship king desired follow banner king john said sworn oath scottish king held lands king dispose estates conferred king kept time mind fidelity laid charge king received bad accounts came king sailing west told news breaking faith turned scottish monarch king believe till found king stay abbot monastery waited begging protection dwelling king granted writing sick time died corpse carried interred church spread fringed grave called saint john coup bruce regime attempted court john lord isles edward confirmed territories lords acquired days robert awarded john lands lewis previously held loyal john provided edward real assistance deposition restoration meant grants john void possessions confirmed king john inherited great brother law meant john included western ancestral home clan possesses clan badge distinctly different larger better known english share chief origin obscure hereditary keepers lords isles 15th 16th centuries known chief principal clan surname power grew spread influence decreased time remote island far removed campbell power began grow prominence long time regarded chief clan alexander lord isles granted island remainder owned monks island came control remained hands brief 19th century prize means hazards notorious pirate murdered numerous island residents dozen years later title deeds lost gentlemen slain raiders medieval conflict relinquished holdings conflicts intensified ravaged atrocities committed clans escalated extent parliament devised known effort quell hostilities despite governments actions secure peace time ravaged islands men besieged angus castle siege lifted agreed surrender half lands despite agreement invaded islands angus aided action lewis supporting harris angus sold junior cousin earl pre arranged campbell immediately church dates period carved medieval grave 17th century visiting late 17th century wrote isle rocky parts mould brown red good cultivation corn growing cattle bred cows horses sheep church island called altar east end font stone large small hole middle goes church family principal isle buried east church plot ground set apart tombs handed sword representation man isle wood kind bushes little hills scotland visited island remaining loyal crown modern period eighteenth century population peaked declined close 19th century half millennium association sold isle nephew 1st baron son lieutenant colonel built mansion house remained family hands 20th century island owners major bought island sold passing ownership world war brother law turn sold sir recalled generous owner encouraged dairy farming created gardens purchased estate retaining time created fish farm growing international reputation years little development took place owners recalled island briefly passed hands property developer subsequently family prior sale 1960s resident numbers fallen beginning 21st century population reduced housing stock poor condition overview population trends note figures include community buy challenges created private came end march managed help grants loans highlands islands enterprise purchase island million development trust called result march day purchase went celebrated island independence day million financial support form short term loan money pay loan largely raised selling house gardens businessman california dennis operates flower business boat tours company house rented bed breakfast business additional raised fundraising ventures allowing loan paid march community buy private businesses sprung providing boost local economy including multi award winning island population economy begun recover result activities economy economy largely dependent livestock farming tourism limited fishing moves economy community buy fish farm island small scale fishing hectares acres land farmed relative size fertile productive island scotland cattle kept island goat cheese produced closed 1980s revived october announced population reached rise cent buy chairman quoted saying trust turned years population decline head encouraging new development growth local economy sign surge people wanting relocate struggling meet demand housing despite building new homes issues island ownership unique consequently island highlighted edition bbc series historian stated transfer ownership brought spectacular reversal slide complete population collapse suggested government learn lessons community buy outs inform big society plans census island population grew period scottish island populations grew wind turbines set buy operate wind turbines known locally dancing ladies commissioned january capable generating power revenue produced selling electricity grid called residents control project profits community transport infrastructure grass landing strip running east west near southern end island requiring prior permission landing closest glasgow international airport typically minute flight away small aircraft ferry service links island village peninsula scottish mainland turn links road primary school island secondary pupils mainland education pier post office shop island attractions attractions island include hectares acres gardens begun sir known sandy beaches thirteenth century chapel ruins hole golf course wildlife set eastern shores atlantic_ocean attracts wide variety sea birds breed inland ducks found red crow present considerable numbers occasional visitors mammals represented red deer red fox hare mid-20th century boats engaged fishing commercial activity ceased time ago coasts seen numerous august ran aground west ship remained reef calm overnight conditions crew passengers rescued following morning april steamship lost rocks cargo coal iron owned route time september british steam liner bombed german aircraft south whilst carrying french troops crewmen died attack survivors successfully picked fire drifted wrecked years later deliberately sunk sound bombing practice russian factory ship hit freak waves ran aground port ban crew evacuated seven crew members air lifted safety men killed accident culture vigorous tradition represented mainly family called mac active thought descendants 1990s reported island resident spoke numbers declined significantly recent years historically strong speaking area census island reported speaking dropped range census percentage speakers dropped studied extensively 1930s noted features weak received funding development body run series learning weekends island combined cultural revival tourism development initiative conversation music form backbone weekends run winter months notable residents managed jobs years working life time featured english foreign second language study book widely english textbooks adults 3rd edition chairman brother mid 15th century harper noted sculptor island oldest resident death
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