scottish pronounced pillar island island scotland gave reminded houses built vertically placed tree logs lies kilometres west area hectares acres highest point metres sea level island came prominence late 18th century visit sir fellow travellers natural beauty columns general island main sea banks renamed cave visit followed prominent personalities centuries including queen_victoria brought fame island care geology pre history prehistoric times covered ice sheets spread scotland atlantic_ocean outer retreat ice years ago sea levels metres lower present rise land makes estimating post glacial coastlines complex task years ago likely larger island coast mainland scotland included isles steadily rising sea levels isolated little island entirely volcanic origin consists basement underneath black fine layer lava structure contrast slow cooling second layer resulted extraordinary pattern predominantly columns form faces walls principal caves lava contracted series equally spaced centres cooled solidified columns process known columns typically sides common columns divided horizontally cross joints sections represent tops bottoms individual lava flows sections lie regions chaotic known origin unknown flooding lava flow causing rapid cooling interaction stress fields regions approach similar formations found giant causeway northern_ireland island grooves roof cave indicate flow series eroded ash falls rock given series found vicinity erupted million years ago geography lies kilometres west northeast oriented north south kilometre long half kilometre wide extent northeast isle shelves shore coast rugged numerous caves carved rain streams sea grass feed cattle island spring east coast high wide entrance long ridges stand like ribs ship near cave rock pile columns seen fully low tide outlying rocks include north west series stretching half kilometre south west southwest shore cave named 15th century abbot tunnel connecting caves lie south west accessed bay port low tide exploded near causing damage cliff face visible cave metres long famous feature cave large sea cave located near southern tip island high long formed cliffs columns cliff face called great face cliffs caves inspired die english premiered london original cave cave subsequently renamed 3rd century irish warrior nonetheless inspired sound waves cave lyrical visit claiming arrived scotland folk songs ear lovely countryside heart bare legs natives national scenic area scotland history 18th century little known early history swiss town named island monk nearby estate early date brought english speaking world attention visit sir august route iceland company painter banks later president entertained hearing resolved visit set day winds light arrive darkness fallen banks wrote dark carried tent baggage near house island began cook order prepared earliest dawn enjoy conversation gentlemen raised highest expectations disappointed despite infested short stay island provided glowing reports visit confessed forced acknowledge piece architecture formed nature far remains genius taste luxury greeks capable visited clan year banks visit aware banks considered cliff formations called castles johnson wrote ignorance wonders reply considered little seen philosophers struck wonder novelty eminent overseas visitors saint fond wealthy french zoologist american architect naturalist visiting suitably impressed writing superb monument nature regard form bears strong resemblance work art art certainly claim share 19th 20th centuries subsequently stream famous visitors came view wonders including sir visit yielded oil painting exhibited inspiration alice wonderland found volume tourism disappointing writing century later writer agreed complaining visitors character atmosphere stand suggesting know enthusiastic despite presence numerous queen_victoria prince albert rowed cave royal barge times correspondent recorded cleared round northern island noble prospect lay steep barren stretching away atlantic right left cliffs far away ocean fantastic varied forms adjacent islands horizon north good deal obscured notwithstanding distinctly visible deserted solitary aspect island brought strange startling effect presence majesty barge floated cave crew greatest precision animated grand appearance vast entrance proportions presented complained expense ferry saw nonetheless displeased efforts describe cathedral sea finally settled work began wizard dream john passion saw churches seven golden built heaven rugged wonder tenants owners inspiring scenery easy place live single family living diet potatoes grazing animals provide end 18th century deserted apparently terrified severity winter storms signs rig agriculture seen island surviving building ruin 19th century shelter travellers island ownership sold son care trustees trustees sold trustee purchase money paid brother remained family sold private owners including descendant wrote book island finally gifted new_york honour 60th birthday wife eleanor grateful bestowed steward poll radio_times readers named 8th greatest natural wonder britain 20th century issues postage stamps bearing wildlife red deer island later replaced goats small herd black cattle subsequently summer grazing sheep livestock removed led regeneration island vegetation black legged common nest island surrounding waters provide numerous gray seals sharks pilot visiting boat trips allow visitors view caves nest island september landing place tourist boats north possible calm conditions island lacks genuine anchorage
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