scottish island mainland scotland separated sound famous birthplace poet important figure scottish literary renaissance traditionally home island ruled 15th 19th century subsequently series private held title island largely public ownership visited outdoor activity centre means isle deer home endemic subspecies geology geography miles north south miles east west widest terrain varied highest point metres unusual flat topped peak island lies north coast tidal northwest smaller surrounding islands main village near southwest coast interesting island visited students engaged mapping projects south mainly sandstone north grey banded smaller occasionally interspersed limestone related beds contain low grade worked commercially early 20th century remaining reserves estimated million tonnes seas east west deep large having created pleistocene economy culture primary employment tourism working ferry company fishing work primary school older students ferry bus minute ferry ride connects island sites interest include remains ruins inscribed stones abandoned communities walking paths shop post office located accommodation available old manor significant numbers holiday homes especially south island helped arrest population decline inhabitants belong scotland strictly observes sundays public services playground closed ferry run early signed contract number building contractors construct community centre hosted construction began new million ferry terminal bay officially opened august following community million refurbishment undertaken leading temporary closure outdoor centre early hours january building severely damaged fire restoration work commenced august suspended november main contractor went administration work restarted new contractor late officially handed community march addition star accommodation provides outdoor activity centre restaurant bar cafe flora fauna home subspecies bank darker heavier mainland variety found world possibly survivor scandinavian race murray states single specimen pine missing found island records species exist mountain breed regularly visited white tailed sea eagles golden eagles populations red deer european rabbit introduced island proprietor 19th century found small numbers water supports rich variety plants including red dark red mountain numerous apparently extant 1970s recent survey found evidence continued existence stands mixed woodland history spread scots culture north poorly understood little recorded early christian period suggests presence late sixth century following viking expeditions islands called eighth century period religious came jurisdiction yielded result treaty perth time control islands north hands ross addition eagle beach sand spit legacy norse presence 15th 17th century tradition originally held title written record known island ruled younger son chief lewis granted title visited end 17th century noted wood quarters cultivation ground generally unequal springs spring running face high rock east isle white substance fine lime great quantity quarry good stone isle abundance caves west serve lodge families convenience grazing fishing resort summer west particularly near village shore smooth stones different sizes cattle fish produced found isle law observed natives fishing lines equal length longest supposed best access fish prove disadvantage shorter ones forts isle highest south end natural strength form like crown hat called natives needs cousin king denmark lies artificial fort stories high called commonly known built 15th century north east coast base activities prior castle inhabited death drowning chief ruin sitting atop pinnacle meantime moved seat south end island 18th century protestant supported defeat battle prince spent days hiding british troops consequence island support cause original dwellings burnt government troops conversation short stay island prince life run hard live way years captured feared assassination aware risks supporters ran atrocities aftermath shock cumberland said surely man calls duke pretends great general guilty believe arrived island tour visited johnson wrote reception exceeded expectations found plenty usual usual conversation evening came carpet rolled floor musician called company invited dance trip greater general air place far remote regions mind pleasure struck imagination delightful surprise analogous felt unexpected darkness light time dance ceased thirty persons sat tables room supper ladies sung songs listened english audience italian opera delighted sound words understand went exploring described island follows having resolved explore island foot night obtained fellow traveller permission leave day unable hardy walk old promised accompany sprang immediately attended gentlemen traversed country day passed miles rugged ground highland dance highest mountain island returned evening nightly ball active friends remained home survey interest readers shall short compass observations find registered journal english miles long broad south family seat situated pleasing low spot old tower stories mentioned martin taken soon modern house supplies place good grass fields corn lands dressed observed hardly good garden stocked vegetables 19th 20th centuries deep debt chose tasmania having sold failure potato 1840s new owner decided convert land possible sheep farming required removal solution ban marriage cleared including boat loads left australia result left destination estate sold conflicts grew decided turn island sporting purposes september steamship ran aground rock metres vessel recorded having jammed ferry pier sound end island broken rising tide unspecified date company signed deed purchase estate december sale completed island purchased government closed granted land bringing needed employment delivered electricity island 1960s properties purchased resident sussex visited island lack interest earned having purchased property finally sold highlands iron reported early island record investigated subsequent analysis convinced buy island following year completion original plan railway site south point erection objections led plan revised south current pier pier public pier landing charges regulated government order outbreak war completed pier constructed railway works house workforce planned village today known village consists facing rows houses row houses broad open area numbers western row eastern lower southern built stone built half occupied time numbers half numbers occupied newly built brick terrace numbers vacant houses caused labour force called colours introduction submarine warfare concerned availability foreign iron ore company opened domestic mines order supply war effort signed agreement run behalf ministry minor skirmish processing island prisoners island june housed upper village numbers completed northern village converted prisoner war camp simple building barbed wire fence boxes arc lamps corners population lowest percentage children populated scottish island island population fell time date census period scottish island populations grew census relatively high density speakers culture arts tradition born supported chief foremost island day tradition son angus published collection queen_victoria subsequent family members emigrated island direct lives poet born small community west coast island famous poem abandoned community east coast writings combine ancient traditional awareness modernist political outlook areas adjacent frequently referenced work brutality war modern exploitation writes nature leave landscape populated ghosts evicted forced time deer lived life island time spent nearby neighbouring mainland road miles road built hand tools years complete road surfaced local council wife inhabitants road commemorated song album blood strong book drama road based book broadcast october starring composer sir lived takes viking prince sought refuge string quartet tree strings written takes title poem
Raasay