South Rona
Location
South Rona
South Rona shown within Scotland
OS grid reference	NG619563
Names
Gaelic name	Rònaigh (help·info)[1]
Norse name	Hrauney
Meaning of name	Norse for "rough island"
Area and summit
Area	930 hectares (3.6 sq mi)
Area rank	52
Highest elevation	Meall Acairseid 125 metres (410 ft)[2]
Population
Population	2[3]
Population rank	88= out of 100
Main settlement	Acairseid Mhòr
Groupings
Island group	Skye
Local Authority	Highland
References	[4][5]
If shown, area and population ranks are for all Scottish islands and all inhabited Scottish islands respectively. Population data is from 2001 census.

Rona (Scottish Gaelic: Rònaigh, pronounced [ˈrˠɔːnaj]), sometimes called South Rona to distinguish it from North Rona, is a small island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, north of Raasay and northeast of Skye. It has a total area of 930 hectares (3.6 sq mi).

Geography and geology[link]

An outcrop of gneiss on Rona

Rona is an extension northward of the ridge of Raasay. Its geology is Lewisian gneiss and the glaciated landscape is underlain by some of the oldest rocks in western Europe.^[4][6]

Writing in the early 18th century Martin Martin recorded that "this little isle is the most unequal rocky piece of ground to be seen anywhere: there is but very few acres fit for digging, the whole is covered with long heath, erica-baccifera, mertillus, and some mixture of grass; it is reckoned very fruitful in pasturage: most of the rocks consist of the hectic stone, and a considerable part of them is of a red colour."^[7]

On the west side of the island is a secure and picturesque natural anchorage, Acairsaid Mhór, protected by Eilean Garbh. The writer Malcolm Slesser described it as "a delightful little fjord, and superb harbour for small boats. Pink felspar cliffs drop steeply into the water, and small lush woodland lends a touch of luxury."^[8]

Other islets surrounding Rona include Cow Rock, Eilean Seamraig, Garbh Eilean, Sgeirean Buidhe Borlum, and Sgeir Shuas. Eilean Tigh lies about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) away across the straits of Caol Rona at the centre of which is tiny Eilean an Fhraoich. The east coast is largely unindented and in addition to Acairseid Mhór the main bays are An Dubh Chamas (black bay), Acairseid Thioram (dry harbour) and Loch a' Bhràige on the west coast. There are several smaller bays in the north west including Port an Fhearainn, (port of the men), Òb nam Feusgan (bay of the mussel), Port na Bà Brice (port of the speckled cow) and Òb an Deallaire (bay of the loiterer).^[2][9] The highest point on the island is Meall Acairseid, which reaches 125 metres (410 ft). Sgàth a' Bhannaich and Beinn na h-Iolaire (hill of the eagle) are further north and are over 100 metres (330 ft) high.

History[link]

Map of Skye and environs showing Rona

Prehistory[link]

Rona's name is believed to be of Old Norse origin, from Hraun-ey meaning "rough island" and probably reflects a Viking settlement.^[10] The Gaelic name Rònaigh has a similar meaning.^[1]

Early historic period[link]

There are the ruins of a small 14th century chapel at the south end of the island at An Teampuill. The structure, probably a monk's cell, is enclosed by a wall within which is the island's only gravestone.^[11] In the 16th century Rona became a refuge for pirates who made a base at Acarsaid Mòr, then known as Port nan Robaireann - "port of the robbers". Murray (1973) presumes that they confined their attacks to foreign vessels as they seem to have been tolerated by the local clan chiefs.^[12] One such pirate chief is said to have been Calum Garbh MacLeod, son of a chief of Clan Macleod of Lewis who based himself at Brochel Castle on Raasay in 1518 and used Rona as raiding base.^[13]

Modern era[link]

Clan MacLeod held the island until the middle of the 19th century. In 1763 the Laird of Raasay is recorded as having kept a cowhand and 160 cattle on the island and in 1787 MacLeod of Raasay explored the opportunities for commercial fishing on the island. He wrote to the Duke of Argyll, then Governor of the British Fisheries Society stating that Rona was:

...one of the most advantageous places on this coast for a fishing station. It is surrounded with numbers of banks which are daily discovered by the country people who come to fish from the mainland, which makes me think there is an inexhaustible fund of them about the island. It is likewise supplied with the best harbours at every creek, both for large vessels and small boats.^[4]

However his support for the Jacobite cause worked against him and nothing was done. In 1843 Rona was sold to George Rainy who began clearing the native population to make way for sheep.^[4]

After the first phase of clearances the population of Rona rose steadily to over 180, the main settlements being at Doire na Guaile in the south, Acairseid Mhór and Acairseid Thioram. Many of the residents were crofting families who had themselves been cleared from more fertile land on Raasay. In May 1921, a group of ex-servicemen from Rona landed on Raasay and attempted to re-occupy their ancestral land. These so-called "Rona Raiders" were arrested, tried and given jail sentences, but public support for them was strong and they were eventually freed and allowed to remain on Raasay. This led in 1922 to the acquisition of both Rona and Raasay from their private landlord by the British Government. After this, the population of Rona fell sharply, as most of the island's inhabitants followed the Raiders to settle on Raasay. In 1943 the last crofting family left and the island had become uninhabited, with the exception of the lighthouse keepers who lived at its north end until the lighthouse was automated in 1975.^[4]

On the east side of the Island is a cave that was used for Sunday worship until the church was built in 1912. It continued to be used sporadically until 1970.^[4]

In 1992 Rona was acquired from the government by a Danish owner, who restored Rona Lodge at Acarseid Mhór, and built a new landing jetty. Rona currently has one permanent resident, the island manager, who lives at Rona Lodge (where B&B and bunkhouse accommodation are available), and who also manages the self-catering cottages at Acarseid Thioram. Transport to the island is by private charter from Portree.^[4][14][15] 57.5 hectares (142 acres) at the north end of the island remain in the hands of the Ministry of Defence.^[4]

Stamps[link]

Local stamps have been issued for Rona since 2003. The stamps serve visitors to the island who wished to have their mail posted there, and carried to the nearest GPO Post Box on the mainland.^[16][17]

Wildlife[link]

Writing in the 1960s, Fraser Darling and Boyd recorded a herd of feral goats on the island and an absence of mice and voles.^[18] The goats have now gone but Red Deer were introduced to the island in 1993^[19] and a fold of Highland cattle from North Uist followed in 1996.^[20] Over 300 species of plant have been recorded and in the absence of sheep the native woodland is regenerating.^[4][19]

References[link]

Footnotes[link]

External links[link]

• Rona website
• Acairsaid Mòr pilotage.

v t e Inhabited islands of the Hebrides Inner Hebrides Canna Coll Colonsay Danna Eigg Eilean Bàn Eilean Donan Eilean Shona Erraid Gigha Gometra Iona Islay Isle of Ewe Jura Kerrera Lismore Lunga Muck Mull Oronsay Raasay Sanday Scalpay Rona Rùm Skye Slate Islands Soay Summer Isles Tiree Ulva Outer Hebrides Baleshare Barra Benbecula Berneray Eriskay Flodaigh Fraoch-eilean Great Bernera Grimsay (North) Grimsay (South) Lewis and Harris North Uist Scalpay South Uist Vatersay

v t e Islands of Scotland Northern Isles Shetland List of Shetland islands Orkney List of Orkney islands Hebrides Outer Hebrides List of Outer Hebrides Inner Hebrides List of Inner Hebrides St Kilda Other Islands of the Clyde Islands of the Forth Outlying Islands Freshwater Islands

Coordinates: 57°32′4″N 5°58′43″W / 57.53444°N 5.97861°W / 57.53444; -5.97861