Ronay ( gd, Rònaigh) is an

island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...

in the Outer Hebrides of

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

, which lies a short distance off the east coast of

Grimsay Grimsay ( gd, Griomasaigh) is a tidal island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Geography Grimsay is the largest of the low-lying stepping-stones which convey the Oitir Mhòr (North Ford) causeway, a arc of single track road linking North Uis ...

Geography

Ronay has a highly indented coastline with Bàgh nan Uamh being the biggest up in the north west. The island is surrounded by many smaller ones including Eilean na Cloiche in the south east, Eilean an Fhèidh in the east, Flodaigh Mòr in the north east, Haunaray to the north, and Garbh Eilean Mòr between it and Grimsay. The north forms a peninsula called Rònaigh Beag, or little Ronay. The central section contains some seven or more lochs, which provide a freshwater supply. The entire island is rough, covered in outcrops and knolls, which may have been partly eroded by

overgrazing Overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods. It can be caused by either livestock in poorly managed agricultural applications, game reserves, or nature res ...

. There are three main peaks, the Beinn Rodagraich range in the south, the Beinn a' Chàrnain range in the east which incorporates Cnoc Mòr and Beinn an t-Sagairt, and the third in Ronaigh Beag, which rises to .

History

Like many Scottish islands, Ronay appears to have ancient Celtic church connections. In the north west, there is a headland (''Rubha'') and mountain (''Beinn'') of the priest (''an t-sagairt''), and a Rubha na Manach (monk's headland) in the south west.

Martin Martin Martin Martin (Scottish Gaelic: Màrtainn MacGilleMhàrtainn) (-9 October 1718) was a Scottish writer best known for his work '' A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland'' (1703; second edition 1716). This book is particularly noted for ...

also mentions a chapel: :"in the Island Rona, called the Low-landers Chappel, because Seamen who dye in times of Fishing, are buried in that place." This chapel was pre-Reformation. It is also possible that the island's name refers to St Ronan, as that of

North Rona Rona ( gd, Rònaigh) is a remote, uninhabited Scottish island in the North Atlantic. Rona is often referred to as North Rona to distinguish it from South Rona (another small island, in the Inner Hebrides). It has an area of and a maximum elevat ...

does. In the centre, there are several names related to "Druidhneach" (possibly druids), such as Loch nan Druidhneach. Such names often refer to neolithic remains. Other historical references occur in the island's names, such as Bàgh Clann Neill in the west, Rubha Creag Mhic Fhionnlaigh and Bàgh na h-Eireannach in the north. In 1826, there were 180 living on the island, but in 1831, the whole population was cleared to make way for sheep farming. See Highland Clearances. However, by 1841, 9 people were recorded, who may have moved back. The island was abandoned for good in 1931.

References

{{Islands of Scotland Uist islands Uninhabited islands of the Outer Hebrides