Hermetray facts for kids
| Gaelic name | Theàrnatraigh |
|---|---|
| Norse name | Hermunðrs ey |
| Meaning of name | "Hermund's Island" |
| OS grid reference | NF988741 |
| Coordinates | 57°39′36″N 7°02′56″W / 57.66°N 7.049°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Uists and Barra |
| Area | 72 ha (9⁄32 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 171= |
| Highest elevation | Cnoc a' Chombaiste, 35 m (115 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Na h-Eileanan Siar |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
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Hermetray (Scottish Gaelic: Theàrnatraigh) is a small, empty island in Scotland. It's part of the Outer Hebrides, a group of islands off the west coast. You can find it near North Uist. Its Gaelic name is Theàrnatraigh.
Contents
Exploring Hermetray's Geography
Hermetray is located in the Sound of Harris. This is a channel of water on the edge of the Minch. The island is about 72 hectares (178 acres) big. Its highest point is a hill called Cnoc a' Chombaiste. This name means "compass hill". The island's main rock is a very old type called Lewisian gneiss.
Island Features and Nearby Islets
The hill Cnoc a' Chombaiste is in the northeast. To the west, you'll find Acarseid Mór. This is a "big harbour" that is shallow and has a rocky shore. There's also Loch Hermetray, a lake in the middle of the island.
Many smaller islands surround Hermetray. The biggest is Vaccasay, or Bhacasaigh. This name means "island with a bay". It's about 29 hectares (72 acres) in size. Vaccasay, along with Fuam to the south and Hulmatraigh to the north, creates a calm area. This area is called the Basin of Vaccasay.
Fuam's full Gaelic name is Fuam an Aon Fhoid. This means "far out isle of the one peat". It got this name because its soil is very thin. To the north, you can see Greineam and the rocky islands of Staffin and Creag na Stead. These are in the Grey Horse Channel. To the south are Grodaigh and Dun Mhic Leathann. Dun Mhic Leathann was once a fort. These islands are close to North Uist.
The water channel between them is called Seòlaid na h-Eala. This name comes from the Eala Bhàn, a famous white swan boat from the 1600s. Seòlaid means a sailing channel or a safe place for boats. Further northwest is the Cabbage Patch. This is a tricky area with many reefs and small islands. These include Opasaigh, Sàrstaigh, and Nàrstaigh.
Hermetray's Past and People
The name Hermetray comes from Norse words, Hermunðr-øy. This means "Hermund's Island". We don't know who Hermund was. The island is also known by its Gaelic name, "Thernatraigh".
Early Descriptions of the Island
In 1549, a priest named Dean Monro wrote about "Hermodray". He said it was "half a mile long, fertile and fruitful".
Later, in 1695, Martin Martin visited the island. He described it as having "moorish soil". This means it was boggy. He said it was mostly covered in heath plants. But he also noted it was great for grazing animals. He said it gave "plenty of milk in January and February". This was more than other islands.
Martin Martin also mentioned an old building. He said it was "the foundation of a house built by the English". This house was for storing supplies for fishing. It was built during the time of King Charles the First. But the plan failed because of civil wars. This fishing business was set up in 1633. It was called the "Company of the General Fishery of Great Britain & Ireland". But it closed just seven years later.
Life on the Island and Its Abandonment
In 1841, records show that 8 people lived on Hermetray. They lived in one house. Maps from 1881 show six empty buildings. The island has been empty since the mid-1800s. A sheep pen at Acarseid Mór might be where the 1841 house was.
Many people left North Uist during the Highland Clearances. This was a time when people were forced to move. Many went to Canada. But we don't know exactly why Hermetray became empty.
The Shipwreck of the Puritan
In 1920, a Norwegian ship called the Puritan crashed here. Three people survived the wreck. It's said they didn't drink any of the whisky that washed ashore with them. They also didn't thank their rescuer, Alasdair Beag. He was from Berneray. He helped them get back home. People from the Hebrides joked it was because of the ship's name. The survivors didn't speak Gaelic or English.
Today, the Scottish Government owns Hermetray. There is a fish farm in the Basin of Vaccasay.
Wildlife on Hermetray
Gulls and buzzards build their nests on the low cliffs. Sometimes, American mink escape onto the island. People have worked to remove them. There are no fish in Loch Hermetray.
Plants of the Island
The plants on Hermetray include adder's tongue. You can also find flag iris and bog cotton. Other plants are ragged robin and white clover.
