Little Colonsay
Encyclopedia
Little Colonsay is an uninhabited island west of the island of Mull
in Scotland
. The geology of the island is columnar basalt
, similar to that on neighbouring Staffa
. It is part of the Loch Na Keal
National Scenic Area
, one of 40 in Scotland.
In 1841 the population was 16 individuals in two households but by 1881 no population as recorded, the island having been cleared in 1846 by F.W. Clark, the notorious owner of Gometra
and Ulva
. The censuses of 1891 and 1931 recorded two inhabitants. In the early 20th century the island was farmed by John MacColum, known as "Johnny Colonsay", but he and his family were forced out by a plague of rats.
The island is currently owned by Michael Hare, 2nd Viscount Blakenham
, but has not been permanently inhabited since the 1940s. Hare's daughter, Cressida Cowell
, the author of children's books including How to Train Your Dragon
, spent childhood summers on the island and cites the Inner Hebrides
as an inspiration for her books, suggesting they are "one of the most beautiful places on Earth" and "the kind of place where you expect to see dragons overhead".
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The geology of the island is columnar basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
, similar to that on neighbouring Staffa
Staffa
Staffa from the Old Norse for stave or pillar island, is an island of the Inner Hebrides in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The Vikings gave it this name as its columnar basalt reminded them of their houses, which were built from vertically placed tree-logs....
. It is part of the Loch Na Keal
Loch Na Keal
Loch Na Keal , meaning Loch of the Kyle, or Narrows, also Loch of the Cliffs, is the principle sea loch on the western, or Atlantic coastline of the island of Mull, in the Inner Hebrides, Argyll and Bute, Scotland...
National Scenic Area
National Scenic Area
National Scenic Area is a designation for areas of natural beauty used by more than one nation.* National Scenic Area * National Scenic Area * National scenic areas in Taiwan* National Scenic Area...
, one of 40 in Scotland.
In 1841 the population was 16 individuals in two households but by 1881 no population as recorded, the island having been cleared in 1846 by F.W. Clark, the notorious owner of Gometra
Gometra
-Etymology:According to Gillies Gometra is from the Norse gottr + madr + ey and means "The good-man's island" or "God-man's island". Mac an Tàilleir offers "Godmund's island".-Geography:...
and Ulva
Ulva
Ulva is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, off the west coast of Mull. It is separated from Mull by a narrow strait, and connected to the neighbouring island of Gometra by a bridge. Much of the island is formed from Tertiary basalt rocks, which is formed into columns in places.Ulva has...
. The censuses of 1891 and 1931 recorded two inhabitants. In the early 20th century the island was farmed by John MacColum, known as "Johnny Colonsay", but he and his family were forced out by a plague of rats.
The island is currently owned by Michael Hare, 2nd Viscount Blakenham
Michael Hare, 2nd Viscount Blakenham
Michael John Hare, 2nd Viscount Blakenham , is a British peer and the son of John Hare, 1st Viscount Blakenham and Beryl Nancy Pearson and was chairman of Pearson PLC from 1993 to 1997. His son the Hon. Caspar John Hare is his heir apparent.He is the owner of the island of Little Colonsay in the...
, but has not been permanently inhabited since the 1940s. Hare's daughter, Cressida Cowell
Cressida Cowell
Cressida Cowell is an English children's author who wrote the Hiccup series of books.- Personal life :Cowell lives in London with her husband Simon, a former director and interim CEO of the International Save the Children Alliance; daughters Maisie and Clementine; and son Alexander...
, the author of children's books including How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon is a series of nine books set in a fictional Viking world. The books were published starting in 2003 as children's novels written by British author Cressida Cowell and published by Hodder Children's Books...
, spent childhood summers on the island and cites the Inner Hebrides
Inner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which enjoy a mild oceanic climate. There are 36 inhabited islands and a further 43 uninhabited Inner Hebrides with an area greater than...
as an inspiration for her books, suggesting they are "one of the most beautiful places on Earth" and "the kind of place where you expect to see dragons overhead".