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Great Bernera

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Living like a crofter today

Great Bernera’s modest population still sustains a rhythm that echoes the islands’ historic crofting system. Visitors who stay in locally‑run B&Bs can join a crofters’ gathering in the evenings, where stories of kelp harvesting and peat cutting are traded over a simple tea. The island’s community garden, tended by volunteers from Breaclete, supplies fresh herbs to the communal kitchen and offers a chance to learn the low‑impact farming techniques that keep the landscape verdant despite the harsh Atlantic winds. Timing a stay to coincide with the seasonal sow‑by‑hand of seed potatoes gives a tangible sense of the island’s self‑reliance, making the experience more than a scenic stop.

A quiet platform for bird‑watching

Great Bernera sits amid one of the Hebrides’ most productive marine corridors, providing an unobstructed view of seabird migrations that elude the busier mainland coasts. Early morning visits to the low‑lying dunes near the bridge reveal roosting storm‑petrels and the occasional puffin, while the cliffs at the island’s western tip host breeding pairs of great skuas that are rarely seen elsewhere without a guide. The best periods are the spring and autumn tides, when the sea’s calm surface reflects the sky, allowing photographers to capture silhouettes against the low horizon. A small, locally maintained hide, constructed from driftwood, offers discreet observation without disturbing the avian residents.

Comparing the bridge heritage

The 1953 pre‑stressed concrete bridge linking Great Bernera to Lewis predates many of Britain’s celebrated post‑war structures, yet it remains under‑appreciated in mainstream engineering histories. Compared with the later Thames Concrete Bridge, the Bernera crossing demonstrates an early adaptation of the technique to a remote, windswept environment, where the concrete mix was altered to resist salt‑air corrosion. Walking across, one can notice the subtle expansion joints designed to accommodate the island’s slight seasonal uplift. For enthusiasts, a short detour to the nearby village of Callanish reveals a similar bridge built in the 1960s, offering a comparative study of evolving design practices within a tight geographical radius.

Introduction

Island in Scotland For other places with the same name, see Berneray (disambiguation). Great BerneraScottish Gaelic nameBeàrnaraigh MòrPronunciation[ˈpjaːrˠn̪ˠəɾaj ˈmoːɾ] ⓘOld Norse namebjarnar-øyMeaning of nameBjørn's island from Norse LocationGreat BerneraGreat Bernera shown next to LewisShow map of LewisGreat BerneraGreat Bernera shown within the Outer HebridesShow map of Outer HebridesOS grid referenceNB162344Coordinates58°12′N 6°51′W / 58.2°N 6.85°W / 58.2; -6.85Physical geographyIsland groupLewis and HarrisArea2,122 ha (5,240 acres)Area rank34 Highest elevation87 m (285 ft)AdministrationCouncil areaNa h-Eileanan SiarCountryScotlandSovereign stateUnited KingdomDemographicsPopulation212Population rank31 Population density10/km2 (26/sq mi)Largest settlementBreacleteReferences Great Bernera (/ˈbɜːrnərə/; Scottish Gaelic: Beàrnaraigh Mòr), often known just as Bernera (Scottish Gaelic: Beàrnaraigh), is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. With an area of just over 21 square kilometres (8 square miles), it is the thirty-fourth largest Scottish island. Great Bernera lies in Loch Roag on the north-west coast of Lewis and is linked to it by a road bridge. Built in 1953, the bridge was the first pre-stressed concrete bridge in Europe. The main settlement on the island is Breaclete (Gaelic: Breacleit).

History

[edit] Tursachan, the Callanish VIII megalithic monument on Great Bernera overlooks the bridge from Lewis. The island's name is Norse in origin and is derived in honour of Bjarnar, father of the Norse Chieftain of Lewis Ketil Bjarnarson (or the Flatneif). The vast majority of placenames in the district are similarly Norse, implying extensive Viking settlement. The most common name on Great Bernera is MacDonald (MacDhòmhnaill or Dòmhnallach), and these are said to be descended from a watchman of the Macaulays of Uig, who gave him the island in return for his services. After 1962 the island was owned by Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees, a former Queen's Herald, who was recognised as Laird of Bernera. He eventually inherited the title Prince of Coronata and died in 2012. His home Bernera Lodge was at Kirkibost. Bernera was inherited by his grandson, Cyran. The island's residents are seeking to buy the land from him. The Mirrlees family commissioned a flag recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.

Kirkibost / Circeabost

[edit] In the southeast of the island is the first planned crofting township in the Outer Hebrides. It was created in 1805 by the regular allotting of individual crofts by the Earl of Seaforth's land surveyor, James Chapman. The tenants of this planned village were all evicted in 1823 and the publication of the first edition of the Ordnance Survey rather poignantly showed the deserted village and the original parallel croft boundaries. The village was resettled in 1878 and the original boundaries are still in use today.

Bostadh

[edit] Iron Age house in Bostadh Bernera is also known for its Iron Age (or possibly Pictish) settlement at Bostadh (or Bosta), discovered in 1992 and now covered by sand so that it is preserved. A replica Iron Age house matching those now buried is sited nearby. Bostadh Beach is the location of a Time and Tide Bell, one of a series of installations by Marcus Vergette.

Teampall Chirceaboist

[edit] Teampall Chirceaboist (St Macel in Kirkibos) is the ruin of church, that is a scheduled monument. However, there is some debate about its actual location, local belief is that the scheduled monument is actually a more recent church, built around 1820, and the real Teampall Chirceaboist is located further up a hill.

Bernera Riot

[edit] Main article: Bernera Riot The island was the location of the Bernera Riot of 1874, when crofters resisted the Highland clearances. This was a peasant revolt and subsequent legal case which resulted in a victory for oppressed small-tenants against the heavy-handed evictions and treatment by Donald Munro, the factor of Sir James Matheson. The islanders refused to agree to remove their stock in favour of expanding sporting estates, and were in turn threatened with a military visit. This did not occur, but even more eviction notices were handed out, and the visitors were pelted with clods of earth. The legal case was the first recorded victory for small-tenants at will and the evidence that was heard at the eleven-hour trial paved the way for land reform in Scotland. Tobson

Geography and geology

[edit] White fibrous tremolite on grey muscovite from Great Bernera The island is roughly 8 kilometres (5 miles) long by 3 kilometres (2 miles) wide, the length being oriented from northwest to southeast. The coast is much indented and there are also numerous fresh water bodies such as Loch Barabhat, Loch Breacleit and Loch Niocsabhat. The highest point is the eminence of Sealabhal Bhiorach south of Bostadh and north of Tobson that reaches 87 metres (285 feet). There are deposits of muscovite and tremolite asbestos. An example of a rock of tremolite on muscovite from Great Bernera is shown in the photograph to the right. The western side of the island is included in the South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area. Surrounding islands[edit] There are many islands in Loch Roag. To the west, from north to south are Pabaigh Mòr, Vacsay (Bhacsaigh), Fuaigh Mòr (Vuia Mòr), and Fuaigh Beag (Vuia Beg). To the north, the island of Bearnaraigh Beag (Little Bernera), and a number of islets. To the east, there are not so many islands, but there is Eilean Chearstaidh (Eilean Kerstay) to the southeast.

Flora and fauna

[edit] Main article: Flora and fauna of the Outer Hebrides Atlantic seal (Halichoerus grypus) Sea life is especially rich where there is tidal run between the Caolas Bhalasaigh (English: "Valasay Straits/Kyles") and the inner sea-loch of Tòb Bhalasaigh. There are numerous molluscs, sponges, brittlestars, and sea stars, the latter growing noticeably larger in size than normal. Cup coral, snakelocks anemone and dead man's fingers coral, may also be found here. Common fish include shanny and butterfish and Atlantic and common seals are regular off-shore visitors. Great Bernera hosts numerous seabird species, including gulls, waders and ducks such as goldeneye. More unusually, a jack snipe was observed on the island in 2007.

Economy and infrastructure

[edit] The community centre at Breacleit Lobster ponds Great Bernera's population is mainly dependent on lobster fishing, crofting, tourism and arts & crafts. Fertile machair pasture permits sheep and cattle grazing. A processing plant was built at Kirkibost in 1972 which was later closed and redeveloped as a state-of-the-art music recording studio. In 2022, a new pontoon was built close to Kirkibost Pier and further developments such as camper van hook up points, laundrette and shower are opening in 2023. There are still a few weavers but this is no longer one of the main industries. Breacleit is home to a small museum, church, community centre with gym, sports halls, café and shop, self service fuel pump, electric vehicle charge points, fire station, community polytunnels and doctor's surgery. Communications were much improved during the 20th century. The first telephone was installed on Lewis in 1897 and outlying villages were slowly connected. Great Bernera was the last exchange to link to Lewis with a single wire circuit and an earth return. Nowadays Bernera has access to fast fibre broadband, which has brought new employment opportunities. The bridge to the island from Lewis was built in 1953 and was one of the first constructed using pre-stressed concrete post-tensioned techniques in Europe. It was constructed after the islanders threatened to dynamite the hillside to create a causeway of their own making. The bridge is sometimes referred to as The Bridge over the Atlantic, though this designation is also used for other bridges in Scotland and Faroes. In 2020, during a structural survey serious faults were identified and in 2021 work began to build a single span Delta bridge. This bridge opened with celebrations on 15 December 2021. In 2012 the island residents began a feasibility study to bring the island into community ownership, a process that has been successfully completed by the islanders of Gigha and Eigg. At the time of the 2011 census there were 252 people usually resident on the island, an increase of 8% on the figure of 233 for 2001. However, by 2022 the population had fallen to 212.

Notable people

[edit] Murdo Stewart Macdonald Born on the island (1852–1938); the last of the Sea Barons and Lloyds Surveyor of Shipping. John Nicolson Macleod (1880–1954); Educationalist and writer. Was the schoolteacher resident in Bernera for many years. He was the author of the satirical collection of essays "Litrichean Alasdair Mhòir" and the definitive collection of poetry from Lewis "Bàrdachd Leòdhas".[citation needed] George Macleod Born on the island (1890–1969); a maritime model-maker of national recognition with examples of his work on exhibit in The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich and the Liverpool Ship Museum.[citation needed] Dr Peter John Macleod Born on the island (1896–1951); award-winning medical practitioner and specialist in rehabilitation of ex-servicemen.[citation needed] Callum Macdonald Born on the island (1912–99), arguably the most important publisher of Scottish poetry of the 20th century. Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees (1925–2012). Owner and Laird of Great Bernera formerly resident in Kirkibost. Mirrlees was a researcher in heraldry and set out the flag of the island. Dòmhnall MacAmhlaigh Born on the island (1930–2017); Professor Emeritus in Celtic at the University of Aberdeen. He was one of the foremost modern Gaelic poets in Scotland and was a respected researcher in Norse/Gaelic placenames. Alistair Darling (1953–2023); UK politician. The former Chancellor of the Exchequer owned a converted blackhouse at Breaclete, and his mother's family were from the island. On 1 December 2015 he was created a life peer, taking the title 'Baron Darling of Roulanish, of Great Bernera in the county of Ross and Cromarty'. Cathy MacDonald Educated and resident in the district. Journalist and broadcaster who is the current anchor of numerous Gaelic television programmes.