Eorsa

Eorsa

Meaning of name	uncertainJorulof-øy- Jorulf's island or fromàrsaidh- ancient
Location
Eorsa Eorsa shown within Argyll and Bute
OS grid reference	NM481378
Coordinates	56.47°N 6.08°W/56.47; -6.08
Physical geography
Island group	Mull
Area	122 ha (1⁄2sq mi)
Area rank	136=
Highest elevation	98 m (322 ft)
Administration
Council area	Argyll and Bute
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Demographics
Population	0
References

Eorsais an uninhabited island in theInner HebridesofScotland.

Geography

Loch na Keal – Eorsa can be seen in the middle of the loch, andUlvain the background

Eorsa lies inLoch na Kealon the west coast of theIsle of Mull,to the east ofUlva.It is part of the Loch Na KealNational Scenic Area,one of 40 in Scotland.

History

Eorsa from the north/northwest with Mull in the foreground and background

Many of the nearby islands, includingInchkenneth,have early ecclesiastical connections. Eorsa may have done too. It once belonged to the Abbey ofIona,and became the property of theDuke of Argyll.

During World War I, the island was used as a British naval anchorage.

Cultural references

The island is the fictional setting ofNigel Tranter's 1952 novelBridal Path,which was made into the film of the same name in 1959. As the comic novel takes the perils of island inbreeding as its theme, it is assumed that Tranter deliberately chose an unpopulated island to avoid giving offence.

Wildlife

Eorsa is separated from Mull by nearly a mile of water at the closest point so there are very few land animals. Locals on Mull joke that the island is "heaving with adders" although this may not be entirely true. Red deer are good swimmers and could easily make the crossing if they wanted. It is simply a question of whether there is anything the deer want there which can't be found on the mainland.

See also

• List of islands of Scotland