Gunna

Gunna is a small island in the Inner Hebrides, lying between Coll and Tiree. It covers just 69 hectares and reaches only 35 metres at its highest point. The island has no permanent residents, only a single holiday home. Gunna Sound separates it from Tiree, while several smaller islets surround it. The bedrock is paragneiss schist, with light sandy soil covering much of the land. The name Gunna likely comes from the Norse forename Gunni, meaning ‘island of Gunni the Dane’. Some suggest it may instead derive from the Gaelic Eilean nan Gamhna, ‘island of the stirks’. A 19th-century song mentions Gunna in lines about sailing past Mull. The island has no recorded history of permanent settlement. Today, it is used for grazing livestock from Coll. Gunna supports large colonies of seabirds, geese and shelducks. Grey seals breed along its rocky shores. The surrounding waters and islets provide rich feeding grounds. The landscape is open and windswept, with few trees. Visitors find quiet shores and wide views over the Hebrides. The island’s remoteness and wildlife make it a peaceful retreat.