Dùn is an island in St Kilda, Scotland. It is nearly 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) long. Its name simply means "fort" in Scottish Gaelic (for more information, see "dun"), but the fort itself has been lost – old maps show it on Gob an Dùin (NF109972), which is at the seaward end.
Dùn from Ruaival with Stac Levenish in the background at left.
Though Dùn is almost joined to Hirta at Ruiaval, the two islands are separated by Caolas an Dùin (the straits of Dùn). This prevents Soay sheep from Hirta straying onto the island, and thus it is more vegetated.
The small island is home to the largest colony of fulmars in Britain. Before 1828, St Kilda was their only British Isles breeding ground, but they have since spread and established colonies elsewhere, such as at Fowlsheugh.[1]
A cleit above Village Bay, Hirta. Dùn can be seen in the background
Map showing Dùn and Hirta
Dùn, which protects Village Bay on Hirta from the prevailing south-westerly winds, was at one time joined to Hirta by a natural arch. MacLean (1972) suggests that the arch was broken when struck by a galleon fleeing the defeat of the Armada, but other sources, such as Mitchell (1992), provide the more credible (if less romantic) explanation that the arch was simply swept away by one of the many fierce storms which batter the islands every winter.
^Fisher, James & Waterston, George (Nov. 1941) The Breeding Distribution, History and Population of The Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) in the British Isles. Edinburgh. The Journal of Animal Ecology, Vol. 10, No. 2 pp. 204-272. Retrieved 24 March 2007
Haswell-Smith, Hamish The Scottish Islands
Fisher, James & Waterston, George (Nov. 1941) The Breeding Distribution, History and Population of The Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) in the British Isles. Edinburgh. The Journal of Animal Ecology, Vol. 10, No. 2 pp. 204–272.
MacLean, Charles Island on the Edge of the World: the Story of St. Kilda, Canongate, 1977
dùn, other, uses, disambiguation, island, kilda, scotland, nearly, mile, kilometres, long, name, simply, means, fort, scottish, gaelic, more, information, fort, itself, been, lost, maps, show, dùin, nf109972, which, seaward, from, ruaival, with, stac, levenish. For other uses see Dun disambiguation Dun is an island in St Kilda Scotland It is nearly 1 mile 1 6 kilometres long Its name simply means fort in Scottish Gaelic for more information see dun but the fort itself has been lost old maps show it on Gob an Duin NF109972 which is at the seaward end Dun from Ruaival with Stac Levenish in the background at left Though Dun is almost joined to Hirta at Ruiaval the two islands are separated by Caolas an Duin the straits of Dun This prevents Soay sheep from Hirta straying onto the island and thus it is more vegetated The small island is home to the largest colony of fulmars in Britain Before 1828 St Kilda was their only British Isles breeding ground but they have since spread and established colonies elsewhere such as at Fowlsheugh 1 A cleit above Village Bay Hirta Dun can be seen in the background Map showing Dun and Hirta Dun which protects Village Bay on Hirta from the prevailing south westerly winds was at one time joined to Hirta by a natural arch MacLean 1972 suggests that the arch was broken when struck by a galleon fleeing the defeat of the Armada but other sources such as Mitchell 1992 provide the more credible if less romantic explanation that the arch was simply swept away by one of the many fierce storms which batter the islands every winter See also EditCleit a unique St Kildan form of stone shelter List of outlying islands of ScotlandReferences Edit Fisher James amp Waterston George Nov 1941 The Breeding Distribution History and Population of The Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis in the British Isles Edinburgh The Journal of Animal Ecology Vol 10 No 2 pp 204 272 Retrieved 24 March 2007 Haswell Smith Hamish The Scottish Islands Fisher James amp Waterston George Nov 1941 The Breeding Distribution History and Population of The Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis in the British Isles Edinburgh The Journal of Animal Ecology Vol 10 No 2 pp 204 272 MacLean Charles Island on the Edge of the World the Story of St Kilda Canongate 1977 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dun Coordinates 57 47 41 N 8 33 11 W 57 79463 N 8 55296 W 57 79463 8 55296 This article about a location in the Western Isles is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dun amp oldid 1081907215, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
