Isle of Canna and Sanday
Isle of Canna: Known as the'garden of the Hebrides', Canna ('porpoise', 'whale' or possibly 'rabbit' island; or pot shaped') is located three miles north-west of Rum and nine miles south-west of Skye. Canna is 4.5 miles long and one mile wide at the most, and is connected to the small island of Sanday ('sand isle') to the south, itself about two miles long. The island has much good land, but is also rough and rocky to the east and rises to over 800 feet. The island has a large puffin colony, and some rare butterflies. Dolphins, whales and basking sharks may be seen near Canna.
The island has the remains of fortifications at Dun Channa at the extreme west end and Coroghon Castle at the east. Canna was an early Christian site, and there is a broken cross at A' Chill near the site of a church dedicated to St Columba, The island was a property of Clan Ranald until sold in 1820 to Hector Munro, who cleared much of the population. The islands changed hands until gifted to The National Trust for Scotland in 1981, who still own them: tel 01687 462466 for information. Pony trekking available.
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