Ulva

Ulva

Gaelic name	Ulbha
Norse name	Ulv-øy/Ulfrsey
Meaning of name	Old Norse for 'wolf island' or 'Ulfr's island'
The Boathouse
Location
Ulva Ulva shown within Argyll and Bute
OS grid reference	NM410396
Coordinates	56°28′30″N 6°12′00″W / 56.475°N 6.2°W / 56.475; -6.2
Physical geography
Island group	Mull
Area	1,990 hectares (7.7 sq mi)
Area rank	35
Highest elevation	Beinn Chreagach 313 metres (1,027 ft)
Administration
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	Argyll and Bute
Demographics
Population	11
Population rank	68
Pop. density	0.6 people/km2
Largest settlement	Ulva House (once Ormaig)
References

Ulva (Scottish Gaelic: Ulbha, pronounced [ˈulˠ̪u.ə]) is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, off the west coast of Mull. It is separated from Mull by a narrow strait, and connected to the neighbouring island of Gometra by a bridge. Much of the island is formed from Cenozoic basalt rocks, which is formed into columns in places.

Ulva has been populated since the Mesolithic and there are various Neolithic remains on the island. The Norse occupation of the island in the Early Historic Period has left few tangible artefacts but did bequeath the island its name, which is probably from Ulvoy, meaning "wolf island". Celtic culture was a major influence during both Pictish and Dalriadan times as well as the post-Norse period when the islands became part of modern Scotland. This long period, when Gaelic became the dominant language, was ended by the 19th-century Clearances. At its height Ulva had a population of over 800, but today this has declined to less than 20.

Numerous well-known individuals have connections with the island including David Livingstone, Samuel Johnson and Walter Scott, who drew inspiration from Ulva for his 1815 poem, The Lord of the Isles. Wildlife is abundant: cetaceans are regularly seen in the surrounding waters and over 500 species of plant have been recorded. Today there is a regular ferry service and tourism is the mainstay of the economy.