Bernera

   1) BERNERA, an island, in the parish of Barra, county of Inverness; containing 30 inhabitants. It is one of the Hebrides, and most southerly of the whole range of these islands, and is about one mile in length, and three-quarters of a mile in breadth; from its being also called the Bishop's Isle, it seems to have belonged to the Bishop of the Isles, and it is said to have been a sanctuary of the Druids. The soil is fertile, and in the centre is a fresh-water lake, diversified with small islets; towards the south, the rocks are rugged and precipitous, and on this side is a point of land called Barra Head.

   2) BERNERA, an island, in the parish of Harris, island of Lewis, county of Inverness; containing 713 inhabitants. This isle, with those of Pabbay, Killigray, and Ensay, constituted the late quoad sacra parish of Bernera; it is situated in the sound of Harris, and is about four miles in length, and one and a half in breadth, and comprises 3545 acres of arable, and 1310 of pasture land. The surface is rocky, principally whinstone, and the soil mostly of a sandy quality, interspersed with patches of moor; the tenants have a small portion of ground called a croft, and two have each about 330 acres. The manufacture of kelp employs all the population, and fish, chiefly ling, cod, and skate, are obtained at certain seasons: fairs for black-cattle and horses take place in July and September. The parish was under the presbytery of Uist and synod of Glenelg, and in the patronage of the Crown; the stipend of the minister is £120, with a manse, and a glebe valued at £1 per annum, with the right of cutting peat: the church was erected in 1838. There are some remains of religious houses on the island.