The Wildlife Map of the Hebrides

43. Monach Isles

The name 'Monach' (meaning monk) refers to the early settlement of this group of islands, first by nuns and then by monks, who maintained a beacon on Shillay, later replaced by a lighthouse which is no longer in use. The original name 'Heisker' was changed on maps and charts to avoid confusion with nearby islands of Haskeir, but it is still used locally. The Monachs are thought to have been connected to North Uist until about 6000 years ago but there is very strong (and possibly justified) local tradition that it was possible to walk over to these islands in Historic times. These low-lying machair islands have a long history of fertility and their people have a reputation for good health. The islands were finally abandoned by their inhabitants in 1949 and subsequently became a sheep farm, though fishermen often stay there during the summer. The extensive and undisturbed machair has a rich variety of plants and is an important feeding area for several hundred wintering barnacle geese. It is also home to large numbers of seabirds, including one of the largest populations of black guillemots, along with eider, shags, artic terns and fulmars. The islands are a National Nature Reserve, managed by SNH but are difficult to access. The tall brick lighthouse on Shillay was decommissioned during the last war but a diminutive automatic alternative was constructed alongside in 1997.