In the 6th century, Bernera was settled by monks of the Irish Culdee church under the leadership of St.

[6] St. Columba used the island as a private place for retreat, meditation and prayer, and may have preached under (and possibly planted) a vast yew tree.

[6] It is reported that the wood was turned into a staircase for Lochnell Castle[3] at Ardmenhuis and survived at least two fires, which burned down the rest of the building.

Bernera Island is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest on the basis of its feature of limestone maritime cliffs along with the presence of the nationally scarce rock whitebeam.

[8] The common seal is a regular visitor to the coastal strip between the high and low water marks.