Soay, Skye
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| Soay, Skye | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 |
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| OS grid reference: | NG443145 |
| Names | |
| Gaelic name: | Sòdhaigh |
| Norse name: | so-øy |
| Meaning of name: | Sheep Island |
| Area and Summit | |
| Area: | 1036 ha |
| Area rank (Scottish islands): | 48 |
| Highest elevation: | Beinn Bhreac 141 m |
| Population | |
| Population (2001): | 7 |
| Population rank (inhabited Scottish islands): | 76= out of 97 |
| Main settlement: | Mol-chlach |
| Groupings | |
| Island Group: | Skye |
| Local Authority: | Highland |
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| References: | [1][2][3] |
Soay is an island just off the coast of Skye, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.
[edit] Location
Soay lies to the west of Loch Scavaig on the south-west coast of Skye, from which it is separated by Soay Sound. Unlike its neighbours Skye and Rùm, Soay is low-lying, reaching 141m (462 feet) at Beinn Bhreac. The dumb-bell shaped island is virtually cut in half by inlets that form Soay Harbour (N) and the main bay, Camas nan Gall (to the S). The main settlement, Mol-chlach is on the shore of Camas nan Gall.[2] It is normally reached by boat from Elgol.
[edit] History
The name derives from Old Norse so-øy meaning Sheep Island. Camas nan Gall (G: Bay of Foreigners) is probably named after the Norse invaders, after whom the Hebrides (Na h-Innse Gall) are also named.
The population peaked at 158 in 1851, following eviction of crofters from Skye in the Highland Clearances.[4]
In 1946, author Gavin Maxwell bought the island and established a factory to process shark oil from basking sharks. The enterprise was unsuccessful, lasting just three years.[5] Maxwell wrote about it in his book Harpoon at a Venture.[6] This led to a serious drop in the numbers of these animals in the surrounding seas, from which they have yet to recover.[2]
Previously mainly Scottish Gaelic-speaking, most of the population was evacuated to Mull on 20 June 1953, since when the island has been sparsely populated.[2]
The island had the first solar-powered telephone exchange in the world.[2]
[edit] References
- The Soay of our Forefathers Laurance Reed ISBN 1-84158-229-8
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ a b c d e Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ Perrott, David (1988). Guide to the Western Islands of Scotland. Edinburgh: Kittiwake. ISBN 0702808865.
- ^ Soay Overview. Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
- ^ ISBN 1899863281
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