Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Scottish Islands/Islands by area

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[edit] Scalpay

  1. 66 = which Scalpay? --MacRusgail 09:44, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Scalpay, Outer Hebrides - please note that this list is still incomplete. A more complete list is at list of islands of Scotland which should have greater prominence in the project. Finavon 19:14, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
I've been using both on and off, but find this address easier to access via WPSI. --MacRusgail 11:32, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] December 07 update

Initial finding - Eilean Ruairidh Mòr, Inchfad, and Eilean Sùbhainn (Loch Maree), are all missing from the main List of islands of Scotland.

Inchfad was already in the list; Eilean Sùbhainn - page created and added to list; I will investigate Eilean Ruairidh Mòr (also in Loch Maree I believe). The following group are not corrected - I'm only at Wiay, Skye tonight and am working down the list. Finavon (talk) 01:36, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

Sorry about Inchfad - I'd forgotten the 'c' and the sorting didn't have it under '40'. Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk 19:30, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

A quick sweep of the infoboxes - with the missing Eilean Sùbhainn included I get

Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk 22:52, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

I'm also not convinced that Na h-Eileanan Iasgaich are 50ha - that's presumably only at low tide. They have a plural Gàidhlig name, which is a giveaway --MacRusgail (talk) 23:19, 13 December 2007 (UTC) p.s. Is there anywhere I can access a list of islands from 30-40ha? I'm not sure all are noteworthy, but some will be.
We've been going with Hamish-Smith, except where there is a clearly better source. I suppose we need to decide if they stay as a single page or get one for each island. I think there will be so little information (and certainly little that differs within the group) that we should leave them as a group. Finavon (talk) 01:36, 14 December 2007 (UTC)
This is clearly one of those 'islands' that drove H-S to his overly prescriptive definition. My interpretation of our definition is that the individual bits are, at certain stages of the tide, individual isles, but that so is Eileanan Iasgaich itself. Its not alone - see Lunga, Firth of Lorn.

Re Ceann Iar (how is this pronounced differently from 'Ceann Ear' one wonders?) - I see this has just been amended from 154 ha to 134 ha, but my H-Smith has 154 (page 206).

Same page in 1997 reprint (so probably older) has 134 ha. I'm happy to go with the later edition, but would like another source as well. Finavon (talk) 21:09, 14 December 2007 (UTC)
Agreed - none to hand tho' I had a go at measuring it and unhelpfully came up with the answer 144 ha. Of course, at this size it depends on the assumed state of the tide in any case. Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk

No idea where a list of smaller islands might reside. As they get smaller the definitional problems simply increase. Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk 19:17, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

Kyown Eer as opposed to Kyown Air. "Ow" as in "Cow". The Monach Isles like the Outer Hebrides from Harris down are mostly sandy blobs, which makes their area hard to define. --MacRusgail (talk) 20:11, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

Where is #177 Garbh Eilean? - not Shiants as linked and not in H-S list. My suggestion is Loch Maree. I have started Garbh Eilean (disambiguation). Finavon (talk) 21:09, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

I am a bit sloppy with the links I'm afraid and have come to rely on your forensic skills in that department. 'Garbh Eileans'? - you've seen one, you've seen 'em all. You are of course right about Loch Maree - see Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Scottish Islands/Archive 1. Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk 12:19, 15 December 2007 (UTC) PS I once visited the University of Leeds - the science building there claimed to have the 'longest corridor in Europe'. They started building it at both ends, and it didn't quite meet in the middle, so the corridor had this odd little chicane in it. Let's hope we don't have the same problem sorting out this list!

No chicane - well done sir! I was afraid of discovering a stray Garbh Eilean in our midst. Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk 21:31, 16 December 2007 (UTC)

I thought more like tunnelling! I still aim to provide a skeleton for each island on the main list - down to Fuiay which does not appear to have a page yet. Finavon (talk) 22:36, 16 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Other "problems"

I have being looking over my OS Atlas of Great Britain, and trying to find problem islands. Oldany looks pretty large to me, but isn't in H-S as it is tidal. Eilean Mhic Chrion, which is off Eilean Righ looks similar in size to it, and Island Macaskin, but I suspect it too is tidal. Innis Mhòr off Easter Ross, probably fluctuates in size frequently, but falls into the "boring sandy blob" category, I think! I also want to find out which is the island in a loch in an island in Loch Maree. I find the idea of an island within an island within an island strangely intriguing, and kind of "Zen". --MacRusgail (talk) 17:10, 15 December 2007 (UTC)

  1. Oldany Island is already in;
  2. Eilean Mhic Chrion looks valid (?40ha);
I make it about 44ha. Good one. (All I'm doing here is taking a rough measurement, it's not anything scientific). Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk
  1. Innis Mhòr NH845855 looks like a sandbank. I presume an island needs to have something above the surface at high water. Otherwise it is a "drying" rock, reef etc. However if it is in, then there is another, unnamed dune just to its south east!
See Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Scottish Islands/Archive 1. I measured it at a fraction under 40 ha and put it on the smaller island list. Innis Beag is the one to the south east. Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk
I don't know about Loch Maree islands, but West Loch on Hildasay has an islet. Finavon (talk) 10:12, 16 December 2007 (UTC)
The 'Wishing Stone' image on Erraid would seem to be a micro example. Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk

There's also several islands near Forres in the River Findhorn estuary (probably boring sandy blob category) and at least two substantial ones in the River Conon in Easter Ross. --MacRusgail (talk) 17:34, 16 December 2007 (UTC)

Findhorn Bay definitely has no islands at high tide. If the ones in the Conon are Garrie Island and the blob to its north east, I'd say they are under 40 ha. Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk 21:46, 16 December 2007 (UTC)
I see:
  1. Dunglass Island NH534545 at Conon Bridge ?40ha max 8m - channel re-opened by recent work;
  2. Eilean Aigas NH467417 on River Beauly 60 acre (24ha) ?117m - in Castle island list;
  3. Beauly NH525458 ?12ha ?13m - getting a bit small;
also Merkinch (Inverness) ?350ha is formed by river and canal (so not an island!). Finavon (talk) 22:43, 16 December 2007 (UTC)
Dunglass is about 40 ha. You could try this freebie at: [1]. It would not seem to be Mac friendly so I can't use it. Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk 08:50, 17 December 2007 (UTC)
The island by Beauly is marked as wooded, which suggests it is not just some temporary phenomenon. Interestingly, Merkinch contains "-innis", as suffix, which suggests it may have been an old island (or at least in a marsh). Others - Moy Island (Conon NH487545 - but small), ? (Black Water/Conon tributary by Contin, NH457566, more substantial), Eilean an Daraich (NH439590)--MacRusgail (talk) 15:20, 6 January 2008 (UTC) p.s. Eilean Hoan (NC443674) listed anywhere?
The first group all look like 'permanent' (by human standards at least) islands, although I don't think any reach the magic 40 ha. I am looking into Eilean Hoan. Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk 16:57, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

Findhorn delta islands (sandy blob category) -

  • NJ022625
  • NJ028619 (quite large?)
  • NJ054616

There is also a substantial tract of land which doesn't appear as an island on the current map, but has on some others. This is to the north east of Moy House. All of these are best viewed at maximum magnification. Getamaplink --MacRusgail (talk) 15:06, 6 January 2008 (UTC)

If you look at 'em on Google maps, you can see that they are saltmarsh 'islands' and that the sand is only visible at low tide. There is no question that they are islands but they lack permanence as the rivers change their courses. I don't think any are at 40 ha, and none seem to have names. Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk 16:50, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

Sure, I tend to agree. But if they are wooded, that suggests something more permanent perhaps. After all, the Isle of Sheppey is a sandy blob really and has a long and involved history. --MacRusgail (talk) 19:39, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Eilean Hoan

According to the JNCC the SSSI it is part of, which includes Eilean nan Ron and other neighbours is 221.11 ha. As EnR is only 138 ha I wondered if H-Smith might have missed it. However, as a rough estimate I make it about 26 ha. H-Smith mentions its existence under "Eilean nan Ron", so it is a good find for the 'Smaller' list. (For future ref the Latitude & Longitude are N58:34:01 W04:39:39 (Lat: 58.567 Long: -4.661)). Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk 17:58, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

There's also Eilean Horrisdale NG787744 - possibly tidal, with some evidence of settlement (Cnoc an t-Sean Bhaile meaning old town hill and Tigh Ghobain - another glorious OS bastardisation which probably is an old Smithy). If you're looking for it, it's near Badachro on Loch Gairloch [sic] (surely it should be just "Gairloch"?!) --MacRusgail (talk) 19:36, 8 January 2008 (UTC) p.s. 38m at highest point, and seemingly fairly rocky.

[edit] Ooh yeah

Uyea, Northmavine, Shetland is not on the list, but apparently "125 hectares" --MacRusgail (talk) 13:53, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

H-Smith says it is 45 ha - no idea where that came from. I'll fix it and throw in a free infobox if I have time. Ben MacDuiTalk/Walk 14:47, 8 January 2008 (UTC) PS I had no idea you were a fan.

I'm more into An Orkney in the Uyea myself. Although as far as prog rock goes, I like some of Pink Floyd's early stuff... --MacRusgail (talk) 19:37, 8 January 2008 (UTC)