Scalpay, looking roughly west to the North Harris hills.
Scalpay is around 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) long and rises to a height of 104 metres (341 ft) at Beinn Scorabhaig. The area of Scalpay is 653 hectares (2.52 sq mi). The main settlement on the island is at the north, near the bridge, clustered around An Acairseid a Tuath (north harbour).
The island is peppered with small lochans. The largest of these is Loch an Duin (loch of the fort) which has a tiny island in it, with the remains of the fort still visible. Eilean Glas, a tiny peninsula on Scalpay's eastern shore is home to the first lighthouse to be built in the Outer Hebrides.
Scalpay's nearest neighbour, Harris is just 300 metres (980 ft) away over narrows of Caolas Scalpaigh. In 1997, the Scalpay bridge was built from mainland Harris[6] replacing a ferry service.
Etymology
Mac an Tàilleir (2003) suggests the name derives from "ship island" from the Norse.[7] However, Haswell-Smith states that the Old Norse name was Skalprøy, meaning "scallop island".[1]
Religion
The vast majority of the locals in Scalpay are Protestants. The island is home to two Presbyterian churches, the Free Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing). Like most places in the Outer Hebrides, Sunday is a day that locals use to rest from work and attend church. Respect for the Sabbath is appreciated by the islanders and they warmly welcome all visitors to meet with them during the services.
Demographics
In 2001, the island had a population of 322 people, whose main employment was fish farming and prawn fishing. By 2011 the population had declined by 9% to 291[3] whilst during the same period Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702.[8]
Scalpay is home to many Gaelic singers and psalm presenters. The island used to have more than 10 shops over 30 years ago but due to lack of people and work, the last shop closed in 2007. There also used to be a salmon factory which was a major local employer from 2001 until its closure in 2005. In the spring of 2009, local newspapers reported that the factory was to reopen as a net washing facility to support the local fish farming industry. In 2012, the Scalpay community bought and opened a community shop/cafe, Buth Scalpaigh.[9]
In 2011 the island's owner, Fred Taylor, announced that he proposed handing over the land to the local population. Two ideas were suggested: one where the island is owned by a local development trust, and another where it forms part of the larger North Harris Trust, itself community owned.[10] Islanders voted to accept the gift and assume community ownership of the island. They will go into partnership with the North Harris Community Trust to run the island.[11]
