Soay, Skye
| Soay | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 Soay
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| Soay shown within the Skye area | |
| OS grid reference | NG443145 |
| Names | |
| Gaelic name |  Sòdhaigh (help·info) |
| Norse name | so-øy |
| Meaning of name | Sheep Island |
| Area and summit | |
| Area | 1,036 ha (4 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 49 |
| Highest elevation | Beinn Bhreac 141 m (463 ft) |
| Population | |
| Population | 7 |
| Population rank | 76= out of 100 |
| Main settlement | Mol-chlach |
| Groupings | |
| Island group | Skye |
| Local Authority | Highland |
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| References | [1][2][3] |
| If shown, area and population ranks are for all Scottish islands and all inhabited Scottish islands respectively. Population data is from 2001 census. | |
Soay (Scottish Gaelic: Sòdhaigh, pronounced [ˈs̪ɔː.aj]) is an island just off the coast of Skye, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
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 141 metres (463 ft) 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. The island is part of the Cuillin Hills National Scenic Area, one of 40 in Scotland.[4]
[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.[5]
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.[6] Maxwell wrote about it in his book Harpoon at a Venture.[7] 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] Stamps
Local stamps were issued for Soay between 1965 and 1967, all on the Europa theme, some being overprinted to commemorate Sir Winston Churchill. As the stamps were produced without the owner's permission, they are regarded as bogus.[8]
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ a b c d e Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ "National Scenic Areas". SNH. Retrieved 30 Mar 2011.
- ^ Perrott, David (1988). Guide to the Western Islands of Scotland. Edinburgh: Kittiwake. ISBN 0702808865.
- ^ "Soay Overview". Gazetteer for Scotland. http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1639.html. Retrieved 2007-07-22.
- ^ ISBN 1899863281
- ^ "Modern British Local Posts CD Catalogue, 2009 Edition". Phillips. 2003. http://www.seahorsepublishers.com/phillipscatalogues.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- Laurance Reed. The Soay of our Forefathers. ISBN 1-84158-229-8.
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Coordinates: 57°9′0″N 6°13′48″W / 57.15°N 6.23°W
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