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Coordinates: 56°55′41″N 7°32′01″W / 56.92805°N 7.53357°W / 56.92805; -7.53357
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The island of '''Vatersay''' ({{lang-gd|Bhatarsaigh}}) is the southernmost inhabited island in the [[Outer Hebrides]] of [[Scotland]], and the settlement of [[Caolas]] on the north coast of the island is the westernmost permanently inhabited place in Scotland and in [[Great Britain]]. The main village, also called Vatersay, is in the south of the island.
The island of '''Vatersay''' ({{lang-gd|Bhatarsaigh}}) is the southernmost inhabited island in the [[Outer Hebrides]] of [[Scotland]], and the settlement of [[Caolas]] on the north coast of the island is the westernmost permanently inhabited place in Scotland and in [[Great Britain]]. The main village called Vatersay city, is in the south of the island.
A person from Vatersay is known as a Vatersanian or Vatersuch.

==Geography==
==Geography==
Vatersay is in the form of a [[tombolo]], which is two rocky islands linked by a sandy [[isthmus]]. The isthmus is covered in [[sand dunes]] and on either side are large white-sand beaches; Bagh Siar (West Bay), and Bagh Bhatarsaigh (Vatersay Bay) to the east.
Vatersay is in the form of a [[tombolo]], which is two rocky islands linked by a sandy [[isthmus]]. The isthmus is covered in [[sand dunes]] and on either side are large white-sand beaches; Bagh Siar (West Bay), and Bagh Bhatarsaigh (Vatersay Bay) to the east.


Vatersay is linked to the larger island of [[Barra]] to the north by a [[causeway]] about 200 metres long which was completed in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isleofbarra.com/vatersay.htm |title=Undiscovered Vatersay |publisher=Isle of Barra |accessdate=2008-11-06 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923150905/http://www.isleofbarra.com/vatersay.htm |archivedate=23 September 2008 }}</ref> This is of huge benefit as the shipping of goods and passenger traffic no longer has to rely on a small passenger ferry boat. Access to schools and emergency services is much quicker and easier.
Vatersay is linked to the larger island of [[Barra]] to the north by a [[causeway]] about 200 metres long which was completed in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isleofbarra.com/vatersay.htm |title=Undiscovered Vatersay |publisher=Isle of Barra |accessdate=2008-11-06 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923150905/http://www.isleofbarra.com/vatersay.htm |archivedate=23 September 2008 }}</ref> This is of huge benefit as the shipping of goods and passenger traffic no longer has to rely on a small passenger ferry boat. Access to schools and emergency services is much quicker and easier.
The road on the Barra side if the causeway is known locally as ''yellow bag road'' on account of the local custom of throwing the yellow Tennents carryout bag away out the car window then consumption of bottle of Whiskey starts.


At low tide, the island is also linked to the islet of [[Barra Isles|Uineasan]] to the east. To the south are the uninhabited islands of [[Pabbay, Barra Isles|Pabbay]], [[Mingulay]] and [[Sandray|Sanday]].
At low tide, the island is also linked to the islet of [[Barra Isles|Uineasan]] to the east. To the south are the uninhabited islands of [[Pabbay, Barra Isles|Pabbay]], [[Mingulay]] and [[Sandray|Sanday]].
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==Wildlife==
==Wildlife==
{{main|Nature of the Outer Hebrides}}
{{main|Nature of the Outer Hebrides}}
Wildlife on the island includes [[otter]]s, [[Pinniped|seal]]s and [[heron]]s. Bonnie Prince Charlie's flower (''[[Calystegia soldanella]]''), reputedly originating from French seeds dropped by [[Bonnie Prince Charlie]] is, in Scotland, found only on Vatersay and [[Eriskay]].
Wildlife on the island includes [[otter]]s, [[Pinniped|seal]]s and [[heron]]s. Bonnie Prince Charlie's flower (''[[Calystegia soldanella]]''), reputedly originating from French seeds dropped by [[Bonnie Prince Charlie]] is, in Scotland, found only on Vatersay and [[Eriskay]]. Also Vatersay Seagulls, and Vatersay Puffins.


==Archaeology==
==Archaeology==
The island has remains of an [[Iron Age]] [[broch]] at Dun a' Chaolais overlooking the Sound of Vatersay, and nearby is a [[passage grave]] dated to the 3rd millennium BC.<ref>Branigan (2007) p. 65</ref> There is also a [[Bronze Age]] cemetery at Trèseabhaig south of the heights of Heiseabhal Mòr<ref>Branigan (2007) p. 66</ref> and a cairn built around 1000 BC west of the village of Vatersay.<ref>Branigan (2007) p. 68</ref> The offshore islet of [[Biruaslum|Bioruaslum]] has a walled [[fortification|fort]] that may be of [[Neolithic]] provenance.<ref>Branigan (2007) p. 67</ref>
The island has remains of an [[Iron Age]] [[broch]] at Dun a' Chaolais overlooking the Sound of Vatersay, and nearby is a [[passage grave]] dated to the 3rd millennium BC.<ref>Branigan (2007) p. 65</ref> There is also a [[Bronze Age]] cemetery at Trèseabhaig south of the heights of Heiseabhal Mòr<ref>Branigan (2007) p. 66</ref> and a cairn built around 1000 BC west of the village of Vatersay.<ref>Branigan (2007) p. 68</ref> The offshore islet of [[Biruaslum|Bioruaslum]] has a walled [[fortification|fort]] that may be of [[Neolithic]] provenance.<ref>Branigan (2007) p. 67</ref>
==Economy==

Vatersay is a grant driven economy, other sources of revenue include social welfare and ''Borrowing'' money from other customers at the Castlebay bar.
==Wrecks==
==Wrecks==
[[File:Annie Jane.jpg|thumb|left|Monument to the wreck of the ''Annie Jane'', overlooking the West Bay]]
[[File:Annie Jane.jpg|thumb|left|Monument to the wreck of the ''Annie Jane'', overlooking the West Bay]]

Revision as of 20:59, 19 April 2019

Vatersay
Scottish Gaelic nameBhatarsaigh
Pronunciation[ˈvaʰt̪əɾs̪aj] ⓘ
Meaning of nameWater island
Bagh Siar (West Bay)
Bagh Siar (West Bay)
Location
Vatersay is located in Outer Hebrides
Vatersay
Vatersay
Vatersay shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid referenceNL635955
Coordinates56°56′N 7°32′W / 56.93°N 7.53°W / 56.93; -7.53
Physical geography
Island groupUist and Barra
Area960 hectares (3.7 sq mi)
Area rank51 [1]
Highest elevationHeiseabhal Mòr 190 metres (623 ft)
Administration
Council areaComhairle nan Eilean Siar
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Demographics
Population90[2]
Population rank45= [1]
Population density9.4 people/km2[2][3]
Largest settlementBaile Bhatarsaigh
Lymphad
References[3][4][5]

The island of Vatersay (Scottish Gaelic: Bhatarsaigh) is the southernmost inhabited island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, and the settlement of Caolas on the north coast of the island is the westernmost permanently inhabited place in Scotland and in Great Britain. The main village called Vatersay city, is in the south of the island. A person from Vatersay is known as a Vatersanian or Vatersuch.

Geography

Vatersay is in the form of a tombolo, which is two rocky islands linked by a sandy isthmus. The isthmus is covered in sand dunes and on either side are large white-sand beaches; Bagh Siar (West Bay), and Bagh Bhatarsaigh (Vatersay Bay) to the east.

Vatersay is linked to the larger island of Barra to the north by a causeway about 200 metres long which was completed in 1991.[6] This is of huge benefit as the shipping of goods and passenger traffic no longer has to rely on a small passenger ferry boat. Access to schools and emergency services is much quicker and easier. The road on the Barra side if the causeway is known locally as yellow bag road on account of the local custom of throwing the yellow Tennents carryout bag away out the car window then consumption of bottle of Whiskey starts.

At low tide, the island is also linked to the islet of Uineasan to the east. To the south are the uninhabited islands of Pabbay, Mingulay and Sanday.

Wildlife

Main article: Nature of the Outer Hebrides

Wildlife on the island includes otters, seals and herons. Bonnie Prince Charlie's flower (Calystegia soldanella), reputedly originating from French seeds dropped by Bonnie Prince Charlie is, in Scotland, found only on Vatersay and Eriskay. Also Vatersay Seagulls, and Vatersay Puffins.

Archaeology

The island has remains of an Iron Age broch at Dun a' Chaolais overlooking the Sound of Vatersay, and nearby is a passage grave dated to the 3rd millennium BC.[7] There is also a Bronze Age cemetery at Trèseabhaig south of the heights of Heiseabhal Mòr[8] and a cairn built around 1000 BC west of the village of Vatersay.[9] The offshore islet of Bioruaslum has a walled fort that may be of Neolithic provenance.[10]

Economy

Vatersay is a grant driven economy, other sources of revenue include social welfare and Borrowing money from other customers at the Castlebay bar.

Wrecks

Monument to the wreck of the Annie Jane, overlooking the West Bay

One of the saddest events to befall the island was when the Annie Jane, a three-masted migrant ship out of Liverpool bound for Montreal, Quebec, Canada, struck rocks off West Beach during a storm in September 1853. Within ten minutes the ship began to founder and break up, casting 450 people into the raging sea. In spite of the conditions, islanders tried to rescue the passengers and crew.[11]

There were only a few survivors. A small cairn and monument marks the site where the bodies recovered from the sea were buried. An inscription reads:

On 28th September 1853 the ship Annie Jane with emigrants from Liverpool to Quebec was totally wrecked in this bay and threefourths of the crew and passengers numbering about 350 men women and children were drowned and their bodies interred here.

Two Chinese seamen from the SS Idomeneus, which sank on 28 September 1917, are also buried somewhere near the monument. There is a commemorative headstone in Cuier Churchyard.[12]

The remains of a Catalina flying boat that crashed on the slopes of Heiseabhal Beag in 1944 lie in a stream bed near the shore.[13]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
  2. ^ a b National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland's Inhabited Islands" (PDF). Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland Release 1C (Part Two) (PDF) (Report). SG/2013/126. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
  4. ^ Ordnance Survey. OS Maps Online (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure.
  5. ^ Mac an Tàilleir, Iain (2003) Ainmean-àite/Placenames. (pdf) Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Undiscovered Vatersay". Isle of Barra. Archived from the original on 23 September 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Branigan (2007) p. 65
  8. ^ Branigan (2007) p. 66
  9. ^ Branigan (2007) p. 68
  10. ^ Branigan (2007) p. 67
  11. ^ "Annie Jane Memorial - the story". Isle of Vatersay. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ CWGC Dept of Honour
  13. ^ "Consolidated Catalina: Vatersay, Heishival Beg". Canmore. Retrieved 13 Nov 2011.

See also

References

  • Branigan, Keith (2007) Ancient Barra: exploring the Archaeology of the Outer Hebrides. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

56°55′41″N 7°32′01″W / 56.92805°N 7.53357°W / 56.92805; -7.53357

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