Scalpay, Outer Hebrides
| Scalpay | |
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| Location | |
  Scalpay
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| Scalpay shown within Scotland. | |
| OS grid reference: | NG214965 |
| Names | |
| Gaelic name: | Sgalpaigh Na Hearadh/Sgalpaidh |
| Meaning of name: | Ship Island |
| Area and Summit | |
| Area: | 653 ha (2.5 sq mi) |
| Area rank: | 66 |
| Highest elevation: | Beinn Scorabhaig 104 m (341 ft) |
| Population | |
| Population (2001): | 322 |
| Population rank: | 26 out of 97 |
| Main settlement: | An Acarsaid a Tuath (North Harbour) |
| Groupings | |
| Island Group: | Lewis and Harris |
| Local Authority: | Comhairle nan Eilean Siar |
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| References: | [1][2][3][4] |
| If shown, area and population ranks are for all Scottish islands and all inhabited Scottish islands respectively. | |
Scalpay (Scottish Gaelic: Sgalpaigh, also "Sgalpaigh na Hearadh" (of Harris) to distinguish it from the other Scalpay) is an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
Contents |
Geography
Scalpay is around 2.5 miles (4 km) long and rises to a height of 341 ft (104 m) at Beinn Scorabhaig. Scalpay's nearest neighbour, Harris is just 330 yds (300 m) away over narrow Caolas Scalpaigh. The two islands were linked in 1997 by a bridge that replaced the ferry service. 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 a fort still visible.
In 2001, the island had a population of 322 people, whose main employment is fish farming and prawn fishing.
The area of Scalpay is 6 square miles.
Eilean Glas, a tiny peninsula on Scalpay's eastern shore is home to the first lighthouse to be built in the Outer Hebrides.
Religion
Scalpay is home to two churches; Free Church of Scotland and Free Church of Scotland(continuing).
Demographics
The population is slowly going down and mainly elderly remain there. The school there will be closing in a few years due to lack of children and also due to all young adults leaving the island for other industrial places like Glasgow, Scotland. Scalpay is also home to many great Gaelic singers and psalm presenters and is well known for its use in Gaidhlig. In 1997 the Scalpay bridge was built and is the most well known bridge in the Western Isles. Scalpay used to have over 10 shops over 30 years ago but due to lack of people and work, the last remaining shop closed in 2007. There also used to be a fish factory which was a great industrial business for a good few years but closed. Scalpay is a great place to visit with near beaches in South Harris.[citation needed]
See also
Footnotes
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543.
- ^ Ordnance Survey. 1:50,000 [map].
- ^ "Pàrlamaid na h-Alba placenames" (PDF). http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/pdfs/placenamesP-Z.pdf. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
Coordinates: 57°52′13″N 6°41′33″W / 57.8703°N 6.6924°W / 57.8703; -6.6924
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