Vatersay
| Vatersay | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
  Vatersay
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| Vatersay shown within Scotland. | |
| OS grid reference: | NL635955 |
| Names | |
| Gaelic name: |  Bhatarsaigh (help·info) |
| Meaning of name: | Water island |
| Area and Summit | |
| Area: | 960 hectares (3.7 sq mi) |
| Area rank: | 50 |
| Highest elevation: | Theiseabhal Mòr 190 metres (623 ft) |
| Population | |
| Population (2001): | 94 |
| Population rank: | 46 out of 97 |
| Main settlement: | Baile Bhatarsaigh |
| Groupings | |
| Island Group: | Uist and Barra |
| 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. | |
Vatersay (Scottish Gaelic: Bhatarsaigh, pronounced [vaʰt̪əɾs̪aj]) is an inhabited island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Vatersay is also the name of the only village on the island.
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Location
The westernmost permanently inhabited place in Scotland, Vatersay is linked to Barra by a causeway completed in 1991.[5] At low tide, the island is also linked to the islet of Uineasan to the east.
Wildlife
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.
Archaeology
The island has remains of an Iron Age fort.
Shipwreck
One of the saddest events to befall the island happened more than 150 years ago. The Annie Jane, a three-masted immigrant ship out of Liverpool bound for Montreal, Canada, struck rocks off West Beach during a storm on Tuesday 28 September, 1853. Within 10 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.[6]
There were only a hundred survivors. The remains of 350 men, women and children were buried in the dunes behind the beach. A small cairn and monument marks the site.
External links
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Undiscovered Vatersay". Isle of Barra. http://www.isleofbarra.com/vatersay.htm. Retrieved on 2008-11-06.
- ^ "Annie Jane Memorial - the story". Isle of Vatersay. http://www.isleofvatersay.com/Vatersay2chist.html. Retrieved on 2008-11-06.
- Homepage of Vatersay's well known Band, The Vatersay Boys
- Panorama of the West Bay on Vatersay (Annie Jane burial cairn and monument) (QuickTime required)
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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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