Isle of Skye
Scottish Gaelic name | An t-Eilean Sgitheanach[1] |
---|---|
Pronunciation | [əɲ ˈtʲʰelan ˈs̪kʲi.anəx] ⓘ |
Old Norse name | Skíð |
Meaning of name | Etymology unclear |
Bank Street, Portree | |
Location | |
OS grid reference | NG452319 |
Coordinates | 57°18′25″N 6°13′48″W / 57.307°N 6.230°W |
Physical geography | |
Island group | Skye |
Area | 1,656 km2 (639 sq mi)[2] |
Area rank | 2[3] [5] |
Highest elevation | Sgùrr Alasdair, 993 m (3,258 ft)[4] |
Administration | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Country | Scotland |
Council area | Highland |
Demographics | |
Population | 10,008[6] |
Population rank | 4[6] [5] |
Population density | 6.04/km2 (15.6/sq mi)[2][6] |
Largest settlement | Portree |
References | [7] |
The Isle of Skye,
The island has been occupied since the Mesolithic period, and over its history has been occupied at various times by Celtic tribes including the Picts and the Gaels, Scandinavian Vikings, and most notably the powerful integrated Norse-Gaels clans of MacLeod and MacDonald. The island was considered to be under Norwegian suzerainty until the 1266 Treaty of Perth, which transferred control over to Scotland.
The 18th-century
The main industries are tourism, agriculture, fishing, and forestry. Skye is part of the
Etymology
The first written references to the island are
In the Norse sagas, Skye is called Skíð, for example in the Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar[22] and a skaldic poem in the Heimskringla from around 1230 contains a line that translates as "the hunger battle-birds were filled in Skye with the blood of foemen killed".[23] The island was also referred to by the Norse as Skuy (misty isle),[18] Skýey or Skuyö (isle of cloud).[1] The traditional Gaelic name is An t-Eilean Sgitheanach (the island of Skye), An t-Eilean Sgiathanach being a more recent and less common spelling. In 1549, Donald Munro, High Dean of the Isles, wrote of "Sky": "This Ile is callit Ellan Skiannach in Irish, that is to say in Inglish the wyngit Ile, be reason it has mony wyngis and pointis lyand furth fra it, throw the dividing of thir foirsaid Lochis."[Note 2] but the meaning of this Gaelic name is unclear.[25]
Eilean a' Cheò, which means "island of the mist" (a translation of the Norse name), is a poetic Gaelic name for the island.[19][Note 3]
Geography
At 1,656 km2 (639 sq mi), Skye is the second-largest island in Scotland after Lewis and Harris. The coastline of Skye is a series of peninsulas and bays radiating out from a centre dominated by the Cuillin hills (Gaelic: An Cuiltheann). Malcolm Slesser suggested that its shape "sticks out of the west coast of northern Scotland like a lobster's claw ready to snap at the fishbone of Harris and Lewis"[10] and W. H. Murray, commenting on its irregular coastline, stated, "Skye is 60 miles [100 km] long, but what might be its breadth is beyond the ingenuity of man to state".[1][Note 4] Martin Martin, a native of the island, reported on it at length in a 1703 publication. His geological observations included a note that:
There are marcasites black and white, resembling silver ore, near the village Sartle: there are likewise in the same place several stones, which in bigness, shape, &c., resemble nutmegs, and many rivulets here afford variegated stones of all colours. The Applesglen near Loch-Fallart has agate growing in it of different sizes and colours; some are green on the outside, some are of a pale sky colour, and they all strike fire as well as flint: I have one of them by me, which for shape and bigness is proper for a sword handle. Stones of a purple colour flow down the rivulets here after great rains.
— Martin Martin, A Description of The Western Islands of Scotland.[27]
The Black Cuillin, which are mainly composed of
The northern peninsula of
Beyond
Towns and villages
Portree in the north at the base of Trotternish is the largest settlement (estimated population 2,264 in 2011)[37] and is the main service centre on the island. A December 2018 report recommended the village as "Skye's best home base" for visitors", since it has "a few hotels, hostels and bed-and-breakfasts in town, while more B&Bs line the roads into and out of town".[38] The village also has "banks, churches, cafes and restaurants, a cinema at the Aros Centre, a swimming pool and library ... fuel filling stations and supermarkets".[39]
Broadford, the location of the island's only airstrip, is on the east side of the island, and Dunvegan in the north-west is well known for its castle and the nearby Three Chimneys restaurant. The 18th-century Stein Inn on the Waternish coast is the oldest pub on Skye.[40] Kyleakin is linked to Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland by the Skye Bridge, which spans the narrows of Loch Alsh. Uig, the port for ferries to the Outer Hebrides, is on the west of the Trotternish peninsula, and Edinbane is between Dunvegan and Portree.[18] Much of the rest of the population lives in crofting townships scattered around the coastline.[41]
Climate
The influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream create a mild oceanic climate. Temperatures are generally cool, averaging 6.5 °C (43.7 °F) in January and 15.4 °C (59.7 °F) in July at Duntulm in Trotternish.[42][Note 5] Snow seldom lies at sea level and frosts are less frequent than on the mainland. Winds are a limiting factor for vegetation. South-westerlies are the most common and speeds of 128 km/h (80 mph) have been recorded. High winds are especially likely on the exposed coasts of Trotternish and Waternish.[44] In common with most islands of the west coast of Scotland, rainfall is generally high at 1,500–2,000 mm (59–79 in) per annum and the elevated Cuillin are wetter still.[44] Variations can be considerable, with the north tending to be drier than the south. Broadford, for example, averages more than 2,870 mm (113 in) of rain per annum.[45] Trotternish typically has 200 hours of bright sunshine in May, the sunniest month.[46] On 28 December 2015, the temperature reached 15 °C, beating the previous December record of 12.9 °C, set in 2013. On 9 May 2016, a temperature of 26.7 °C (80.1 °F) was recorded at Lusa in the southeast of the island.[47]
Climate data for Duntulm, Skye | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 13.5 (56.3) |
12.5 (54.5) |
16.7 (62.1) |
22.3 (72.1) |
26.7 (80.1) |
24.5 (76.1) |
25.9 (78.6) |
25.6 (78.1) |
22.1 (71.8) |
19.3 (66.7) |
17.3 (63.1) |
15.0 (59.0) |
26.7 (80.1) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.5 (43.7) |
6.6 (43.9) |
8.1 (46.6) |
9.6 (49.3) |
12.4 (54.3) |
14.3 (57.7) |
15.4 (59.7) |
15.7 (60.3) |
14.2 (57.6) |
11.5 (52.7) |
9.1 (48.4) |
7.6 (45.7) |
10.9 (51.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.4 (36.3) |
2.2 (36.0) |
3.3 (37.9) |
4.3 (39.7) |
6.5 (43.7) |
8.7 (47.7) |
10.4 (50.7) |
10.7 (51.3) |
9.4 (48.9) |
7.2 (45.0) |
5.1 (41.2) |
3.6 (38.5) |
6.2 (43.2) |
Record low °C (°F) | −4.0 (24.8) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−4.1 (24.6) |
−3.4 (25.9) |
0.0 (32.0) |
4.2 (39.6) |
5.2 (41.4) |
4.7 (40.5) |
2.6 (36.7) |
0.3 (32.5) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 148 (5.84) |
100 (3.93) |
82 (3.24) |
86 (3.40) |
73 (2.87) |
85 (3.35) |
97 (3.83) |
112 (4.41) |
128 (5.05) |
152 (6.00) |
143 (5.63) |
142 (5.58) |
1,350 (53.13) |
Source 1: Cooper (1983)[42] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Met office for May and December record high,[48] bing weather[49] |
Climate data for Prabost, Skye (67 metres asl) 1981–2010 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.4 (43.5) |
6.8 (44.2) |
8.2 (46.8) |
10.8 (51.4) |
13.9 (57.0) |
15.5 (59.9) |
16.8 (62.2) |
16.8 (62.2) |
14.7 (58.5) |
11.7 (53.1) |
8.7 (47.7) |
6.7 (44.1) |
11.4 (52.5) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.6 (34.9) |
1.5 (34.7) |
2.3 (36.1) |
3.9 (39.0) |
6.1 (43.0) |
8.5 (47.3) |
10.5 (50.9) |
10.4 (50.7) |
8.5 (47.3) |
6.2 (43.2) |
3.8 (38.8) |
1.7 (35.1) |
5.4 (41.7) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 211.2 (8.31) |
158.2 (6.23) |
160.4 (6.31) |
93.9 (3.70) |
79.2 (3.12) |
81.4 (3.20) |
106.7 (4.20) |
129.3 (5.09) |
169.6 (6.68) |
209.2 (8.24) |
209.3 (8.24) |
197.8 (7.79) |
1,806.2 (71.11) |
Average rainy days | 21.8 | 18.5 | 21.1 | 14.7 | 13.8 | 14.4 | 16.5 | 17.6 | 19.0 | 23.3 | 21.9 | 20.7 | 223.2 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 34.2 | 61.1 | 93.0 | 138.6 | 195.9 | 155.9 | 128.6 | 115.2 | 97.5 | 68.7 | 37.7 | 34.0 | 1,160.2 |
Source: metoffice.gov.uk[50] |
Climate data for Lusa, Skye (18 metres asl) 1981–2010 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.2 (45.0) |
7.5 (45.5) |
8.9 (48.0) |
11.1 (52.0) |
13.9 (57.0) |
15.6 (60.1) |
17.0 (62.6) |
17.1 (62.8) |
15.1 (59.2) |
12.4 (54.3) |
9.5 (49.1) |
7.2 (45.0) |
11.9 (53.4) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.1 (35.8) |
2.0 (35.6) |
2.9 (37.2) |
4.0 (39.2) |
6.3 (43.3) |
8.9 (48.0) |
10.8 (51.4) |
10.8 (51.4) |
9.1 (48.4) |
6.7 (44.1) |
4.3 (39.7) |
2.2 (36.0) |
5.9 (42.6) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 252.2 (9.93) |
173.9 (6.85) |
190.8 (7.51) |
113.8 (4.48) |
92.0 (3.62) |
89.6 (3.53) |
105.7 (4.16) |
137.4 (5.41) |
190.2 (7.49) |
232.5 (9.15) |
227.0 (8.94) |
231.6 (9.12) |
2,036.6 (80.18) |
Average rainy days | 20.7 | 17.5 | 20.6 | 15.3 | 12.8 | 13.3 | 16.3 | 17.9 | 17.8 | 20.5 | 20.5 | 20.3 | 213.4 |
Source: metoffice.gov.uk[51] |
History
Prehistory
A
Early history
The late Iron Age inhabitants of the northern and western Hebrides were probably
Legendary hero Cú Chulainn is said to have trained on the Isle of Skye with warrior woman Scáthach.
The Norse held sway throughout the Hebrides from the 9th century until after the
Clans and Scottish rule
The most powerful clans on Skye in the post–Norse period were Clan MacLeod, originally based in Trotternish, and Clan Macdonald of Sleat. The isle was held by Donald Macdonald, Lord of the Isles’ half-brother, Godfrey, from 1389 until 1401, at which time Skye was declared part of Ross. When Donald Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, re-gained Ross after the battle of Harlaw in 1411, they added "Earl of Ross" to their lords' titles. Skye came with Ross.
Following the disintegration of the
After the failure of the
Of the island in general, Johnson observed:
I never was in any house of the islands, where I did not find books in more languages than one, if I staid long enough to want them, except one from which the family was removed. Literature is not neglected by the higher rank of the Hebrideans. It need not, I suppose, be mentioned, that in countries so little frequented as the islands, there are no houses where travellers are entertained for money. He that wanders about these wilds, either procures recommendations to those whose habitations lie near his way, or, when night and weariness come upon him, takes the chance of general hospitality. If he finds only a cottage he can expect little more than shelter; for the cottagers have little more for themselves but if his good fortune brings him to the residence of a gentleman, he will be glad of a storm to prolong his stay. There is, however, one inn by the sea-side at Sconsor, in Sky, where the post-office is kept.
— Samuel Johnson, A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland.[74]
Skye has a rich heritage of ancient monuments from this period. Dunvegan Castle has been the seat of Clan MacLeod since the 13th century. It contains the
Economic turmoil and mass emigration
In the late 18th century the harvesting of
Overview of population trends
Year | 1755 | 1794 | 1821 | 1841 | 1881 | 1891 | 1931 | 1951 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Population[6][18][87] | 11,252 | 14,470 | 20,827 | 23,082 | 16,889 | 15,705 | 9,908 | 8,537 | 7,479 | 7,183 | 7,276 | 8,847 | 9,232 | 10,008 | 13,143 |
As with many Scottish islands, Skye's population peaked in the 19th century and then declined under the impact of the Clearances and the military losses in the
Language
Pronunciation | ||
---|---|---|
Scots Gaelic : |
An t-Eilean Sgitheanach | |
Pronunciation: | [əɲ ˈtʲʰelan ˈs̪kʲi.anəx] ⓘ | |
Scots Gaelic : |
Am Binnean Dearg | |
Pronunciation: | [əm ˈpiɲan ˈtʲɛɾak] ⓘ | |
Scots Gaelic : |
An Corran | |
Pronunciation: | [əŋ ˈkʰɔrˠan] ⓘ | |
Scots Gaelic : |
An Cuan Sgìth | |
Pronunciation: | [ən̪ˠ ˈkʰuən s̪kʲiː] ⓘ | |
Scots Gaelic : |
An Tìr, an Cànan 's na Daoine | |
Pronunciation: | [ən̪ˠ ˈtʲʰiːɾʲ əŋ ˈkʰanan s̪nə ˈtɯːɲə] ⓘ | |
Scots Gaelic : |
Eilean a' Cheò | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈelan ə ˈçɔː] ⓘ | |
Scots Gaelic : |
Loch na h-Àirde | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈl̪ˠɔx nə ˈhaːrˠtʲə] ⓘ | |
Scots Gaelic : |
Mac na Mara | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈmaxk nə ˈmaɾə] ⓘ | |
Scots Gaelic : |
Poit Dhubh | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈpʰɔʰtʲ ˈɣu] ⓘ | |
Scots Gaelic : |
Pràban na Linne | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈpʰɾaːpan nə ˈʎiɲə] ⓘ | |
Scots Gaelic : |
Tè Bheag nan Eilean | |
Pronunciation: | [tʲʰeˈvek nə ˈɲelan] ⓘ | |
Scots Gaelic : |
Sgiathan | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈs̪kʲiəhən] ⓘ | |
Scots Gaelic : |
Sgitheanach | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈs̪kʲi.anəx] ⓘ |
Historically, Skye was overwhelmingly Gaelic-speaking, but this changed between 1921 and 2001. In both the 1901 and 1921 censuses, all Skye parishes were more than 75 percent Gaelic-speaking. By 1971, only Kilmuir parish had more than three-quarters of Gaelic speakers while the rest of Skye ranged between 50 and 74 percent. At that time, Kilmuir was the only area outside the Western Isles that had such a high proportion of Gaelic speakers.[94] In the 2001 census Kilmuir had just under half Gaelic speakers, and overall, Skye had 31 percent, distributed unevenly. The strongest Gaelic areas were in the north and southwest of the island, including Staffin at 61 percent. The weakest areas were in the west and east (e.g. Luib 23 percent and Kylerhea 19 percent). Other areas on Skye ranged between 48 percent and 25 percent.[94]
Government and politics
In terms of
Skye is in the
Economy
The largest employer on the island and its environs is the public sector, which accounts for about a third of the total workforce, principally in administration, education, and health. The second-largest employer in the area is the distribution, hotels, and restaurants sector, highlighting the importance of tourism. Key attractions include Dunvegan Castle, the
Small firms dominate employment in the private sector. The
Crofting is still important, but although there are about 2,000 crofts on Skye only 100 or so are large enough to enable a crofter to earn a livelihood entirely from the land.[109] In recent years, families have complained about the increasing prices for land that make it difficult for young people to start their own crofts.[110]
The unemployment rate in the area tends to be higher than in the
The restrictions required by the worldwide pandemic increased unemployment in the Highlands and Islands in the summer of 2020 to 5.7%; which was significantly higher than the 2.4 percent in 2019. The rates were said to be highest in "Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross and Argyll and the Islands".[116][117] A December 2020 report stated that between March (just before the effects of pandemic were noted) and December, the unemployment rate in the region increased by "more than 97%" and suggested that the outlook was even worse for spring 2021.[118]
Tourism
A report published in mid-2020 indicated that visitors to Skye added £211 million in 2019 to the island's economy before travel restrictions were imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[120] The report added that "Skye and Raasay attracted 650,000 visitors [in 2018] and supported 2,850 jobs". The government estimated that tourism in Scotland would decline by over 50% as a result of the pandemic. "Skye is highly vulnerable to the downturn in international visitors that will continue for much of 2020 and beyond", Professor John Lennon of Glasgow Caledonian University told a reporter in July 2020.[121]
Tourism in the Highlands and Islands was negatively impacted by the pandemic, the effects of which continued into 2021. A September 2020 report stated that the region "has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to date when compared to Scotland and the UK as a whole". The industry required short-term support for "business survival and recovery" and that was expected to continue as the sector was "severely impacted for as long as physical distancing and travel restrictions".[122] A scheme called Island Equivalent was introduced by the Scottish government in early 2021 to financially assist hospitality and retail businesses "affected by Level 3 coronavirus restrictions". Previous schemes in 2020 included the Strategic Framework Business Fund and the Coronavirus Business Support Fund.[123]
Before the pandemic, during the summer of 2017, islanders complained about an excessive number of tourists, which was causing overcrowding in popular locations such as Glen Brittle, the Neist Point lighthouse, the Quiraing, and the Old Man of Storr. "Skye is buckling under the weight of increased tourism this year", said the operator of a self-catering cottage; the problem was most significant at "the key iconic destinations, like the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing", he added. Chris Taylor of VisitScotland sympathised with the concerns and said that the agency was working on a long-term solution. "But the benefits to Skye of bringing in international visitors and increased spending are huge," he added.[124]
An article published in 2020 confirmed that (before the pandemic), the Talisker Distillery and Dunvegan Castle were still overcrowded in peak periods; other areas where parking was a problem due to large crowds included "the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, the Quiraing, the Fairy Pools, and Neist Point. This source also stated that Portree was "the busiest place on the island" during peak periods and suggested that some tourists might prefer accommodations in quieter areas such as "Dunvegan, Kyleakin and the Broadford and Breakish area".[125]
Transport
Skye is linked to the mainland by the
The Skye Bridge opened in 1995 under a private finance initiative and the high tolls charged (£5.70 each way for summer visitors) met with widespread opposition, spearheaded by the pressure group SKAT (Skye and Kyle Against Tolls). On 21 December 2004, it was announced that the Scottish Executive had purchased the bridge from its owners and the tolls were immediately removed.[128]
Bus services run to Inverness and Glasgow, and there are local services on the island, mainly starting from Portree or Broadford. Train services run from Kyle of Lochalsh at the mainland end of the Skye Bridge to Inverness, as well as from Glasgow to Mallaig from where the ferry can be caught to Armadale.[129]
The island's airfield at Ashaig, near Broadford, is used by private aircraft and occasionally by NHS Highland and the Scottish Ambulance Service for transferring patients to hospitals on the mainland.[130]
The A87 trunk road traverses the island from the Skye Bridge to Uig, linking most of the major settlements. Many of the island's roads have been widened in the past forty years although there are still substantial sections of single-track road.[4][18]
Culture, media, and the arts
Students of Scottish Gaelic travel from all over the world to attend
Skye has a strong
The poet
Skye has been used as a location for several feature films. The Ashaig aerodrome was used for the opening scenes of the 1980 film Flash Gordon.[130] Stardust, released in 2007 and starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer, featured scenes near Uig, Loch Coruisk and the Quiraing.[146][147][148] Another 2007 film, Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle, was shot almost entirely in various locations on the island.[149] The Justin Kurzel adaption of Macbeth starring Michael Fassbender was also filmed on the Island.[150] Some of the opening scenes in Ridley Scott's 2012 feature film Prometheus were shot and set at the Old Man of Storr.[145] In 1973 The Highlands and Islands - a Royal Tour, a documentary about Prince Charles's visit to the Highlands and Islands, directed by Oscar Marzaroli, was shot partly on Skye.[151] Scenes from the Scottish Gaelic-language BBC Alba television series Bannan were filmed on the island.[152][153]
The
Whilst Skye had unofficial flags in the past, including the popular "Bratach nan Daoine" (Flag of the People) design which represented the Cuillins in sky blue against a white sky symbolising the Gaelic language, land struggle, and the fairy flag of Dunvegan, the Island received its first official flag "Bratach an Eilein" (The Skye Flag) approved by the
Wildlife
The Hebrides generally lack the biodiversity of mainland Britain,[158] but like most of the larger islands, Skye still has a wide variety of species. Observing the abundance of game birds Martin wrote:
There is plenty of land and water fowl in this isle—as hawks, eagles of two kinds (the one grey and of a larger size, the other much less and black, but more destructive to young cattle), black cock, heath-hen, plovers, pigeons, wild geese, ptarmigan, and cranes. Of this latter sort I have seen sixty on the shore in a flock together. The sea fowls are malls of all kinds—coulterneb, guillemot, sea cormorant, &c. The natives observe that the latter, if perfectly black, makes no good broth, nor is its flesh worth eating; but that a cormorant, which hath any white feathers or down, makes good broth, and the flesh of it is good food; and the broth is usually drunk by nurses to increase their milk.
— Martin Martin, A Description of The Western Islands of Scotland.[159]
Similarly, Samuel Johnson noted that:
At the tables where a stranger is received, neither plenty nor delicacy is wanting. A tract of land so thinly inhabited must have much wild-fowl; and I scarcely remember to have seen a dinner without them. The moor-game is every where to be had. That the sea abounds with fish, needs not be told, for it supplies a great part of Europe. The Isle of Sky has stags and roebucks, but no hares. They sell very numerous droves of oxen yearly to England, and therefore cannot be supposed to want beef at home. Sheep and goats are in great numbers, and they have the common domestic fowls."
— Samuel Johnson, A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland.[74]
In the modern era avian life includes the
Heather moor containing
The local Biodiversity Action Plan recommends land management measures to control the spread of
In 2020 Clan MacLeod chief Hugh MacLeod announced a plan to reintroduce 370,000 native trees along with beaver and red squirrel populations to the clan estates on Skye, to restore a "wet desert" landscape which had depleted from years of overgrazing.[173]
See also
- List of islands of Scotland
- Category:Mountains and hills of the Isle of Skye
- Timeline of prehistoric Scotland
Notes
- Handa, none of which exceeds 310 hectares (770 acres) in size.[9] See also List of Inner Hebrides.
- Gaelic, that is to say in English, The Winged Isle, because of its many wings and points that come from it, through dividing of the land by the aforesaid lochs."[24]
- ^ In April 2007 it was reported in the media that the island's official name had been changed by the Highland Council to Eilean a' Cheò. However, the Council clarified that this name referred only to one of its 22 wards in the forthcoming election and that no plans were made to change signage or discontinue the English-language name.[1][26]
- ^ Figures provided for Staffin, only a few miles to the east, average 4.6 °C (40.3 °F) in January and 15.6 °C (60.1 °F) in July at noon.[43]
- ^ The theme of government neglect has been repeated by commentators spanning more than a century. "[The landlords] persuaded the Government for the second time to put the country to the expense of a naval expedition to Skye to exhibit Highlanders to the world as a race of men who could only be governed at the point of the bayonet, and that simply because the Commissioners had neglected to perform and pay for the duty the law imposed on them. (Cheers)." Sir Charles Cameron (1886).[90] "Nationalist MPs and crofters, frustrated by the failure of Westminster politicians to bring Scotland into line with England and other European nations by abolishing feudal structures and regulating land use, are drawing up plans to limit foreign land ownership and introduce environmental codes for all estates. They want ministers to compile a full public Land Register." John Arlidge (1996).[91]
- ^ Carruthers was the editor of the National Illustrated Library's 1852 edition of Boswell (1785) who added a footnote to this effect.[92]
- Eilean Siar, between which the total for Skye is likely to lie are 48–42 percent Church of Scotland, 7–13 percent Roman Catholic and 12–28 percent "Other Christian", of whom the majority will be Free Church members. The total for all other religions combined is 1 percent for both areas.[132]
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f Murray (1966) p. 146.
- ^ a b c Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 173.
- ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) pp. 502–03. Modified to include bridged islands.
- ^ a b "Get-a-map". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
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External links
- Skye - Wikivoyage
- An historical perspective of Skye from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, edited by Francis H. Groome. Originally published between 1882 and 1885 and provided on-line by the Gazetteer for Scotland.
- Skye photos
- Skye Flora Archived 8 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- Skye Birding Guide