Scalpay, Inner Hebrides
Encyclopedia
Scalpay is an island
in the Inner Hebrides
of Scotland
.
Separated from the east coast of Skye by Loch na Cairidh, Scalpay rises to 396 metres (1,299.2 ft) at Mullach na Càrn. It has an area of almost ten sq. miles.
Scalpay is privately owned and operates a red deer
farm, shooting estate and holiday cottages. Much of Scalpay is covered with heather
, while other areas are conifer forestry
plantations.
gave the following description of Scalpay in 1549:
By the time of Dr Johnson's tour, the island was held by a tenant of Sir Alexander Macdonald
.
Shipping magnate and politician, Donald Currie
owned the island in the late 19th century and was responsible for the construction of the first roads and much tree planting.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the Inner Hebrides
Inner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which enjoy a mild oceanic climate. There are 36 inhabited islands and a further 43 uninhabited Inner Hebrides with an area greater than...
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Scalpay is privately owned and operates a red deer
Red Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
farm, shooting estate and holiday cottages. Much of Scalpay is covered with heather
Ericaceae
The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants...
, while other areas are conifer forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
plantations.
History
Dean MonroDonald Monro (Dean)
Donald Monro was a Scottish clergyman, who wrote an early and historically valuable description of the Hebrides and other Scottish islands and enjoyed the honorific title of “Dean of the Isles”.-Origins:...
gave the following description of Scalpay in 1549:
...a fair hunting forest, full of deer, with certain little woods and small towns, well inhabited and manured, with many strong coves, good for fishing, in heritage it pertains to Maclean of DuartClan MacLeanClan Maclean is a Highland Scottish clan. They are one of the oldest clans in the Highlands and owned large tracts of land in Argyll as well as the Inner Hebrides. Many early MacLeans became famous for their honour, strength and courage in battle. They were involved in many clan skirmishes with...
.
By the time of Dr Johnson's tour, the island was held by a tenant of Sir Alexander Macdonald
Alexander Macdonald, 1st Baron Macdonald
Alexander Macdonald, 1st Baron Macdonald , was a Scottish peer.Macdonald was the younger son of Sir Alexander Macdonald, 7th Baronet, and his wife Lady Margaret . He was educated at Eton and served with the Grenadier Guards. Macdonald was also a Deputy Lieutenant of Inverness-shire and a...
.
Shipping magnate and politician, Donald Currie
Donald Currie
Sir Donald Currie GCMG was a British shipowner.Currie was born in Greenock, Scotland. However, he spent his school days in Belfast at the Belfast Academy and later at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and at a very early age he was employed in the office of a shipowner in that port...
owned the island in the late 19th century and was responsible for the construction of the first roads and much tree planting.