Sursaigh

Sursaigh (Scottish Gaelic: Sursaigh) is an island[6] off North Uist in the Sound of Harris, Scotland. It lies 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) northeast of the village of Lochmaddy[4] and there are numerous nearby islands including Stromay, Sgarabhaigh and Tahay.[5]

Sursaigh
Scottish Gaelic nameSursaigh
Meaning of namePossibly Old Norse for 'sour island'.[1]
Location
Sursaigh
Sursaigh shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid referenceNF957760
Coordinates57.673°N 7.105°W / 57.673; -7.105
Physical geography
Island groupUists and Barra
Area30 ha (74 acres)[2]
Area rank247 [3]
Highest elevation27 m (89 ft)
Administration
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Council areaNa h-Eileanan Siar
Demographics
Population0[4]
References[5]

The island has "a patchy cover of glacial deposits."[6]

Airigh na h-Aon Oidhche (one-night shieling) is a ruined hut on the south side of the island. It is said that in the late 19th century a shepherd who was staying on the island was awakened by the sound of gulls and his frightened dog. Rushing outside he saw "an enoromous cartwheel in the sky making a strange noise". He fled the island and never returned.[7]

See also

Footnotes

  1. MacCulloch, John (1824) The Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland, Containing Descriptions of Their Scenery and Antiquities, with an Account of the Political History ...: Present Condition of the People, &c.... Founded on a Series of Annual Journeys Between the Years 1811 and 1821... in Letters to Sir Walter Scott, Bart. Volume 3 p. 148. Longman.
  2. Rick Livingstone’s Tables of the Islands of Scotland (pdf) Argyll Yacht Charters. Retrieved 12 Dec 2011.
  3. 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.
  4. "Sursay". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  5. Get-a-map (Map). Ordnance Survey.
  6. J.D. Hansom. "Loch Maddy - Sound Of Harris Coastline" (PDF). JNCC. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  7. Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. p. 260. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.

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