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The 'Isle of Skye', commonly known as 'Skye', is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. In Scottish Gaelic it is commonly referred to as 'An t-Eilean Sgitheanach' ("The Winged Isle").
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', a poetic name meaning "Isle of Mist". However, the Council clarified that this name referred only to one of its 22 wards in the upcoming election, and that there were no plans to change signage or discontinue the English name.[1]
Its English name came via Old Norse (''Skið'' = "sky", and similar meanings), as an alteration of a Pictish original which is recorded in Roman sources as ''Scitis'' (Ravenna Cosmography) and ''Scetis'' (on Ptolemy's map). Some legends associate the isle with the mythic figure of Scáthach.
The population of Skye, at the 2001 census was 9,232. In contrast to many other Scottish islands this represents a 4% increase from the census of 1991 [2]. The resident population is augmented in the summer by large numbers of tourists and visitors. The main industries are tourism, agriculture, whisky-distilling, brewing and craftmaking. The main town and capital of the island is Portree, which is known for its picturesque harbour.
Skye is renowned for its spectacular scenery, vibrant culture and heritage, as well as its abundant wildlife including the Golden Eagle, Sea Eagle, Red Deer and the Otter.

Contents

Geography

History

Government and politics

Culture

Transport

Castles

Towns and villages

See also

References

External links

Geography

At 1656 km² (639 mi²), Skye is the second largest island in Scotland after Lewis with Harris. The island has some of the most dramatic and challenging mountain terrain in Scotland, including the Cuillin, as well as a rich heritage of ancient monuments, castles, and memorials.
The coastline of Skye is a series of peninsulas, including Sleat in the south, Strathaird, Minginish and Duirinish, and Waternish in the west, and Trotternish to the north. Surrounding islands include Rona, Raasay, Scalpay and Soay.

History

Skye has sites showing occupation by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, such as the site at ''An Corran'' in ''Staffin'' which appears to have been in contact with occupants of the rock shelter at Sand, Applecross on the coast of Wester Ross.
Skye suffered famine and clearances over the latter part of the 18th century, leading to its badly depleted population of less than ten thousand at the 1991 Census.

Government and politics

In terms of local government, Skye forms part of the Highland Council area (''Comhairle na Gaidhealtachd'') based in Inverness. From 1975 to 1996, Skye along with the neighbouring mainland area of Lochalsh constituted a local government district within the Highland administrative area. In 1996 the district was included into the Highland unitary authority, and formed one of the new council's area committees. Following the 2007 elections, Skye forms a four-member ward called 'Eilean a' Cheò' and it is currently represented by two Independent, one Scottish National Party, and one Liberal Democrat councillors.
Skye is in the Highlands electoral region and comprises a part of the Ross Skye and Inverness West Scottish Parliament constituency which elects one member under the first past the post basis to represent it. Currently this is John Farquhar Munro for the Liberal Democrats. In addition, Skye forms part of the wider Ross Skye and Lochaber UK Parliament constituency, which elects one member to the House of Commons. The present Member of Parliament is Charles Kennedy MP for the Liberal Democrats, who is a former leader of the party and has represented the area since 1983.

Culture

Of all the Inner Hebrides, Skye has the most in common with the Outer Hebrides, with half the population speaking Gaelic, and many belonging to the Free Church of Scotland, known for its strict observance of the Sabbath.
Shinty is a highly popular sport, although football is widely played as well. Portree based Skye Camanachd won the Camanachd Cup in 1990.^[5]
The Talisker Distillery, which produces a single malt whisky, is beside Loch Harport on the west coast of the island.
Dunvegan Castle has been the seat of Clan MacLeod since the thirteenth century.
The Isle of Skye has been immortalised in the traditional song ''The Skye Boat Song'' and in the book ''To the Lighthouse'' by Virginia Woolf.
Skye has a strong folk music tradition, although in recent years dance and rock music have been growing in popularity on the island. Gaelic Rock Band Runrig started in Skye and former singer Donnie Munro still works on the island.^[6] The Isle of Skye Music Festival has been growing in recent years and this year featured sets from The Fun Loving Criminals and Sparks. Mylo was born in Skye and frequently returns there to play sets.
The poet Sorley MacLean, a native of the Isle of Raasay which lies off the island's east coast, lived much of his life on Skye.

Transport

Skye is linked to the mainland by the Skye Bridge, while ferries sail from Armadale on the island to Mallaig, and from Kylerhea to Glenelg. Ferries also run from Uig to Tarbert on Harris and Lochmaddy on North Uist, and from Sconser to Raasay. Ferries to and from Armadale are sometimes synchronised with train arrivals and departures at Mallaig, from where the train runs to Fort William and Glasgow on the West Highland Line.
The Skye Bridge, linking Skye with the mainland of Scotland, opened in 1995 under a private finance initiative. 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.
Bus services run to Inverness and Glasgow, and there are local services on the island, mainly starting from Portree or Broadford. These are infrequent most of the year but more frequent during the summer. Train services run from Kyle of Lochalsh at the mainland end of the Skye Bridge to Inverness. There is also a small aerodrome at the south of the island, which is used exclusively by private aircraft.
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, but there are still substantial sections of single track road.

Castles

Castles on the Isle of Skye include:

★ Armadale Castle once home of the Clan Donald or MacDonald.

★ Dunscaith Castle once owned by the Clan MacDonald.

★ Duntulm Castle once owned by the Clan MacDonald.

★ Knock Castle once owned by the Clan MacDonald

★ Caisteal Maol once owned by the Clan MacKinnon.

★ Dunvegan Castle home of the Clan MacLeod.

Towns and villages

Portree is the largest settlement, and main service centre on the island, with a population of 2,491 (2001 census). Sconser and Broadford lying on the east side of the island. Smaller settlements include:

★ Aird of Sleat

★ Armadale

★ Carbost

★ Duntulm

★ Dunvegan

★ Edinbane

★ Elgol

★ Isleornsay

★ Millovaig

★ Kyleakin

★ Staffin

★ Torrin

★ Uig

★ Ullinish

See also

★

References

1. Murray, W.H. (1966) ''The Hebrides''. London. Heinemann.
2. 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
3. Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) ''The Scottish Islands''. Edinburgh. Canongate.
4. Ordnance Survey
5. Camanachd Association website Retrieved 12 May 2007.
6. Donnie Munro homepage Retrieved 5 April 2007

External links

★ The independent guide to Skye

★ Free independent guide to walks on the Isle of Skye

★ Pictures and Walks in Skye

★ SKAT homepage

★ Isle of Skye images

★ The Isle of Skye Music Festival homepage

★ 'Skyelife' community bulletin board

★ Skye Flora