Boreray, North Uist facts for kids
| Gaelic name | Boraraigh |
|---|---|
| Norse name | Boreray |
| Meaning of name | fort island |
| OS grid reference | NF855815 |
| Coordinates | 57°42′46″N 7°16′59″W / 57.7128°N 7.283°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Uist and Barra |
| Area | 198 ha (489 acres) |
| Area rank | 110 |
| Highest elevation | Mullach Mòr 56 m (184 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Outer Hebrides |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
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Boreray (Scottish Gaelic: Boraraigh) is a small island in Scotland. It is part of the Outer Hebrides island group. Boreray is located about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of North Uist. Today, it is known for having only one farm, which is called a croft.
About Boreray's Land
The island of Boreray has different types of land. The northern part is quite hilly. The highest point there is a hill called Mullach Mòr, which is about 56 m (184 ft) tall. The island's only croft and its buildings are found in the northeast part of Boreray. A large lake, called Loch Mòr, and some sandy areas separate the hilly north from the flatter southern part of the island.
A Look at Boreray's Past
People have lived on Boreray for a very long time, even in prehistoric times. From the 1400s, the island was owned by a powerful family called the MacLeans. Around 1810, the MacLean family left the island. After they left, Boreray was divided into twenty small farms, or crofts.
More and more people came to live on the island. In 1841, a count showed that 181 people lived there. Throughout the 1800s, the population stayed above 100 people.
However, life on the island became harder. The land was used too much, and a business that used seaweed (called the kelp trade) failed. Because of these problems, the number of people living on Boreray slowly went down. In 1923, almost everyone left the island because they asked to be moved. One family stayed until the 1960s, but then they also left, and the island became empty.
In 1999, a new farmer, called a crofter, came to Boreray. This crofter started rebuilding work on the island. Today, this person is the only regular resident of Boreray.
Boreray Today
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The single croft on Boreray is located in the northeast part of the island. The right to let animals graze on the rest of the island is rented out. These grazing rights are used by farmers from the nearby island of Berneray.
See also
