Pabbay, Barra Isles facts for kids
| Gaelic name | Pabaigh |
|---|---|
| Norse name | Papey |
| Meaning of name | Island of the papar |
| OS grid reference | NL605880 |
| Coordinates | 56°51′N 7°34′W / 56.85°N 07.57°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Outer Hebrides |
| Area | 250 ha (620 acres) |
| Area rank | 96= |
| Highest elevation | 171 m (561 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Outer Hebrides |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
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Pabbay (Scottish Gaelic: Pabaigh) is a small island in the Barra Isles. These islands are found at the southern tip of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. The name Pabbay comes from an old Norse word, Papey. This means "island of the papar", which were monks.
Pabbay is only about 250 hectares (618 acres) in size. It never had many people living there. A very sad event happened on May 1, 1897. Many men from Pabbay were out fishing when a terrible storm hit. They all died in the storm. Because of this great loss, the island was left empty in the early 1900s.
Since the year 2000, the National Trust for Scotland has owned Pabbay. Today, the island is a safe home for many birds. They build their nests on the ground. This is because there are almost no animals that hunt them on Pabbay.
Long ago, Pabbay was a quiet place for religious people called hermits. These hermits lived alone and prayed. You can still see an old stone carving from the Pictish people. This carving is from that time. There are also signs of an even older settlement from the Iron Age on Pabbay.
The name Pabbay is also used for one of the three houses at Castlebay Secondary School. The other two houses are named Mingulay and Sandray.
Contents
Exploring Pabbay's Special Places
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Bàgh Bàn: The Main Bay
Bàgh Bàn is a large bay on the southeast coast of Pabbay. It is the main bay on the island. This bay is well protected from winds coming from the North and West. This made it a perfect spot for people who lived on the island long ago.
Rosinish: A Unique Headland
Rosinish (also called Rubha Phabach) is a small piece of land that sticks out into the sea. It is on the east coast of the island. Rosinish points towards the southeast. It is connected to the rest of Pabbay by a narrow, natural rock arch.
Steir: The Connecting Rock
Steir is the name of the narrow rock. This rock connects Rosinish to the main part of Pabbay island.
Rock Climbing Adventures
Pabbay is made of a type of rock called Lewisian gneiss. This makes it a fantastic place for rock climbing. Many climbers think it is one of the best climbing spots in the United Kingdom. One famous climbing path here is called The Great Arch. It is a very difficult climb, rated E8 6c.
See also
In Spanish: Pabbay (Barra) para niños
