Stuley facts for kids
| Gaelic name | Stulaigh |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | Stula's Island from Norse |
| OS grid reference | NF830234 |
| Coordinates | 57°11′24″N 7°14′49″W / 57.19°N 7.247°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Uists & Barra |
| Area | 45 hectares (0.17 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 210= |
| Highest elevation | 40 metres (131 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Na h-Eileanan Siar |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
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Stuley is a small island located east of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It's found off the coast between two sea inlets, Loch Eynort and Loch Boisdale. The island is about 45 hectares (0.17 sq mi) in size and its highest point is around 40 metres (131 ft) tall. No one lives on Stuley today, but it has an interesting past.
What Stuley Looks Like
Stuley is made of a type of rock called "Lewisian rock," which often has a greenish color. This rock is very old and forms the base of much of Scotland's northwest.
The island is separated from South Uist by a narrow stretch of water called Stuley Sound. Around Stuley, there are a few smaller rocky islets or "skerries." To the east, you can find Dubh-Sgeir Mhòr, Dubh-Sgeir Bheag, and Glas-Eilean Mòr. Glas-Eilean Beag is located to the west.
Stuley's History
The name "Stuley" comes from Old Norse, a language spoken by Vikings who visited and settled in Scotland long ago. It means "Stula's Island," named after someone called Stula. You can also find Stula's name in a nearby mountain on Uist called Stulaval.
There are some clues that Stuley might have had religious connections in the past. For example, there are local place names like Creag na h-Oraide on Stuley, which means "rock of the speech or sermon." On nearby Uist, there's Creag an t-Sagairt, meaning "priest's rock." This might suggest a link to early Christian monks, possibly the Culdees.
Even though no one lives on Stuley now, and there are no written records of people living there permanently, we know it was used by people. Explorers have found the remains of "lazybeds," which are old ways of farming where people would pile up soil to grow crops. They also found ruins of "shielings." Shielings were small huts used by people who brought their sheep or cattle to graze on the island during the summer months.
Sadly, it's thought that Stuley, like many other places in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, was affected by the Highland Clearances. This was a time in the 18th and 19th centuries when many people were forced to leave their homes to make way for large sheep farms. This might explain why the island is now only used for sheep grazing and has no permanent residents.
