Wiay, Inner Hebrides facts for kids
| Gaelic name | Fuidheigh |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | Settlement |
 |
|
| OS grid reference | NG292363 |
| Coordinates | 57°20′N 6°30′W / 57.34°N 6.5°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Skye |
| Area | 148 ha (366 acres) |
| Area rank | 123 |
| Highest elevation | 60 m (197 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Highland |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
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|
Wiay (in Gaelic: Fuidheigh) is an island in Loch Bracadale, near the Isle of Skye in Scotland. No one lives on Wiay today.
Wiay is about 1.3 miles long and 0.8 miles wide. It is the biggest island in Loch Bracadale. The island is located 0.8 miles west of Ullinish and 1.5 miles north of Fiskavaig.
Most of Wiay's coast has cliffs that are up to 60 meters (200 feet) high. The highest point on the island is 61 meters (200 feet) tall. Wiay is famous for its amazing sea arches and big, echoing sea caves. People say one of these caves has a ghost!
Contents
Exploring Wiay's Geography
Wiay has five sea caves. The biggest ones are at locations NG296356 and NG301370. One of these caves was visited by famous writers Samuel Johnson and James Boswell in 1773. You can read more about their visit below. There is also a natural sea arch at NG358294.
One of the few easy places to land on the island is a bay called 'Camas na Cille'. This name means 'Churchyard Bay' in Scottish Gaelic. Near this bay, you can find the remains of three old houses. One of them is a Blackhouse, a traditional Scottish home.
From Wiay, you can see The Uists to the west and the Cuillin mountains to the south. To the north, you can see Healabhal Bheag and Healabhal Mhòr, also known as MacLeod's Tables. These are large hills on the Duirinish Peninsula.
Here are some important spots on Wiay:
- Rubha Garbh: This is the westernmost point of the island. Its name means 'Wild Headland' in Scottish Gaelic.
- Geodha nan Faochag: This spot on the southwest shore means 'Periwinkle Cove'. A 'geodha' is a small cove or inlet.
- Geodha Chruidh: On the eastern shore, this name means 'Cattle Cove'.
Wiay's Past Residents
People used to live on Wiay. The Scottish Census of 1841 shows that six people lived there. They lived in one building. By 1851, the population was five.
In 1861, one family lived on the island. There were three males and three females. An old newspaper report from 1869 said that the only person living on Wiay was a shepherd named Dougald MacDonald.
By 1891, Wiay was no longer inhabited. It has been uninhabited ever since.
Johnson and Boswell's Adventure
It is believed that two famous writers, Samuel Johnson and James Boswell, visited Wiay in September 1773. They were on a big trip around the Hebrides islands.
James Boswell wrote in his journal: "In the afternoon, Ulinish carried us in his boat to an island possessed by him, where we saw an immense cave..."
Even though Wiay is not named directly, it is the only island near Ullinish with a sea cave that big. This makes people believe they visited Wiay.
The Shipwreck of the Harmonia
On July 5, 1869, a ship called the Harmonia left Quebec, Canada. It was a large ship carrying timber to Aberdeen, Scotland, with 15 crew members.
The very next day, a strong storm hit the ship. It started to leak and a mast broke. Eight crew members, including the captain, were lost at sea. The remaining seven crew members held onto the ship. They were rescued two days later by another ship.
The damaged Harmonia floated in the ocean for two months. On September 25, 1869, the ship crashed onto the west coast of Wiay. It was completely wrecked.
A report from Lloyds of London described the wreck. It said the ship was full of timber and had been abandoned at sea. Dougald MacDonald, the shepherd living on Wiay, saw the wreck. He lit a fire on a hill to get help. A boat was sent to the island to investigate.
Parts of the Harmonia shipwreck can still be found near Rubha Garbh on Wiay. Some items recovered from the wreck include a porthole, a steering wheel, and a bell.
Wiay's Old Names
Over time, Wiay has been called by several different names. Some of these names include Wia, Vinay, Vuiay, Buyamoire, Buia, and Via Moir.
People are not sure what the name Wiay means. However, in Old Norse, the word 'Bùey' means 'settlement'. This could be where the name came from.
Wiay's Amazing Wildlife
Wiay is home to two large colonies of herring gulls. In the waters around the island, you might see seals, otters, and porpoises. You can also spot Lion's Mane Jellyfish.
Sea eagles often fly around the area. Other seabirds like gannets and cormorants are also common visitors to Wiay.
Images for kids
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Wiay shown relative to Skye
Histpop Online Historical Population Reports
See also
In Spanish: Wiay (Hébridas Interiores) para niños
