Pabbay, Harris

Pabbay
Scottish Gaelic namePabaigh
Pronunciation[ˈpʰapaj]
Old Norse namePapey
Meaning of nameIsland of the papar
Location
Pabbay is located in Outer Hebrides
Pabbay
Pabbay
Pabbay shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid referenceNF888876
Coordinates57°46′N 7°14′W / 57.77°N 07.23°W / 57.77; -07.23
Physical geography
Island groupUists and Barra
Area820 ha (3+18 sq mi)
Area rank60 [1]
Highest elevationBeinn a' Chàrnain, 196 m (643 ft)
Administration
Council areaNa h-Eileanan Siar
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Demographics
Population0[2]
Lymphad
References[3][4]

Pabbay (Scottish Gaelic: Pabaigh) is an uninhabited island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland which lies in the Sound of Harris between Harris and North Uist. The name comes from Papey, which is Norse for "Island of the papar (Culdee)".

The island was once very fertile, supporting a three-figure population and exporting corn, barley and illicit whisky. Most of the stewards of St Kilda were Pabbay men. St Kilda was part of a farm with Pabbay, and the islanders paid rent to the Macleod chiefs.[5] The island was cleared for sheep in 1846. Pabbay is traditionally a home of Clan Morrison.

Pabbay lies within the South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area,[6] one of 40 such areas in Scotland which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development.[7]

  1. ^ Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
  2. ^ National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland's Inhabited Islands" (PDF). Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland Release 1C (Part Two) (PDF) (Report). SG/2013/126. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  3. ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
  4. ^ Ordnance Survey. OS Maps Online (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure.
  5. ^ McKenzie, Steven (2 November 2015). "New book challenges St Kilda's 'lost world' tag". BBC News. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  6. ^ "South Lewis, Harris & North Uist NSA 1:50,000 map" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 20 December 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2018.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "National Scenic Areas". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 7 June 2018.