Scalpay

Scalpay is a small inhabited island in the Inner Hebrides off the east coast of Skye. It sits across Loch na Cairidh and covers just under 25 square kilometres. The island rises to 396 metres at Mullach na Càrn and is mostly covered in heather with patches of conifer forest. Scalpay has a population of four people and is privately owned. It operates a red deer farm, a shooting estate and holiday cottages for visitors. The island has a long history tied to hunting and settlement. In 1549 Dean Monro described it as a fair hunting forest full of deer with small towns and strong coves for fishing. By the late 19th century shipping magnate Donald Currie owned Scalpay and built the first roads while planting many trees. Archaeologists found nine prehistoric sites on the island during the Scotland’s First Settlers project between 1999 and 2004. Visitors to Scalpay find a quiet island with varied geology and coastal scenery. The bedrock includes ancient sandstone, basalt and granite, while the shore shows raised marine deposits and peat in the north. The island’s name may come from the Old Norse for ‘scallop island’ or ‘ship island’. A walk along the coast reveals views across to Skye and the chance to spot wildlife in the heather and forests.