Summary
Ornsay is a small tidal island to the east of the Sleat peninsula on the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.
| Scottish Gaelic name | Eilean Iarmain |
|---|---|
| Old Norse name | Örfirirsey |
| Meaning of name | "Ebb (i.e. tidal) island", from Norse |
| Location | |
  Ornsay Ornsay shown relative to Skye | |
| OS grid reference | NG709125 |
| Coordinates | 57°09′N 5°47′W / 57.15°N 5.79°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Inner Hebrides |
| Area | 35 ha (86 acres) |
| Highest elevation | 46 m (151 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Highland |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
 | |
| References | [1][2][3][4] |
| Ornsay Lighthouse Isleornsay Eilean Iarmain | |
 Ornsay Lighthouse | |
| Coordinates | 57°08′36″N 5°46′52″W / 57.143434°N 5.781037°W |
| Constructed | 1857 |
| Built by | Thomas Stevenson, David Stevenson  |
| Construction | masonry tower |
| Automated | 1962 |
| Height | 19 m (62 ft) |
| Shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings | white tower, black lantern, ochre trim |
| Power source | mains electricity |
| Operator | Northern Lighthouse Board[5][6] |
| Heritage | category B listed building |
| Focal height | 18 m (59 ft) |
| Lens | 300 mm (12 in) acrylic lens with a 250 W tungsten lamp |
| Range | 12 nmi (22 km) |
| Characteristic | Oc W 8 s |
Description edit
The island provides good shelter to a natural harbour which is overlooked by the village of Isleornsay. The "Ornsay" lighthouse stands on the neighbouring islet, Eilean Sionnach.[7] After the lighthouse was automated, Eilean Sionnach Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage became privately owned and is now let as holiday accommodation.
Lighthouse edit
The lighthouse was built in 1857 by Thomas and David Stevenson. It is a masonry tower with a gallery, lantern and keeper's house. The apparatus entered service on 10 November 1857. The lens system was improved in order to show the light strength according to the distance to be shown.[clarification needed] The lighthouse is equipped with a fourteen-day battery backup to keep the emergency light working. It was modernized in 1988 when mains power was installed. The lighthouse emits a white occulting light every 8 seconds and was automated in 1962.[8]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ Iain Mac an Tailleir. "Placenames" (PDF). Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Scotland: Highlands". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
- ^ Ornsay Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 20 May 2016
- ^ "Overview of Isleornsay". Gazetteer for Scotland. Archived from the original on 6 August 2010.
- ^ Ornsay Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 20 May 2016
External links edit
- Northern Lighthouse Board
57°8′48″N 5°47′12″W / 57.14667°N 5.78667°W