Killegray
Island in the Sound of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Killegray is an island in the Sound of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
| Scottish Gaelic name | Ceileagraigh |
|---|---|
| Old Norse name | kjallard-øy |
| Meaning of name | Old Norse: graveyard island |
Killegray from the southeast with the heights of Ceapabhal on Harris beyond | |
| Location | |
  Killegray Killegray shown within the Outer Hebrides | |
| OS grid reference | NF976836 |
| Coordinates | 57.74°N 7.08°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Outer Hebrides |
| Area | 176 ha (11⁄16 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 117 [1] |
| Highest elevation | 45 m (148 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Comhairle nan Eilean Siar |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1 |
 | |
| References | [2][3][4] |
Geography
Situated in the Sound of Harris, a channel of water between North Uist and the Isle of Harris, Killegray is approximately 1+1⁄2 miles (2.5 kilometres) long.
The south end of the island is nearly all deep uncultivated moss. There is better cultivated land at the north.[5]
History
Rubha Claidhe in the north is the site of a ruined chapel, Teampull na h-Annait, which may be the origin of the island's name.[4]
The island was occupied by a family of around three to eight people from 1841 to 1931. Two people were living on the island when the 1971 census was taken.[4] The 19th-century Killegray House, the only house on the island, was renovated as holiday accommodation in 1991.[5] No inhabitants were recorded as living there in 2011,[6] but in the census of 2022 a population of one was returned.[2]
Wildlife
The shallow waters and reefs are a rich breeding ground for velvet crabs and lobsters.[4]
Possible development
Jacobs Babtie has investigated building a combination of bridges and causeways across the Sound of Harris.[7] Wind turbines and tidal generators could be incorporated in the scheme from Berneray via Killegray and Ensay to Harris.[8] The estimated cost of £75 million could rise to £145 million with the renewable energy devices.
