Pabbay (Scottish Gaelic: Pabaigh) is one of the Barra Isles at the southern tip of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The name comes from Papey, which is Norse for "island of the papar" (i.e. monks). At only 250 hectares (1 sq mi), it never had a large population, and, after all the able-bodied men were killed in a fierce storm while out on a fishing trip on 1 May 1897, it was abandoned in the early twentieth century.
| Scottish Gaelic name | Pabaigh |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | [ˈpʰapaj] |
| Old Norse name | Papey |
| Meaning of name | Island of the papar |
| Location | |
  Pabbay Pabbay shown within the Outer Hebrides | |
| OS grid reference | NL605880 |
| Coordinates | 56°51′N 7°34′W / 56.85°N 07.57°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Outer Hebrides |
| Area | 250 ha (620 acres) |
| Area rank | 96= [1] |
| Highest elevation | 171 m (561 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Outer Hebrides |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
 | |
| References | [2][3][4] |
The National Trust for Scotland has owned the island since 2000. With only two sheep left on the island in July 2007 and few, if any, other permanent mammalian residents, Pabbay is consequently home in summer to many ground-nesting birds due to the absence of predators.
The island was the site of a Celtic hermitage, and a Pictish carved stone dates from that period. Remains of an Iron Age settlement can also been seen on Pabbay.
The name of Pabbay is used for one of the three houses of Castlebay Secondary School. The other two are Mingulay and Sandray.
Areas of Interest
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Bàgh Bàn is the name applied to a large bay situated on the SE coast of the island. It's the principal bay on the coast of the island and is well sheltered from the North and West - this made it the ideal area for historical settlers.[5][6]
Rosinish (or Rubha Phabach) is a small peninsular headland situated on the East coast of the island. It lies in a South-Easterly direction and is only attached to the mainland of the island by a small natural arch.[7]
Steir is the narrow rock which joins Rosinish to the mainland.[8]
Rock Climbing
editComposed of Lewisian gneiss, Pabbay is "one of the finest climbing venues in the UK".[9] This includes the climbing route The Great Arch, which is graded E8 6c.[10]
See also
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Footnotes
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ordnance Survey. OS Maps Online (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure.
- ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
- ^ "The Papar Project : Hebrides - Pabbay/Pabaigh (Kilbarr, Barra/Barraigh)".
- ^ "OS1/18/2/111 | ScotlandsPlaces".
- ^ "OS1/18/2/111 | ScotlandsPlaces".
- ^ "OS1/18/2/111 | ScotlandsPlaces".
- ^ "Pabbay May 2008 – the official meet report!". LMC. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
- ^ "Pabbay". UKClimbing.com. Retrieved 12 September 2013.