Ornsay

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Ornsay
Scottish Gaelic nameEilean Iarmain
Old Norse nameÖrfirirsey
Meaning of name"Ebb (i.e. tidal) island", from Norse
Location
Isle of Skye UK relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Ornsay
Ornsay shown relative to Skye
OS grid reference NG709125
Coordinates 57°09′N5°47′W / 57.15°N 5.79°W / 57.15; -5.79
Physical geography
Island group Inner Hebrides
Area35 ha (86 acres)
Highest elevation46 m (151 ft)
Administration
Council area Highland
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Demographics
Population0
Lymphad3.svg
References [1] [2] [3] [4]
Ornsay Lighthouse
Isleornsay
Eilean Iarmain OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Ornsay Lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 541396.jpg
Ornsay Lighthouse
Coordinates 57°08′36″N5°46′52″W / 57.143434°N 5.781037°W / 57.143434; -5.781037
Constructed1857
Built by Thomas Stevenson, David Stevenson   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Constructionmasonry tower
Automated1962
Height19 m (62 ft)
Shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markingswhite tower, black lantern, ochre trim
Power sourcemains electricity  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
OperatorNorthern Lighthouse Board [5] [6]
Heritagecategory B listed building  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Focal height18 m (59 ft)
Lens300 mm (12 in) acrylic lens with a 250 W tungsten lamp
Range12 nmi (22 km)
Characteristic Oc W 8 s

Ornsay is a small tidal island to the east of the Sleat peninsula on the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.

Contents

Description

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

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

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
  2. Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN   978-1-84195-454-7.
  3. Ordnance Survey
  4. Iain Mac an Tailleir. "Placenames" (PDF). Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
  5. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Scotland: Highlands". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  6. Ornsay Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 20 May 2016
  7. "Overview of Isleornsay". Gazetteer for Scotland. Archived from the original on 6 August 2010.
  8. Ornsay Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 20 May 2016


57°8′48″N5°47′12″W / 57.14667°N 5.78667°W / 57.14667; -5.78667