Ornsay

For other places with the same name, see List of islands called Oronsay.

Ornsay
Scottish Gaelic nameEilean Iarmain
Old Norse nameÖrfirirsey
Meaning of name"Ebb (i.e. tidal) island", from Norse
Location
Ornsay is located in Isle of Skye
Ornsay
Ornsay
Ornsay shown relative to Skye
OS grid referenceNG709125
Coordinates57°09′N 5°47′W / 57.15°N 5.79°W / 57.15; -5.79
Physical geography
Island groupInner Hebrides
Area35 ha (86 acres)
Highest elevation46 m (151 ft)
Administration
Council areaHighland
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Demographics
Population0
Lymphad
References[1][2][3][4]
Ornsay Lighthouse
Isleornsay
Eilean Iarmain Edit this at Wikidata
Ornsay Lighthouse
Coordinates57°08′36″N 5°46′52″W / 57.143434°N 5.781037°W / 57.143434; -5.781037
Constructed1857
Built byThomas Stevenson, David Stevenson Edit this on Wikidata
Constructionmasonry tower
Automated1962
Height19 m (62 ft)
Shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markingswhite tower, black lantern, ochre trim
Power sourcemains electricity Edit this on Wikidata
OperatorNorthern Lighthouse Board[5][6]
Heritagecategory B listed building Edit this on Wikidata
Focal height18 m (59 ft)
Lens300 mm (12 in) acrylic lens with a 250 W tungsten lamp
Range12 nmi (22 km)
CharacteristicOc 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.

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

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


Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ornsay, Isle of Skye.

57°8′48″N 5°47′12″W / 57.14667°N 5.78667°W / 57.14667; -5.78667


Stub icon

This British lighthouse-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.