Kirkibost Island
| Kirkibost Island Gaelic: Eilean Chirceboist | |
 The southern tip of Kirkibost Island | |
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| Location | |
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| Location: | 57°33’28"N, 7°26’11"W |
| Grid reference: | NF753649 |
| Area: | 506.6 acres |
| Highest point: | 213 feet |
| Data | |
| Population: | 0 |
Kirkibost is a low-lying island along the south-western shoreline of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, belonging to Inverness-shire. It is divided from North Uist only by a sandy, tidal bay, Kirkivbost Bay, and at low tide the two are joined across the uncovered beach.
Geography
Kirkibost, along with neighbouring Baleshare, is covered by a machair system of coastal plains covered with shell sand, part covered by grass, with some sand dunes, fens and peat. Together with Baleshare, it forms part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest.[1]
Within the bay is a set of small islands; Eilean Mòr, Bior-eilean and Sròmaigh, all lying between Kirkibost and North Uist.
Wildlife
The island is important for corncrakes, various wading birds and overwintering wildfowl.[1]
Economy
Kirkibost has been cultivated in the past, but is now used only for seasonal cattle grazing.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Scottish Natural Heritage (March 2002). "SSSI Management Statement: Baleshare & Kirkibost SSSI". http://gateway.snh.gov.uk/pls/portal/SNHTest_Site_Docs.Show_Site_Document?p_pa_code=121&p_Doc_Type_ID=3. Retrieved 2007-07-19.