Sound of Islay
The Sound of Islay is a narrow strait between the islands of Islay and Jura in the Inner Hebrides and with Argyllshire. The Sound is about nineteen miles long from north to south and extends between Rubh' a' Mhàil on Islay and Rubh' Aird na Sgitheich on Jura to the north, and Macarthur's Head and Rubha na Tràille to the south.
There are islands in the Sound: Am Fraoch Eilean, Brosdale Island and Glas Eilean, all of which are off the south-east coast of Jura. These islands, Jura south of Loch Tarbert and the eastern part of the Sound have been declared 'National Scenic Areas'.
History
Am Fraoch Eilean (meaning heather isle") contains the ruins of the mediæval stronghold Claig Castle. It was built by Somerled in 1154 to defend the Sound and later used as a prison. Unusually for the Argyll islands the design, which is a Norman square tower with walls ten feet thick, is similar in style to mainland castles of the period.[1][2] The Sound has been suggested as the location of the 1156 Battle of Epiphany.[3]
In 1549, Dean Monro wrote:
- "At the mouth of Kyle Ila, betwixt it and Duray, lyes ane ile, callit in Erische Leid Ellan Charne, in English the iyle of Earne".[4]
This may refer to Eilean a' Chùirn at NR472489.
Ferry
A vehicle and passenger ferry service operates across the Sound from Feolin slipway on the west coast of Jura to Port Askaig on Islay, and Caledonian MacBrayne operate a vehicle and passenger ferry between Port Askaig and Kennacraig, on the mainland in West Loch Tarbert.
Renewable energy
In March 2011, the largest tidal array in the world was approved for the Sound of Islay, with 10 planned tidal turbines predicted to generate enough power for over 5,000 homes. The site offers both high currents and shelter from storms.[5]
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Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Sound of Islay) |
- Location map: 55°51’0"N, 6°6’-0"W
References
- ↑ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543.
- ↑ RCAHMS (1984) p. 36
- ↑ Marsden (2008) p.84
- ↑ Monro (1549) "Earne Isle" No. 56
- ↑ "Islay to get major tidal power scheme" (17 March 2011) BBC Scotland
- Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543.
- Marsden, John: 'Somerled and the Emergence of Gaelic Scotland' (Birlinn, 2000)
- RCAHMS (1984) Argyll: Islay, Jura, Colonsay & Oronsay.