Ornsay

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

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
Ornsay shown relative to Skye
OS grid referenceNG709125
Coordinates57.15°N 5.79°W / 57.15; -5.79
Physical geography
Island groupInner Hebrides
Area35 ha (86 acres)
Highest elevation46 m (151 ft)
Administration
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Council areaHighland
Demographics
Population0
References[1][2][3][4]
Ornsay Lighthouse
Isleornsay
Eilean Iarmain
Ornsay Lighthouse
LocationSkye
Inner Hebrides
Scotland
United Kingdom
Coordinates57.143434°N 5.781037°W / 57.143434; -5.781037
Year first constructed1857
Automated1962
Constructionmasonry tower
Tower shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / patternwhite tower, black lantern, ochre trim
Tower height19 m (62 ft)
Focal height18 m (59 ft)
Current lens300 mm (12 in) acrylic lens with a 250 W tungsten lamp
Light sourcemains power
Range18 nmi (33 km)
CharacteristicOc W 8 s
Admiralty numberA3944
NGA number3800
ARLHS numberSCO-161
Managing agentNorthern Lighthouse Board[5][6]

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. 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 2007-07-27.
  5. Ornsay (Isleornsay, Eilean Iarmain) 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. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
  8. Ornsay Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 20 May 2016



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