Orosay
Encyclopedia
Orosay is a small tidal island in Traigh Mhòr
on the north east coast of Barra
in the Outer Hebrides
of Scotland. It is about 30 hectares (74.1 acre) in extent and the highest point is 38 metres (124.7 ft).
of Caolas Orasaigh (English: "Sound of Orosay"). The smaller beach of Tràigh Cille-bharra ("the beach of the church of Barra") lies to the north. The islands of Fuday
, Greanamul, Gighay
and Hellisay
lie further offshore in the Sound of Barra. The name "Orosay" is a variant of Oronsay
, from the Old Norse
for "tidal" or "ebb island", found commonly in the Hebrides
. For example, there are two other small Orosay/Orosaighs surrounding Barra alone. One is at at the south eastern approaches to Castle Bay
and the second at in Caolas Bhatarsaigh east of the causeway.
lived on Barra nearby and is buried at Cille Bharra, opposite the island. There is no record of Orosay itself ever having been permanently inhabited.
, flown by Loganair
on services to Glasgow
and Benbecula
. Traigh Mhòr also provides commercial cockle
harvesting.
In the 1970s concern was expressed about the progressive deepening of Caolas Orasaigh as a possible cause of increased ponding of water on the beach runway at low tide. The problem does not, however, appear to have been serious and no action was apparently taken.
Traigh Mhòr
Traigh Mhòr, in English 'Big Beach', is a large expanse of sand forming a magnificent white beach at the northern end of the Scottish island of Barra, in the village of Ardmhor extending to the village of Eoligarry. The beach is made up of hard compacted sand...
on the north east coast of Barra
Barra
The island of Barra is a predominantly Gaelic-speaking island, and apart from the adjacent island of Vatersay, to which it is connected by a causeway, is the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.-Geography:The 2001 census showed that the resident population was 1,078...
in the Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
of Scotland. It is about 30 hectares (74.1 acre) in extent and the highest point is 38 metres (124.7 ft).
Geography and etymology
Inland, the nearest settlement is Eoligarry, separated from the island by the straitStrait
A strait or straits is a narrow, typically navigable channel of water that connects two larger, navigable bodies of water. It most commonly refers to a channel of water that lies between two land masses, but it may also refer to a navigable channel through a body of water that is otherwise not...
of Caolas Orasaigh (English: "Sound of Orosay"). The smaller beach of Tràigh Cille-bharra ("the beach of the church of Barra") lies to the north. The islands of Fuday
Fuday
Fuday is an uninhabited island of about in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.It lies in the Sound of Barra, just east of Scurrival Point on Barra and west of Eriskay. Fuday is owned by the Scottish Government...
, Greanamul, Gighay
Gighay
Gighay is one of a group of uninhabited islands off the northeast coast of Barra in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-Geography and geology:...
and Hellisay
Hellisay
Hellisay is an island in the southern Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-Geography and geology:Hellisay lies between Barra and Eriskay...
lie further offshore in the Sound of Barra. The name "Orosay" is a variant of Oronsay
Oronsay
This is a list of islands called Oronsay , which provides an index for islands in Scotland with this and similar names. It is one of the more common names for Scottish islands. The names come from Örfirisey which translates from Old Norse as "tidal" or "ebb island"...
, from the Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
for "tidal" or "ebb island", found commonly in the Hebrides
Hebrides
The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive...
. For example, there are two other small Orosay/Orosaighs surrounding Barra alone. One is at at the south eastern approaches to Castle Bay
Castlebay
Castlebay is the main village and a community council area on the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It is located on the south coast of the island, and overlooks a bay in the Atlantic Ocean dominated by Kisimul Castle, as well as nearby islands such as Vatersay.- Church :The...
and the second at in Caolas Bhatarsaigh east of the causeway.
History
The writer Compton MackenzieCompton Mackenzie
Sir Compton Mackenzie, OBE was a writer and a Scottish nationalist.-Background:Compton Mackenzie was born in West Hartlepool, England, into a theatrical family of Mackenzies, but many of whose members used Compton as their stage surname, starting with his grandfather Henry Compton, a well-known...
lived on Barra nearby and is buried at Cille Bharra, opposite the island. There is no record of Orosay itself ever having been permanently inhabited.
Beach runway
Barra's airport uses Traigh Mhòr ("big beach"), also known as Cockle Strand, as a runway. Planes can only land and take off at low tide, and the timetable varies with the tides. Reputedly, this is the only airport in the world to have scheduled flights landing on a beach. The aircraft currently in operation on Barra is the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin OtterDe Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...
, flown by Loganair
Loganair
Loganair is a Scottish airline with its registered office on the grounds of Glasgow International Airport and in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. Loganair operates scheduled services under a Flybe franchise in mainland Scotland and to Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. In addition it operates...
on services to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Benbecula
Benbecula
Benbecula is an island of the Outer Hebrides in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,249, with a sizable percentage of Roman Catholics. It forms part of the area administered by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar or the Western...
. Traigh Mhòr also provides commercial cockle
Cockle (bivalve)
Cockle is the common name for a group of small, edible, saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Cardiidae.Various species of cockles live in sandy sheltered beaches throughout the world....
harvesting.
In the 1970s concern was expressed about the progressive deepening of Caolas Orasaigh as a possible cause of increased ponding of water on the beach runway at low tide. The problem does not, however, appear to have been serious and no action was apparently taken.