Portnahaven
Encyclopedia
Portnahaven is a village
on Islay
in the Inner Hebrides
, Scotland
.
It is located at the southern tip of the Rinns
at the southern end of the A847 road
. Its harbour is sheltered by the island of Orsay
and its smaller neighbour Eilean Mhic Coinnich
. The Rinns of Islay lighthouse, built by Stevenson
is located on Orsay. Portnahaven is served by a church, two shops, one also a Post Office, and a public house
, the An Tigh Seinnse. The church is one of the Telford Churches
. The harbour around which the village is built provides the opportunity to observe Grey seals at close quarters. The village of Port Wemyss is located just to the south of Portnahaven.
North of Portnahaven, at Claddach is the world's first operational wave power machine. The "LIMPET", constructed by Wavegen
, became operational in 2000.
Nearby settlements include the village of Nerabus
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
on Islay
Islay
-Prehistory:The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far...
in the Inner Hebrides
Inner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which enjoy a mild oceanic climate. There are 36 inhabited islands and a further 43 uninhabited Inner Hebrides with an area greater than...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
It is located at the southern tip of the Rinns
Rinns of Islay
The Rinns of Islay is an area on the west of the island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland....
at the southern end of the A847 road
A847 road
The A847 road is one of the two principal roads of Islay in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of mainland Scotland.It connects Bridgend, at a junction with the A846 road, with Portnahaven at the southern end of the Rinns of Islay peninsula...
. Its harbour is sheltered by the island of Orsay
Orsay, Inner Hebrides
Orsay is a small island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It lies a short distance off the west coast of the island of Islay and shelters the harbour of the village of Portnahaven....
and its smaller neighbour Eilean Mhic Coinnich
Eilean Mhic Coinnich
Eilean Mhic Coinnich, also known as Mackenzie Island is an uninhabited island of lying off the southern end of the Rinns of Islay peninsula on the Inner Hebridean island of Islay, Scotland....
. The Rinns of Islay lighthouse, built by Stevenson
Robert Stevenson (civil engineer)
Robert Stevenson FRSE MInstCE FSAS MWS FGS FRAS FSA was a Scottish civil engineer and famed designer and builder of lighthouses.One of his finest achievements was the construction of the Bell Rock Lighthouse.-Early life:...
is located on Orsay. Portnahaven is served by a church, two shops, one also a Post Office, and a public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, the An Tigh Seinnse. The church is one of the Telford Churches
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
. The harbour around which the village is built provides the opportunity to observe Grey seals at close quarters. The village of Port Wemyss is located just to the south of Portnahaven.
North of Portnahaven, at Claddach is the world's first operational wave power machine. The "LIMPET", constructed by Wavegen
Wavegen
Voith Hydro Wavegen Limited is a wave energy company based in Inverness, Scotland. It was founded in 1990 by Allan Thomson.In 2000, Wavegen became the first company in the world to connect a commercial scale wave energy device to the grid on the Scottish island of Islay...
, became operational in 2000.
Nearby settlements include the village of Nerabus
Nerabus
Nerabus is a hamlet in the west of the isle of Islay in Scotland. The vicinity is noted for its scenic qualities and diverse birdlife. Nerabus lies along the A847 road on the route from Port Charlotte to Portnahaven. The locale has an early influence by the Norse.-References:* Isle of Islay. *...
.