Vacsay

Vacsay (Scottish Gaelic: Bhacsaigh from Old Norse "bakkiey" meaning "peat bank island") is one of the Outer Hebrides. It is off the west coast of Lewis in West Loch Roag. It is 41 hectares (0.16 square miles) in size, and 34 metres (112 feet) at its highest point.

Vacsay

Old Norse name	bakkiey or vagr-øy
Meaning of name	peat bank or bay island
Location
Vacsay Vacsay shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid reference	NB115370
Coordinates	58.23°N 6.91°W
Physical geography
Island group	Lewis and Harris
Area	41 hectares (0.16 sq mi)
Area rank	217= [1]
Highest elevation	34 m (112 ft)
Administration
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	Outer Hebrides
Demographics
Population	0
References	[2][3][4]

Northern part of Bhacsaigh

History

Like many of the surrounding islands, Vacsay is uninhabited due to the Highland Clearances, which occurred here in 1827.[3]

It was bought in 1993 by Sirdar Baron Iqbal Singh, a London business man, who currently lives in Lesmahagow. He has bought the title, "Lord of Butley Manor" and also wishes to rename Vacsay, "Robert Burns' island"[3] or Eilean Burns,[5] although Burns never visited the Outer Hebrides.

Geography and geology

The island is Lewisian gneiss.[3]

Vacsay has an extremely complicated coastline, and is connected at low tide to several surrounding islets such as Trathasam, and Liacam.

It is between the islands of Vuia Mòr and Pabay Mòr and is off Great Bernera.

Footnotes

1. Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
2. 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
3. Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
4. Ordnance Survey
5. Craig McQueen (24 January 2008). "The Laird Of Lesmahagow". Daily Record. Retrieved 4 October 2008.