Pabbay, Barra, Scotland

Infobox Scottish island |
latitude=56.85
longitude=-07.57
GridReference=NL605880
celtic name=Pabaigh
norse name=Papey
meaning of name=Island of the "papar"
area=250 ha
area rank=98
highest elevation=171 m
Population=0
population rank=
main settlement=
island group=Outer Hebrides
local authority=Outer Hebrides
references= [2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland] [ [http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey] ] Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004) "The Scottish Islands". Edinburgh. Canongate.]

Pabbay (Scottish Gaelic: "Pabaigh") is one of the Barra Isles at the southern tip of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The name comes from "Papey", which is Norse for "Island of the "papar" (Culdee)" At only 250 ha (one square mile), it never had a large population, and, after all the able-bodied men were killed in a fierce storm while out on a fishing trip on 1st May, 1897, it was abandoned in the early twentieth century.

The National Trust for Scotland have owned the island since 2000. With only two sheep left on the island (at July 2007) and few if any other permanent mammalian residents, Pabbay is home in summer to many ground-nesting birds.

The island was the site of a Celtic hermitage, and a Pictish carved stone dates from that period. Remains of an Iron Age settlement can also been seen on Pabbay.

References