South Uist

Infobox Scottish island


GridReference=NF786343
celtic name= Uibhist-a-Deas
norse name=
meaning of name= From 'inni-vist', Old Norse for 'dwelling'.
area=32,026 ha
area rank=9
highest elevation= Beinn Mhor 620 m
Population=1,818
population rank=9
main settlement=Lochboisdale
island group= Uists & Barra
local authority=Na h-Eileanan Siar
references= [2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland] Haswell-Smith] [ [http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/manxsoc/msvol22/author.htm "The Chronicles of Mann"] . Manx Society. Vol XXII, Retrieved 4 July 2007.] [ [http://lexicon.ff.cuni.cz/png/oi_zoega/b0229.pngGermanic Lexicon Project] Retrieved 4 July 2007.] [ [http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey] ]

South Uist (Scottish Gaelic: "Uibhist a Deas") is an island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,818. There is a nature reserve and a number of sites of archaeological interest, including the only location in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found. The population is about 90% Roman Catholic. The island, in common with the rest of the Hebrides, is one of the last remaining strongholds of the Gaelic language in Scotland. In 2006 South Uist, and neighbouring Benbecula and Eriskay were involved in Scotland's biggest community land buyout to date. In the north west there is a missile testing range. Its inhabitants are known in Gaelic as "Deasaich" (Southerners).

Geography and geology

The west is machair (fertile low-lying coastal plain) with a continuous sandy beach whilst the east coast is mountainous with the peaks of Beinn Mhòr 620 m (2,033 ft) and Hecla 606 m (1,988 ft). The main village on the island is Lochboisdale ("Loch Baghasdail"), from which ferries sail to Oban on the mainland and to Castlebay ("Bàgh a' Chaisteil") on Barra. The island is also linked to Eriskay and Benbecula by causeways. Smaller settlements include Daliburgh ("Dalabrog"), Howmore ("Tobha Mòr") and Ludag.

Economy

Tourism is important to the island's economy and attractions include the Kildonan Museum housing the sixteenth century Clanranald Stone and the ruins of the house where Flora MacDonald was born.

South Uist is home to the Askernish Golf Course. The oldest course in the Outer Hebrides, designed by Old Tom Morris, who also worked on the Old Course at St. Andrews. The course, which existed intact until the 1930s, is now being restored to Morris's original design, although this is being held up by disagreements with local crofters. [ [http://www.storasuibhist.com/LatestPressReleases.php Storas Uibhist press release] ] Part of the course was destroyed to make way for a runway, and its identity remained hidden for many years before its apparent discovery, but the claim is disputed by many locals. [ [http://www.cybergolf.com/state.asp?stateID=78&newsID=3857 cybergolf.com re Askernish course.] Retrieved 16 June 2007.] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6753819.stm Crofters deny Old Tom claim] Retrieved 18 June 2007.] [ Forgan, Duncan (28 July 2007) "Island pins hopes on past links". Edinburgh. The Scotsman newspaper.]

After a protracted campaign South Uist residents took control of the island on 30 November 2006 in Scotland's biggest community land buyout to date. The previous landowners, a sporting syndicate, sold the assets of the 92,000 acre (372 km²) estate for £4.5 million [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6195966.stm Land buyout reality for islanders] BBC News Online] to a Community Company known as Stòras Uibhist which was set up to purchase the land and to manage it in perpetuity. [ [http://www.storasuibhist.com/index.php Stòras Uibhist] ] [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20061201/ai_n16909442 "Islanders pay £4.5m to be rid of feudal lairds"] The Independent newspaper. (1 December 2006) Retrieved 29 July 2007.] The buyout resulted in most of South Uist, and neighbouring Benbecula, and all of Eriskay coming under community control. [ "The quiet revolution". (19 January 2007) Broadford. West Highland Free Press.]

The proposal for community ownership has received the overwhelming support of the people of the islands who look forward to participating in the opportunity to regenerate the local economy, to reverse decline and depopulation, to reduce dependency while remaining aware of the environmental needs, culture and history of the islands. The company name Stòras Uibhist symbolises hope for the future wealth and prosperity of the islands.

Nature Reserve

Loch Druidibeg in the north of the island is a National Nature Reserve owned and managed by Scottish Natural Heritage. The reserve covers 1,677 hectares of machair, bog, freshwater lochs, estuary heather moorland and hill. [ [http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/nnr/large_print/Loch%20Druidibeg.pdf SNH Loch Druidibeg] Retrieved 29 July 2007.] Over 200 species of flowering plants have been recorded on the reserve, some of which are nationally scarce. South Uist is considered the best place in the UK for the aquatic plant Slender Naiad "(Najas flexilis)" [ [http://www.jncc.gov.uk/protectedsites/SACselection/species.asp?FeatureIntCode=S1833 JNCC Slender Naiad report] Retrieved 29 July 2007.] which is a European Protected Species.

Nationally important populations of breeding waders are also present, including redshank, dunlin, lapwing and ringed plover. The reserve is also home to greylag geese on the loch and in summer corncrakes on the machair. Otters and hen harriers are also seen.

There has been considerable controversy over hedgehogs on South Uist. The animals are not native to the islands, having been introduced in the 1970s to reduce garden pests. They now pose a threat to the eggs of ground nesting wading birds on the reserve. In 2003 Scottish Natural Heritage undertook a cull of hedgehogs in the area. [ [http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/campaign.htm Epping Forest Hedgehog Rescue] Retrieved 1 January 2007.] [Ross, John (21 February 2007) "Hedgehogs saved from the syringe as controversial Uist cull called off". Edinburgh. The Scotsman newspaper.]

Archaeology

The SEARCH project (Sheffield Environmental and Archaeological Research Campaign in the Hebrides) on South Uist has been developing a long-term perspective on changes in settlement and house form from the Bronze Age to the 19th century. Organisation within Iron Age roundhouses appears to have been very different from 19th century "blackhouses" in which the dwelling was shared with stock. Stock sharing living space with people is often regarded as a traditional Hebridean arrangement reflecting Norse influence. [Smith, H., Marshall, P. and Parker Pearson, M. 2001. Reconstructing house activity areas pp 249-270. In Albarella, U (ed) Environmental Archaeology: Meaning and Purpose. Kluwer Academic Publishers.]

The archaeological site of Cladh Hallan, the only site in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found, is on South Uist. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/archaeology/excavations_techniques/mummies_cladhhallan_01.shtml BBC - History - The Mummies of Cladh Hallan] ]

Missile testing

In the north west of the island at (coord|57|20|00|N|07|20|00|W|), a missile testing range was built in 1957-58 to launch the Corporal missile, Britain and America's first guided nuclear weapon. This development went ahead despite significant protests, some locals expressing concern that the Scottish Gaelic language would not survive the influx of English-speaking army personnel. The British Government claimed that there was an 'overriding national interest' in establishing a training range for their newly purchased Corporal, a weapon that was to be at the front line of Cold War defence. The Corporal missile was tested from 1959 to 1963, before giving way to Sergeant and Lance tactical nuclear missiles. The 'rocket range' as it is known locally has also been used to test high altitude research rockets, Skua and Petrel, which despite their purportedly scientific remit, were operated by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment in Aldermaston.

The range is still owned by the MoD operated by QinetiQ as testing facility for missile systems such as the surface-to-air Rapier missile and Unmanned Air Vehicles (see [http://www.qinetiq.com/home/defence/test_and_evaluation/tande_services/singlesitefacilities/hebrides_facilities/hebrides_operations.html] ).

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.southuist.com southuist.com - Photo galleries, accommodation, news and events]
* [http://www.iochdar.co.uk Iochdar.co.uk, a website about outdoor recreation in South Uist]
* [http://www.storasuibhist.com StorasUibhist.com, the official website of the community-owned South Uist Estate]
* [http://www.fotw.net/flags/gb-heb.html Flags of the world - Hebrides]
* [http://www.biggarden.co.uk An Gàrradh Mòr, Historic walled garden at Cille Bhrìghde]
* [http://www.astronautix.com/sites/souhuist.htm Rocket launches at South Uist]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/military/story/0,11816,1036617,00.html Corporal missile inaccuracy revealed, The Guardian Sept 6 2003]
* [http://www.askernishgolfclub.com Askernish Golf Club]
* [http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/school/daliburgh/home.htm Daliburgh School]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=&t=k&om=0&ll=57.342724,-7.359778&spn=0.004921,0.014634 Google Maps:Rocket launch site]
* [http://www.uistonline.com/index.htm Uist Online]
* [http://www.ampaipear.org.uk Am Paipear Community Newspaper]