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Haskeir

Haskeir
Gaelic name Eilean Hasgeir
Norse name Skilðar
Meaning of name Possibly Old Norse for 'shields'
Location
Haskeir is located in Outer Hebrides
Haskeir
Haskeir
Haskeir shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid reference NF615818
Coordinates 57°48′N 7°48′W / 57.8°N 7.8°W / 57.8; -7.8
Physical geography
Island group Uists and Barra
Area 15 ha
Highest elevation 37.5 m
Administration
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Country Scotland
Council area Na h-Eileanan Siar
Demographics
Population nil
Lymphad3.svg
References
Haskeir Lighthouse
Haskeirlighthouse.jpg
Haskeir Lighthouse, and Haskeir Eagach in the distance
Location Haskeir Isle
Outer Hebrides
Scotland
United Kingdom
Coordinates 57°41′57″N 7°41′19″W / 57.699084°N 7.688555°W / 57.699084; -7.688555
Year first constructed 1997
Automated 1997
Foundation concrete basement
Construction fiber glass tower
Tower shape cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Height 9 metres (30 ft)
Focal height 44 metres (144 ft)
Light source solar power
Range 29 nautical miles (54 km; 33 mi)
Characteristic Fl W 20s.
Admiralty number A4020.3
NGA number 3954
ARLHS number SCO-324
Managing agent Northern Lighthouse Board

Not to be confused with Hyskeir or Heskeir

Haskeir (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Hasgeir), also known as Great Haskeir (Scottish Gaelic: Hasgeir Mhòr) is a remote, exposed and uninhabited island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It lies 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) west north west of North Uist. 1-kilometre (0.62 mi) to the south west lie the skerries of Haskeir Eagach made up of a colonnade of five rock stacks. 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the north west is the St Kilda archipelago.

There is no anchorage or shelter and access via the steep rocky cliffs may be difficult, even in calm conditions. There are several natural rock arches and a high cliff on the northern end of the island called Castle Cliff. Various small skerries lie immediately to the north and south. There is very little vegetation save for a few sea-pinks, campion, plantain and orache that can survive the salt spray.

Much of the bedrock is Lewisian gneiss

Skilðar or Skilðir (meaning shields) may have been the Old Norse name for Haskeir.Skildar certainly appears on a map by Nicholas de Nicolay from 1583. There are various theories that somehow the transposition of this name to nearby St Kilda may have created the name for this latter archipelago, whose origins are otherwise obscure.

There is an active lighthouse on the island constructed in 1997 operated by Northern Lighthouse Board and the remains of a bothy, possibly built by fishermen from the Monach Islands.

Haskeir (on the right) and Haskeir Eagach from Griminish Point, North Uist

1580 Carte of Scotlande showing Hyrth (i.e. Hirta in St Kilda) at left and Skaldar (Haskeir) to the north west


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