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Disambiguation: There is also an island named Soay in the St Kilda group, with an indigenous breed of sheep: Soay sheep.

Soay is an island just off the south coast of Skye, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It is occasionally considered part of the Small Isles. The main settlement is Mol-chlach. Low lying, unlike its neighbours Skye and Rùm, the highest point is Beinn Bhreac at 141m. It is normally reached by boat from Elgol. To the north west is Soay sound, to the north east Loch Scavaig, and to the south west, the Cuillin Sound.

History

The name derives from Old Norse so-øy meaning "Sheep Island".

The main bay Camas nan Gall, meaning Bay of Foreigners, is probably named after the Norse invaders, after whom the Hebrides (Na h-Innse Gall) are also named.

In 1944, author Gavin Maxwell bought the island and established an unsuccessful factory to process shark oil from basking sharks, which he wrote about in his book Harpoon at a Venture. Unfortunately, this venture lead to a serious drop in the numbers of these animals living in the surrounding seas from which they have yet to recover.

Previously mainly Scottish Gaelic, most of the population was evacuated to Mull on 20th June 1953, since which the island has been almost uninhabited.

• grid reference NG445155

Reference

• The Soay of our Forefathers Laurance Reed ISBN 1841582298

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