Seaforth Island Explained

Coordinates:58°N -6.7292°W
Location Map:Scotland Outer Hebrides
Gridreference:NB207111
Celtic Name:Eilean Shìophoirt or Mulag
Norse Name:Múli
Meaning Of Name:Norse for 'craggy ridge between fjords'; Gaelic for "island of Seaforth"
Area:273ha
Area Rank:92
Highest Elevation:217m (712feet)
Population:0
Island Group:Outer Hebrides
Local Authority:Outer Hebrides
Seaforth Island
Elevation M:217
Prominence M:217
Listing:Marilyn
Location:Loch Seaforth between Harris and Lewis, Scotland
Grid Ref Uk:NB207111
Topo:OS Landrangers 13, 14

Seaforth Island (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Shìphoirt/Shìophoirt or Mulag) is an uninhabited island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Unlike many other islands of the Outer Hebrides which are mainly surrounded by open sea, Seaforth Island lies in a narrow fjord-like sea loch named Loch Seaforth, from the open waters of The Minch.

The island has poor soil which only supports rough grazing.

History

There are no census records indicating inhabitation in the recent past, although the loch area was the subject of border disputes in the 19th century. In 1851 these were resolved by the unusual decision to allocate the whole of Seaforth Island to both counties, Ross-shire and Inverness-shire, which at the time controlled Lewis and Harris respectively. This situation continued until the 1975 county reorganisation.

Footnotes

58.001°N -6.7292°W