Killegray

Killegray is an island in the Sound of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

Killegray

Scottish Gaelic name	Ceileagraigh
Old Norse name	kjallard-øy
Meaning of name	Old Norse: graveyard island
Killegray from the southeast with the heights of Ceapabhal on Harris beyond
Location
Killegray Killegray shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid reference	NF976836
Coordinates	57.74°N 7.08°W / 57.74; -7.08
Physical geography
Island group	Outer Hebrides
Area	176 ha (11⁄16 sq mi)
Area rank	117 [1]
Highest elevation	45 m (148 ft)
Administration
Council area	Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Demographics
Population	1
References	[2][3][4]

Geography

Killegray from Ensay

Situated in the Sound of Harris, a channel of water between North Uist and the Isle of Harris, Killegray is approximately 1+1⁄2 miles (2.5 kilometres) long.

The south end of the island is nearly all deep uncultivated moss. There is better cultivated land at the north.^[5]

History

Rubha Claidhe in the north is the site of a ruined chapel, Teampull na h-Annait, which may be the origin of the island's name.^[4]

The island was occupied by a family of around three to eight people from 1841 to 1931. Two people were living on the island when the 1971 census was taken.^[4] The 19th-century Killegray House, the only house on the island, was renovated as holiday accommodation in 1991.^[5] No inhabitants were recorded as living there in 2011, ^[6] but in the census of 2022 a population of one was returned.^[2]

Wildlife

The shallow waters and reefs are a rich breeding ground for velvet crabs and lobsters.^[4]

Possible development

Jacobs Babtie has investigated building a combination of bridges and causeways across the Sound of Harris.^[7] Wind turbines and tidal generators could be incorporated in the scheme from Berneray via Killegray and Ensay to Harris.^[8] The estimated cost of £75 million could rise to £145 million with the renewable energy devices.