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 miles) west-northwest of North Uist. 1 km (5⁄8 mi) southwest lie the skerries of Haskeir Eagach, made up of a colonnade of five rock stacks, and 40 km (25 mi) northwest is St Kilda.

Haskeir

Scottish Gaelic name	Eilean Hasgeir
Old Norse name	Skilðar
Meaning of name	Possibly Old Norse for "shields"
Haskeir Island as seen from Rubha Ghriminis, North Uist
Location
Haskeir Haskeir shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid reference	NF615818
Coordinates	57.8°N 7.8°W / 57.8; -7.8
Physical geography
Island group	Uist and Barra
Area	15 ha (37 acres)
Highest elevation	37.5 m (123 ft)
Administration
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	Na h-Eileanan Siar
Demographics
Population	0
References	[1][2]
Haskeir Lighthouse
Haskeir Lighthouse, and Haskeir Eagach in the distance
Coordinates	57.699084°N 7.688555°W / 57.699084; -7.688555
Constructed	1997
Foundation	concrete base
Construction	fiber glass tower
Height	9 m (30 ft)
Shape	cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Power source	solar power
Operator	Northern Lighthouse Board[3]
Focal height	44 m (144 ft)
Range	29 nmi (54 km) [4]
Characteristic	Fl W 20 s

Geography, geology and botany

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.[1]

Much of the bedrock is Lewisian gneiss[5]

History

Skilðar or Skilðir (meaning shields) may have been the Old Norse name for Haskeir.[6][7] 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.[8][9]

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

Gallery

• 
  North east of Haskeir from Griminish, North Uist
• 
  Heisgeir Eagach from Rubha Ghriminis, North Uist
• 
  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

See also

• List of islands in Scotland
• List of lighthouses in Scotland
• List of Northern Lighthouse Board lighthouses

References

External links

• Northern Lighthouse Board

На других языках

[de] Haskeir

[fr] Haskeir

[ru] Хаскир