Blended Scotch Whisky - Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye, commonly known as Skye, is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. In Scottish Gaelic it is commonly referred to as An t-Eilean Sgitheanach ("The Winged Isle").
In April 2007 it was reported in the media that the island's official name had been changed by the Highland Council to Eilean a'Che?, a poetic name meaning "Isle of Mist". However, the Council clarified that this name referred only to one of its 22 wards in the upcoming election, and that there were no plans to change signage or discontinue the English name.[1]
Its English name came via Old Norse (Ski? = "sky", and similar meanings), as an alteration of a Pictish original which is recorded in Roman sources as Scitis (Ravenna Cosmography) and Scetis (on Ptolemy's map). Some legends associate the isle with the mythic figure of Sc?thach.
The population of Skye, at the 2001 census was 9,232. In contrast to many other Scottish islands this represents a 4% increase from the census of 1991 [2]. The resident population is augmented in the summer by large numbers of tourists and visitors. The main industries are tourism, agriculture, whisky-distilling, brewing and craftmaking. The main town and capital of the island is Portree, which is known for its picturesque harbour.
Skye is renowned for its spectacular scenery, vibrant culture and heritage, as well as its abundant wildlife including the Golden Eagle, Sea Eagle, Red Deer and the Otter.
Geography
Looking south from the Quiraing, Skye.
At 1656 km? (639 mi?), Skye is the second largest island in Scotland after Lewis with Harris. The island has some of the most dramatic and challenging mountain terrain in Scotland, including the Cuillin, as well as a rich heritage of ancient monuments, castles, and memorials.
The coastline of Skye is a series of peninsulas, including Sleat in the south, Strathaird, Minginish and Duirinish, and Waternish in the west, and Trotternish to the north. Surrounding islands include Rona, Raasay, Scalpay and Soay.
History
Skye has sites showing occupation by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, such as the site at An Corran in Staffin which appears to have been in contact with occupants of the rock shelter at Sand, Applecross on the coast of Wester Ross.
Skye suffered famine and clearances over the latter part of the 18th century, leading to its badly depleted population of less than ten thousand at the 1991 Census.
Government and politics
The Old Man of Storr, Skye
In terms of local government, Skye forms part of the Highland Council area (Comhairle na Gaidhealtachd) based in Inverness. From 1975 to 1996, Skye along with the neighbouring mainland area of Lochalsh constituted a local government district within the Highland administrative area. In 1996 the district was included into the Highland unitary authority, and formed one of the new council's area committees. Following the 2007 elections, Skye forms a four-member ward called Eilean a' Che? and it is currently represented by two Independent, one Scottish National Party, and one Liberal Democrat councillors.
Skye is in the Highlands electoral region and comprises a part of the Ross Skye and Inverness West Scottish Parliament constituency which elects one member under the first past the post basis to represent it. Currently this is John Farquhar Munro for the Liberal Democrats. In addition, Skye forms part of the wider Ross Skye and Lochaber UK Parliament constituency, which elects one member to the House of Commons. The present Member of Parliament is Charles Kennedy MP for the Liberal Democrats, who is a former leader of the party and has represented the area since 1983.