The Minch

The Minch
The Minch
A' Mhaoil (Scottish Gaelic)
	Map of the Hebrides, showing the Minch
	The Minch
Location	Outer Hebrides
Coordinates	58°04′59″N 05°59′55″W / 58.08306°N 5.99861°W
Type	Strait
Frozen	No

The Minch (Scottish Gaelic: A' Mhaoil) is a strait in north-west Scotland that separates the mainland from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides. It was known as Skotlandsfjörð ("Scotland's firth") in Old Norse.^[1]

The Minch's southern extension, which separates Skye from the middle islands of the Hebridean chain, is known as the Little Minch. It opens into the Sea of the Hebrides.^[2]

Geography

The Little Minch, view towards Loch nam Madadh

The Minch and Little Minch form part of the Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland, as defined by the International Hydrographic Organization.^[3]

The Minch ranges from 14 to 45 miles (23 to 72 km) wide and is approximately 70 miles (110 km) long. It is believed to be the site of the biggest meteorite ever to hit the British Isles.^[4]^[5] The Little Minch is about 15 miles (24 km) wide. In June 2010 Eilidh Macdonald became the first person to swim across it from Waternish Point on Skye to Rodel on Harris, in a time of 9+1⁄2 hours.^[6]^[7]

A traffic separation scheme operates in the Little Minch,^[8] with northbound traffic proceeding close to Skye, and southbound close to Harris. Commercial ferry services across the Minch are operated by Caledonian MacBrayne.

Lighthouses

In the south, its entrance is marked by lighthouses at Barra Head, Ushenish and Hyskeir. On Skye, there are lights at Neist Point, Vaternish and An t-Iasgair. The Outer Hebrides are marked by Weavers Point, Eilean Glas, Tiumpan Head and Butt of Lewis. To the east are Rubha Réidh, Stoer Head and Cape Wrath lighthouses.^[9]

Other navigational aids

A buoy marks Eugenie Rock (named after the vessel which grounded there in May 1859)^[10]^[11] and the nearby Sgeir Graidach. Previously, these hazards were marked by a red-painted beacon on Sgeir Graidach,^[12] the foundations of which can still be seen at low tide.^[13]

Mythology

The mythological blue men of the Minch live in the area.^[14]

Conservation

The Minch Project is a collaboration of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Highland Council and Scottish Natural Heritage that aims to reduce pollution, minimise erosion, minimise litter and promote tourism in the Minch, particularly wildlife tourism such as dolphin watching. Pollution is a particular concern as the Minch is a busy shipping lane; 2.5 million tonnes (2.8 million short tons) of shipping pass through the channel each month.

Notes and references

^ Anderson, Joseph, ed. (1990) [1893]. Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin; Gilbert Goudie. James Thin and Mercat Press. ISBN 978-0-901824-25-7.
^ Hogan, C. Michael (13 May 2013). "Sea of the Hebrides". In Saundry, P; Cleveland, C. J. (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
^ "Limits of Oceans and Seas" (PDF). Nature. 172 (4376) (3rd ed.): 484. 1953. Bibcode:1953Natur.172R.484.. doi:10.1038/172484b0. S2CID 36029611. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
^ Rincon, Paul (26 March 2008). "'Biggest UK space impact found'". BBC News. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
^ Amos, Jonathan (9 June 2019). "Scientists close in on hidden Scottish meteorite crater". BBC News. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
^ Churchill, Caroline (4 June 2010) "Record-breaker: speed bonnie Eilidh, over the sea from Skye." Glasgow; The Herald.
^ "Swimmer completes Minch challenge". BBC News. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
^ Chart C66 :Mallaig to Rubha Reidh and Outer Hebrides. Imray. ISBN 978-1846235016.
^ "Lighthouse Library". Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Site NG29SW 8026 (295201)". Canmore. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Site NG37NW 8001 (284497)". Canmore. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
^ The Western Isles. The Yachtsman's Pilot. Imray. 2001. p. 80. ISBN 978-0852886915.
^ Speight, Toby. "NG3486: Sgeir Greadach". Geograph. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
^ Emerson, Stephen (12 February 2014). "Fact of the week:Blue men of the Minch". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.

External links

Map sources for The Minch

[1] Anderson, Joseph, ed. (1990) [1893]. Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin; Gilbert Goudie. James Thin and Mercat Press. ISBN 978-0-901824-25-7.

[2] Hogan, C. Michael (13 May 2013). "Sea of the Hebrides". In Saundry, P; Cleveland, C. J. (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Retrieved 4 June 2014.

[3] "Limits of Oceans and Seas" (PDF). Nature. 172 (4376) (3rd ed.): 484. 1953. Bibcode:1953Natur.172R.484.. doi:10.1038/172484b0. S2CID 36029611. Retrieved 28 December 2020.

[bbc-20080326-4] Rincon, Paul (26 March 2008). "'Biggest UK space impact found'". BBC News. Retrieved 10 June 2019.

[bbc-20190609-5] Amos, Jonathan (9 June 2019). "Scientists close in on hidden Scottish meteorite crater". BBC News. Retrieved 10 June 2019.

[6] Churchill, Caroline (4 June 2010) "Record-breaker: speed bonnie Eilidh, over the sea from Skye." Glasgow; The Herald.

[7] "Swimmer completes Minch challenge". BBC News. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2011.

[8] Chart C66 :Mallaig to Rubha Reidh and Outer Hebrides. Imray. ISBN 978-1846235016.

[9] "Lighthouse Library". Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 15 January 2011.

[10] Historic Environment Scotland. "Site NG29SW 8026 (295201)". Canmore. Retrieved 20 September 2012.

[11] Historic Environment Scotland. "Site NG37NW 8001 (284497)". Canmore. Retrieved 20 September 2012.

[12] The Western Isles. The Yachtsman's Pilot. Imray. 2001. p. 80. ISBN 978-0852886915.

[13] Speight, Toby. "NG3486: Sgeir Greadach". Geograph. Retrieved 20 September 2012.

[14] Emerson, Stephen (12 February 2014). "Fact of the week:Blue men of the Minch". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.

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v t e Lewis and Harris
Outer Hebrides Scotland
Inhabited islands	Lewis and Harris Great Bernera Scalpay
Other islands	Bayble Island Eilean Chaluim Chille Eilean Chearstaidh Eilean Liubhaird Eilean Mhealasta Ensay Fuaigh Beag Fuaigh Mòr Gasker Hermetray Killegray North Rona Pabbay of Harris Pabaigh Mòr Scarp Seaforth Sgeotasaigh Soay Beag Soay Mòr Stockinish Sula Sgeir Taransay Vacsay
Settlements	Stornoway Adabroc Aignish Aird Ardroil Arnol Baile an Truiseil Balallan Barvas Bayble Borghastan Borsham Borve, Harris Borve, Lewis Bragar Branahuie Breaclete Breasclete Breivig Brenish Brue Cabharstadh Calbost Callanish Carloway Coll Cross Eorodale Eoropie Fivepenny Flesherin Garenin Garrabost Gravir Gress Habost Holm Hushinish Knock Laxdale Leurbost Leverburgh Lionel Lingarabay Marybank Melbost New Tolsta Newmarket Newvalley North Dell Orinsay Parkend Portnaguran Portvoller Rèinigeadal Rodel Shawbost Skigersta Shulishader South Dell South Galson Swainbost Tarbert Tolsta Chaolais Timsgarry Tong
Districts	Back Ness North Lochs Park Point Uig West Side
Geographical features	Butt of Lewis Clisham The Minch Eilean Glas
Historical sites	Callanish Stones Clach an Trushal and Steinacleit Dun Carloway Dùn Èistean Lews Castle St Clement's Church Teampall Mholuaidh