Sound of Islay | |
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Caol Ìle (Scottish Gaelic) | |
![]() Islay and south Jura. The Sound of Islay lies between them at top right. | |
Coordinates | 55°51′N6°06′W / 55.85°N 6.10°W /55.85; -6.10 |
Type | Sound |
Frozen | No |
TheSound of Islay (Scottish Gaelic:Caol Ìle) is a narrowstrait between the islands ofIslay andJura off the west coast of Scotland. It is about 30 kilometres (20 miles) in extent from north to south and lies between Rubh' a' Mhàil on Islay and Rubh' Aird na Sgitheich on Jura to the north and Macarthur's Head and Rubha na Tràille to the south. The islands in the Sound areAm Fraoch Eilean,Brosdale Island andGlas Eilean, all of which are off the south east coast of Jura. These islands, Jura south of Loch Tarbert and the eastern part of the Sound are one of 40National Scenic Areas in Scotland.[1]
Am Fraoch Eilean (meaning"heather isle") contains the ruins of the medieval strongholdClaig Castle. It was built bySomerled in 1154 to defend the Sound and later used as a prison. Unusually for theArgyll islands the design, which is a Norman square tower with 3-metre-thick (10-foot) walls, is similar in style to mainland castles of the period.[2][3] The Sound has been suggested as the location of the 1156Battle of Epiphany.[4]
In 1549Dean Monro wrote: "At the mouth of Kyle Ila, betwixt it and Duray, lyes ane ile, callit in Erische Leid Ellan Charne, in English the iyle of Earne".[5] This may refer to Eilean a' Chùirn atNR472489.[6]
Argyll and Bute Council operate a vehicle and passenger ferry service across the Sound fromFeolinslipway on the west coast ofJura toPort Askaig onIslay, andCaledonian MacBrayne operate a vehicle andpassenger ferry between Port Askaig andKennacraig, on the mainland inWest Loch Tarbert.
In March 2011, the Scottish Government approved the largesttidal array in the world for the Sound of Islay, with 10 planned tidal turbines predicted to generate enough power for over 5,000 homes. The site offers both high currents and shelter from storms.[7]