A lifetime of Islands: Island 455

Thursday 27 September 2018

Island 455 - Gasaigh, South Uist

Gasaigh (sometimes spelt Gasay) has been linked permanently to South Uist via Rhubha Bhuailt by a breakwater/causeway since October 2013, as part of the development of the new harbour at Lochboisdale. Rhubha Bhuailt, which is located between Lochboisdale and Gasaigh, was either a peninsula or possibly a tidal island with a very small gap between it and South Uist, but it is difficult to tell from a satellite map and the gap is no longer there to study.

As part of the development of the new harbour the western third of Gasaigh was blasted away to create a flat area on which to build offices; toilets, showers and a laundry for visiting fishermen and leisure sailors; some commercial or industrial units and a car park. The harbour has 52 berths for boats of up to 18 metres in length and there is also a fishery pier and a slipway. The new development was officially opened by Deputy First Minister John Swinney on 5th September 2015. The total cost of the new harbour was around £10 million and the construction work was carried out by local firm MacInnes Bros.

Gasaigh is about 500 metres from east to west by 250 metres from north to south and it rises to a height of a little over 10 metres above sea level. The part of the island left undisturbed by the new harbour is covered in bracken and heather. Cotton grass, foxgloves and tormentil were in flower when I visited in mid June 2018. I visited during Storm Hector when it was extremely wet and windy, I didn't linger long. There is a small navigation light on the north east tip of Gasaigh.