Scalpay, or Scalpaigh na Hearadh to use its correct name, is an inhabited island in the Western Isles, or Outer Hebrides, archipelago in Scotland.

It lies a few hundred metres from Harris at the eastern entrance to East Loch Tarbert and has two excellent harbours. The South Harbour is one of the best (arguably the best) harbours in the archipelago and its importance is demonstrated by the fact the the lighthouse on Eilean Glass was one of the first four such structures to be constructed in Scotland. It was completed in 1789 at a time when the fishing industry was of particular importance to the Scottish economy. Had a proposal made around that time to create a canal at Tarbert linking the East Loch to the West Loch, and thus gaining direct access to the Atlantic, been undertaken then the history of the region would have taken a very different course.

​

Scalpay, like all islands, can only be understood by perceiving it with the eye of a mariner. This is particularly the case throughout the West coast of Scotland which has one of the most 'fractal' coastlines on Earth. Hence, "The total coastline of Great Britain is about 19,491 miles of which 7,376 miles (37.8%) comes from the Scottish islands of Arran, Islay and Jura, Shetland and Orkney, and the Western Isles."  

​

Historically, Scalpay formed part of the 'Estate of Harris' and today it is part of the community landowning organisation, the North Harris Trust.

Our Scalpay Timeline provides snapshots from the island's history and is a good place to start exploring our history.