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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 Sgithanach ("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'Cheò, 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.
Its English name came via Old Norse (Skið = "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 Scáthach.
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. 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.