Fiaraidh (OS; formerly anglicised as Fiaray; gd, Fiaraigh) is one of ten islands in the

Sound of Barra The Sound of Barra is a large ocean inlet or sound situated to the north of the isle of Barra and to the south of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. Since 2014 it has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The Sound ...

, a

Site of Community Importance A Site of Community Importance (SCI) is defined in the European Commission Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) as a site which, in the biogeographical region or regions to which it belongs, contributes significantly to the maintenance or restoration at ...

for

conservation Conservation is the preservation or efficient use of resources, or the conservation of various quantities under physical laws. Conservation may also refer to: Environment and natural resources * Nature conservation, the protection and managem ...

in the Outer Hebrides. It is 41 ha in size, and 30 metres at its highest point. It is relatively flat and featureless, and is used as a staging post by

barnacle geese The barnacle goose (''Branta leucopsis'') is a species of goose that belongs to the genus ''Branta'' of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey ''Anser'' species. Despite its superficial s ...

. The geology is Archaean

gneiss Gneiss ( ) is a common and widely distributed type of metamorphic rock. It is formed by high-temperature and high-pressure metamorphic processes acting on formations composed of igneous or sedimentary rocks. Gneiss forms at higher temperatures a ...

The Atlantic coastline of Fiaraigh - geograph

There are two ''lochans'' or ponds, on the island, and it is surrounded by a large drying

reef A reef is a ridge or shoal of rock, coral or similar relatively stable material, lying beneath the surface of a natural body of water. Many reefs result from natural, abiotic processes— deposition of sand, wave erosion planing down rock o ...

, which was said to be the abode of a fairy woman. Nearby Lingay is the subject of some folklore.

Notes and references

Islands of the Sound of Barra {{WesternIsles-geo-stub