View source for The Minch

{{Short description|Strait in Scotland}}
{{redirect|Minch}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox body of water
| name               = The Minch
| native_name        = {{Native name|gd|A' Mhaoil}}
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| location           = [[Outer Hebrides]]
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| coordinates        = {{coord|58|04|59|N|05|59|55|W|region:GB_type:waterbody|display =inline,title}}
| type               = [[Strait]]
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'''The Minch''' ({{langx|gd|A' Mhaoil}}) is a [[strait]] in north-west [[Scotland]] that separates the mainland from [[Lewis and Harris]] in the [[Outer Hebrides]]. It was known as {{lang|non|Skotlandsfjörð}} ("Scotland's firth") in [[Old Norse]].<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Anderson |editor-first=Joseph |translator=Jón A. Hjaltalin |translator2=Gilbert Goudie |title=Orkneyinga Saga |year=1990 |orig-year=1893 |publisher=James Thin and Mercat Press |isbn=978-0-901824-25-7}}</ref>

The Minch's southern extension, which separates [[Skye]] from the middle islands of the Hebridean chain, is known as the '''Little Minch'''. It opens into the [[Sea of the Hebrides]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Hogan |first=C. Michael |date=13 May 2013 |url=http://www.eoearth.org/article/Sea_of_Hebrides?topic=49523 |title=Sea of the Hebrides |editor1-last=Saundry |editor1-first=P |editor2-last=Cleveland |editor2-first=C. J. |encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of Earth |publisher=National Council for Science and the Environment |access-date=4 June 2014}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Little Minch.jpg|right|thumb|The Little Minch, view towards [[Lochmaddy|Loch nam Madadh]]]]

The Minch and Little Minch form part of the [[Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland]], as defined by the [[International Hydrographic Organization]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://iho.int/uploads/user/pubs/standards/s-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf|title=Limits of Oceans and Seas |journal=Nature |volume=172 |issue=4376 |page=484 |edition=3rd |year=1953 |access-date=28 December 2020|bibcode=1953Natur.172R.484. |doi=10.1038/172484b0 |s2cid=36029611 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

The Minch ranges from {{convert|14|to|45|mi|km}} wide and is approximately {{convert|70|mi|km}} long. It is believed to be the site of the [[Ullapool bolide impact|biggest meteorite]] ever to hit the British Isles.<ref name=bbc-20080326>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7314329.stm |title='Biggest UK space impact found' |last=Rincon |first=Paul |work=BBC News |date=26 March 2008 |access-date=10 June 2019}}</ref><ref name=bbc-20190609>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48560989 |title=Scientists close in on hidden Scottish meteorite crater |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |work=BBC News |date=9 June 2019 |access-date=10 June 2019}}</ref> The Little Minch is about {{convert|15|mi|km}} wide. In June 2010 Eilidh Macdonald became the first person to swim across it from [[Waternish|Waternish Point]] on Skye to [[Rodel]] on Harris, in a time of {{frac|9|1|2}} hours.<ref>Churchill, Caroline (4 June 2010) "Record-breaker: speed bonnie Eilidh, over the sea from Skye." Glasgow; ''The Herald''.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10224142 |title=Swimmer completes Minch challenge |date=4 June 2010 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=28 August 2011}}</ref>

==Navigation==

A [[Traffic Separation Scheme|traffic separation scheme]] operates in the Little Minch,<ref>{{cite book|title=Chart C66 :Mallaig to Rubha Reidh and Outer Hebrides|publisher=Imray|isbn=978-1846235016}}</ref> with northbound traffic proceeding close to Skye, and southbound close to Harris. Commercial [[ferry]] services across the Minch are operated by [[Caledonian MacBrayne]].

===Lighthouses===

In the south, its entrance is marked by lighthouses at [[Barra Head#Lighthouse|Barra Head]], [[Ushenish]] and [[Hyskeir#Lighthouse|Hyskeir]]. On Skye, there are lights at [[Neist Point]], [[Waternish Point|Vaternish]] and [[An t-Iasgair]]. The Outer Hebrides are marked by [[Weavers Point]], [[Eilean Glas, Scalpay#Lighthouse|Eilean Glas]], [[Tiumpan Head]] and [[Butt of Lewis]]. To the east are [[Rua Reidh Lighthouse|Rubha Réidh]], [[Stoer Head]] and [[Cape Wrath#Lighthouse|Cape Wrath]] lighthouses.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nlb.org.uk/LighthouseLibrary/Main/| title=Lighthouse Library| publisher=[[Northern Lighthouse Board]]| access-date=15 January 2011}}</ref>

===Other navigational aids===

A buoy marks Eugenie Rock (named after the vessel which grounded there in May 1859)<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA |num=295201 |num2=NG29SW 8026 |desc=Eugenie: Eugenie Rock, Scalpay, Loch An Tairbeairt, North Minch |access-date=19 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA |num=284497 |num2=NG37NW 8001 |desc=Eugenie: Little Minch |access-date=19 June 2025}}</ref> and the nearby Sgeir Graidach. Previously, these hazards were marked by a red-painted beacon on Sgeir Graidach,<ref>{{cite book |series=The Yachtsman's Pilot |title=The Western Isles |year=2001 |publisher=Imray |isbn=978-0852886915 |page=80}}</ref> the foundations of which can still be seen at low tide.<ref>{{cite web |last=Speight |first=Toby| title=NG3486: Sgeir Greadach |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1879860 |publisher=Geograph |access-date=20 September 2012}}</ref>

==Mythology==

The mythological [[blue men of the Minch]] live in the area.<ref>{{cite web |last=Emerson |first=Stephen |title=Fact of the week:Blue men of the Minch |work=The Scotsman |date=12 February 2014 |url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/fact-of-the-week-blue-men-of-the-minch-1-3304265 |access-date=5 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715005709/http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/fact-of-the-week-blue-men-of-the-minch-1-3304265 |archive-date=15 July 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Conservation==

The Minch Project is a collaboration of {{lang|gd|[[Comhairle nan Eilean Siar]]}}, the [[Highland Council]] and [[Scottish Natural Heritage]] that aims to reduce [[pollution]], minimise [[erosion]], minimise [[litter]] and promote [[tourism]] in the Minch, particularly [[wildlife tourism]] such as [[dolphin watching]]. Pollution is a particular concern as the Minch is a busy [[shipping lane]]; {{convert|2.5|e6t|e6ST|abbr=off}} of shipping pass through the channel each month.

==See also==

* [[Mid-Minch Gaelic]]

==Notes and references==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{oscoor gbx|NB 64369 17432}}

*[http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/minch/ Western Isles local government Minch project]
*[http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst7485.html Gazetteer for Scotland]


{{Lewis and Harris}}
{{Islands of Scotland}}
{{Portal bar|Scotland}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minch}}
[[Category:Scottish coast]]
[[Category:Straits of Scotland]]
[[Category:Landforms of Highland (council area)]]
[[Category:Landforms of the Outer Hebrides]]
[[Category:European seas]]