View source for South Uist

{{short description|Island of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland}}
{{original research|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Scottish island
 | Map                  = <!-- UK South Uist.PNG -->
 | coordinates          = {{coord|57.2667|-7.3167|display=inline}}
 | location_map         = Scotland Outer Hebrides
 | caption              = South Uist shown within the Outer Hebrides
 | GridReference        = NF786343
 | celtic name          = Uibhist a Deas
<!-- | Gaelic pronunciation = {{IPA|gd|ˈɯ.ɪʃtʲ ə ˈtʲes̪||Uibhist a Deas.ogg}} UNUSED -->
 | scots name           = Sooth Uist<ref>{{cite web | url=https://d3lmsxlb5aor5x.cloudfront.net/library/document/Map_of_Scotland_in_Scots-Guide_and_gazetteer.pdf | title=Map of Scotland in Scots - Guide and gazetteer}}</ref>
 | norse name           =
 | meaning of name      = Unknown<ref name=G2487>Gammeltoft, Peder  "Scandinavian Naming-Systems in the Hebrides—A Way of Understanding how the Scandinavians were in Contact with Gaels and Picts?" in Ballin Smith ''et al'' (2007) p. 487</ref>
 | area                 = {{convert|32026|ha|sqmi|0}}
 | area rank            = 9
 | highest elevation    = [[Beinn Mhòr (South Uist)|Beinn Mhòr]] {{convert|620|m}}
 | Population           = {{DecreaseNeutral}} 1,650<ref name=RESAS>{{RESAS}}</ref>
 | population rank      = 9
 | population density   = 5.15 people/km<sup>2</sup><ref name=RESAS/><ref name=Smith/>
 | main settlement      = [[Lochboisdale]]
 | island group         = Uist & [[Barra]]
 | local authority      = [[Na h-Eileanan Siar]]
 | image_flag           = South Uist flag.svg
 | references           = <ref name=Smith>{{Haswell-Smith}}</ref><ref>[http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/manxsoc/msvol22/author.htm ''The Chronicles of Mann'']. [[Manx Society]]. Vol XXII, Retrieved 4 July 2007.</ref><ref>[http://lexicon.ff.cuni.cz/png/oi_zoega/b0229.png Germanic Lexicon Project] Retrieved 4 July 2007.</ref><ref>{{Ordnance Survey}}</ref>
|Image=File:South Uist by Sentinel-2.jpg}}

'''South Uist''' ({{langx|gd|Uibhist a Deas}}, {{IPA|gd|ˈɯ.ɪʃtʲ ə ˈtʲes̪||Uibhist a Deas.ogg}}; {{langx|sco|Sooth Uist}}) is the second-largest island of the [[Outer Hebrides]] in [[Scotland]]. At the 2022 census it had a usually resident population of 1,650, a decrease of 104 since 2011.<ref name=RESAS/><ref name=NRS>{{NRS1C}}</ref> The island, in common with the rest of the [[Hebrides]], is one of the last remaining strongholds of the [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic language]] in Scotland. South Uist's inhabitants are known in Gaelic as ''Deasaich'' (Southerners). The population is about 90% [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]].

The island is home to a nature reserve and a number of sites of [[archaeology|archaeological]] interest, including the only location in the [[British Isles]] where prehistoric [[mummy|mummies]] have been found.<ref>https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/mummies-may-have-been-scattered-across-bronze-age-britain-180956796/ “A pair of well-preserved bodies dating back to around 1300 and 1600 B.C. was discovered in 2001, entombed beneath an ancient dwelling in Cladh Hallan, Scotland. Intriguingly, these bodies seem to have been intentionally mummified.”</ref> In the northwest, there is a missile testing range. In 2006 South Uist, together with neighbouring [[Benbecula]] and [[Eriskay]], was involved in Scotland's biggest-ever [[community ownership|community land buyout]] by Stòras Uibhist.<ref>[https://storasuibhist.com/ Stòras Uibhist]</ref> The group also owns the "biggest [[community wind]] farm in Scotland", Lochcarnan, on South Uist which opened in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rise in independent renewable energy schemes in Scotland |work=BBC News |date=July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306234250/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-28105545 |archive-date=2023-03-06 |url-status=live |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-28105545}}</ref><ref name="renews.biz">[https://renews.biz/55688/scots-community-wind-farm-secures-future/ Scots community wind farm secures future]</ref>

== Geology ==
In common with the rest of the [[Western Isles]], South Uist is formed from the oldest rocks in Britain, [[Lewisian gneiss]] brought to the surface by old tectonic movements. They bear the scars of the last glaciation which has exposed many of them. The rocks had high-grade regional [[metamorphism]] around 2,900&nbsp;million years ago: in the [[Archean|Archaean]] eon. Some show [[granulite facies]] metamorphism, but most have slightly cooler [[amphibolite facies]].  A number of metabasic bodies and [[metasedimentary rock|metasediments]] occur locally in the gneiss.<ref name=bgs/>

On the east side of the island between Lochboisdale and Ornish &ndash; part of the Outer Hebrides Thrust Zone &ndash; is the [[Corodale Gneiss|Corodale gneiss]], dominated by [[garnet]]-[[pyroxene]] rock. A narrow zone of [[pseudotachylyte]] occurs along its western margin with the regular gneiss. The Usinish peninsula is formed from ‘mashed gneiss’, within which the banding has mainly been destroyed. Between these two gneisses is a band of [[mylonite]] (as offshore on Stuley). Mashed gneiss occurs again in the extreme southeast. Small occurrences of [[Archean|Archaean]] [[granite]]s are found in the centre of the island.<ref name=bgs>{{cite web |title=Uist and Barra (North) |url=http://www.largeimages.bgs.ac.uk/iip/mapsportal.html?id=1002540 |website=BGS large map images |publisher=British Geological Survey |access-date=6 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Uist and Barra (South) |url=http://www.largeimages.bgs.ac.uk/iip/mapsportal.html?id=1002541 |website=BGS large map images |publisher=British Geological Survey |access-date=6 February 2020}}</ref>

The island is traversed by many [[normal fault]]s: E to W, to NNW to SSE, many being NW to SE. Numerous NW to SE [[dike (geology)|dykes]] cut through the island: quartz-dolerite, [[camptonite]] and [[monchiquite]] dykes of Permo-[[Carboniferous]] age and later [[Palaeogene]] [[tholeiitic]] dykes. More recent geological deposits include [[machair|blown sand]] along the northern and western coasts and [[peat]] inland along with some (glacial) [[till]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Onshore Geoindex |url=https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html |website=British Geological Survey |access-date=6 February 2020}}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:South Uist.jpg|thumb|left|Looking west to Nicolson's Leap. In the background are Gèideabhal, also known as [[Beinn Mhòr (South Uist)|Beinn Mhòr]], on the left, and [[Hecla (South Uist)|Hecla]] on the right.]]

The west is [[Machair (geography)|machair]] (fertile low-lying coastal plain) with a continuous sandy [[beach]], whilst the east coast is mountainous with the peaks of [[Ben More (South Uist)|Beinn Mhòr]] (Gèideabhal) at {{convert|620|m}} and Hecla at {{convert|606|m}}. The island is linked to [[Eriskay]] and [[Benbecula]] by [[causeway]]s.

The landscape is characterised by numerous lochs and lochans, the largest of which is [[Loch Bì]].

The main village on the island is [[Lochboisdale]] (''Loch Baghasdail''), from which [[Caledonian MacBrayne]] operates ferries to [[Mallaig]] (''Malaig)'' on the Scottish mainland (some sailings to Oban in winter when the only large vessel able to dock at Mallaig, MV Lord of the Isles, is covering elsewhere on the Calmac network for vessels in drydock, or in drydock herself). The company previously operated services to [[Castlebay]] (''Bàgh a' Chaisteil'') on [[Barra]], however as of the 2016 fleet reshuffle these have been removed. There is a separate service to Ardmhòr (Barra) operating from Eriskay numerous times a day. (Smaller settlements include [[Daliburgh]] (''Dalabrog''), [[Howmore]] (''Tobha Mòr'') and Ludag (''An Lùdag'').

{{clear left}}

==Climate==
South Uist has an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb'').

{{Weather box
| width = 77%
| location = South Uist Range ({{convert|4|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=or}} asl, averages 1991–2020)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan high C = 7.9
| Feb high C = 7.7
| Mar high C = 8.7
| Apr high C = 10.5
| May high C = 13.0
| Jun high C = 14.8
| Jul high C = 16.2
| Aug high C = 16.3
| Sep high C = 15.0
| Oct high C = 12.3
| Nov high C = 9.9
| Dec high C = 8.3
| year high C = 
| Jan low C = 3.5
| Feb low C = 3.3
| Mar low C = 4.1
| Apr low C = 5.5
| May low C = 7.5
| Jun low C = 9.9
| Jul low C = 11.5
| Aug low C = 11.7
| Sep low C = 10.4
| Oct low C = 7.9
| Nov low C = 5.5
| Dec low C = 3.7
| year low C = 
| Jan rain mm = 136.7
| Feb rain mm = 102.9
| Mar rain mm = 95.6
| Apr rain mm = 68.3
| May rain mm = 64.5
| Jun rain mm = 65.0
| Jul rain mm = 77.5
| Aug rain mm = 100.7
| Sep rain mm = 97.5
| Oct rain mm = 132.1
| Nov rain mm = 127.8
| Dec rain mm = 133.0
| year rain mm = 
| unit rain days = 1 mm
| Jan rain days = 21.5
| Feb rain days = 18.1
| Mar rain days = 17.8
| Apr rain days = 13.6
| May rain days = 13.0
| Jun rain days = 12.8
| Jul rain days = 14.5
| Aug rain days = 16.7
| Sep rain days = 15.8
| Oct rain days = 19.7
| Nov rain days = 21.0
| Dec rain days = 20.8
| year rain days = 
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gf4wr9twt |title=South Uist Range (Na h-Eileanan Siar) UK climate averages |publisher=Met Office |access-date=23 March 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200323092335/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gf4wr9twt |archive-date=23 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

==Etymology==
Mac an Tàilleir (2003) suggests that the derivation of ''Uist'' may be "corn island".<ref>Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 116</ref> However, whilst noting that the ''vist'' ending would have been familiar to speakers of [[Old Norse]] as meaning "dwelling", Gammeltoft (2007) says that the word is "of non-Gaelic origin" and that it reveals itself as one of a number of "foreign place-names having undergone adaptation in Old Norse". In contrast, Clancy (2018) has argued that ''Ívist'' itself is an Old Norse [[calque]] on an earlier Gaelic name, ''*Ibuid'' or ''Ibdaig'', which corresponds to [[Ptolemy]]’s ''Eboudai''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Clancy |first1=Thomas Owen |title=Hebridean connections: in Ibdone insula, Ibdaig, Eboudai, Uist |journal=The Journal of Scottish Name Studies |date=2018 |volume=12 |pages=27–40 |url=http://www.clanntuirc.co.uk/JSNS/V12/JSNS%2012%20Clancy.pdf |access-date=16 June 2020}}</ref>{{refn|Coates (2006) linked the names ''Uist'' and ''[[Ibiza]]'', an island in the Mediterranean, arguing for an origin in Semitic meaning "island of a fragrant plant", acknowledging the possibility the name being subject to the influence of Norse ''ívist''.<ref name="coates">{{cite web |last1=Coates |first1=Richard |title=A toponomastic contribution to the linguistic prehistory of the British Isles |date=2006 |pages=63–65 |url=https://www.snsbi.org.uk/Nomina_articles/Nomina_35_Coates.pdf |access-date=14 July 2023|publisher = SNSBI}}</ref>|group="note"}}

==History==
=== Early history ===

[[File:Beinn a' Charra Standing Stone - geograph.org.uk - 93059.jpg|thumb|The neolithic monument at Beinn A' Charra]]
South Uist was clearly home to a thriving [[Neolithic]] community. The island is covered in several neolithic remains, such as [[burial cairn]]s,{{refn|By the early 21st century, cairns had been identified at Sig More, Glac Hukarvat, Reineval, Barp Frobost, Loch a'Bharp and Leaval. A variant style was found at Dun Trossary, which is a long [[court cairn|horned cairn]]. Most are in poor condition, but the cairn at Reineval is exceptionally well-preserved.|group="note"}} and a small number of standing stones, of which the largest—standing {{convert|17|ft|m}} tall—is in the centre of the island, at the northern edge of [[Beinn A' Charra]]. Occupation continued into the [[Chalcolithic]], as evidenced by a number of [[Beaker people|Beaker]] finds throughout the island.

[[File:Bronze Age Settlement - geograph.org.uk - 1340839.jpg|thumb|left|Cladh Hallan roundhouses]]
Later in the [[Bronze Age]], a man was [[mummified]],{{refn|group="note"|~1600 BC}} and placed on display at [[Cladh Hallan]], parts occasionally being replaced over the centuries; he was joined by a woman three hundred years later. Together they are the only known [[prehistoric]] mummies in the British Isles.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/archaeology/mummies_cladhhallan_01.shtml BBC - History - The Mummies of Cladh Hallan]</ref>{{Clarification needed|date=January 2023}} Towards the end of the Bronze Age, the mummies were buried,{{refn|group="note"|in 1120BC, for reasons which are now unknown}} and a row of [[Atlantic roundhouse|roundhouses]] built on top of them.

Burials underneath buildings during this time are seen elsewhere on South Uist. At Hornish Point (''Cnoc Mòr'') a burial was found under a roundhouse, consisting of an individual, likely male and aged 12.  The skeleton had been dismembered, probably some time after death when the body was partly decomposed. Cannibalism was ruled out as there were none of the marks of skinning, filleting and butchering which would be expected if it was cannibalism.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA|desc=South Uist, Hornish Point, Cnoc Mor|num=9913|num2=NF74NE 18 |access-date=2025-06-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Vol 3 (2003): Bronze Age farms and Iron Age farm mounds of the Outer Hebrides {{!}} Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports|url=http://journals.socantscot.org/index.php/sair/issue/view/11|access-date=2021-07-26|website=journals.socantscot.org}}</ref>

[[File:The broch at Dun Vulan, South Uist - geograph.org.uk - 645593.jpg|thumb|The remains of Dun Vulan{{refn|group="note"|It is the first floor which is exposed; the ground floor lies buried beneath the surface, and the entrance passage remains intact.}}]]
Cladh Hallan was not abandoned until the late [[Iron Age]]. At around that time, in the 2nd century BC, a [[broch]] was built at [[Dun Vulan]]; archeological investigation suggests the inhabitants often ate [[pork]]. After the 2nd century AD, the Dun Vulan broch was converted into a three-roomed house. At a similar time, a [[wheelhouse (archaeology)|wheelhouse]] was constructed at [[Kilpheder]]; within a cupboard (in the wheelhouse) was found an enameled bronze [[brooch]], of a style fashionable in the [[Roman Britain]] of 150 AD.{{refn|group="note"|A photograph can be found [http://nms.scran.ac.uk/search/ here], by entering the search term "000-100-039-059-C" <!-- ref tag issue preventing a direct link; shame the image isn't in commons - it a would be a good image for here-->}}

{{clear left}}

=== Kingdom of the Isles ===

In the 9th century, Vikings invaded South Uist, along with the rest of the Hebrides, and the [[Gaels|gaelic]] kingdom of [[Dál Riata]] to the south, and established the [[Kingdom of the Isles]] throughout these lands. A short [[Ogham]] inscription has been found in [[Bornish]], inscribed on a piece of animal bone, dating from this era;<ref name="OghamForsyth">''An Ogham-Inscribed Plaque from Bornais, South Uist'', [[Katherine Forsyth]] in ''West over Sea: Studies in Scandinavian Sea-Borne Expansion and Settlement Before 1300'', edited by Gareth Williams, 2007, Koninklijke Brill, p. 471-472</ref> it is thought that the Vikings used it as a [[gaming token]], or perhaps for [[Cleromancy|sortilege]].<ref name="OghamForsyth" />

Following [[Unification of Norway|Norwegian unification]] under King [[Harold Fairhair]], the Kingdom of the Isles was declared a crown dependency by the Norwegian king; to the Norwegians it was ''Suðreyjar'' (meaning ''southern isles''). [[Malcolm III of Scotland]] acknowledged in writing that Suðreyjar was under Norwegian control, and later [[Edgar of Scotland|King Edgar]] was forced to [[quitclaim]] in favour of the invaders. At Kilpheder, the roundhouses were abandoned in favour of [[longhouse#Europe|Norse longhouses]];{{refn|group="note"|the substantial remains of which were largely destroyed by a storm in the early 21st century}} at Bornish, a few miles to the north, a more substantial Norse settlement was built.{{refn|group="note"|containing at least 20 houses; the largest Norse settlement yet found in modern Scotland}} As indicated by archaeological finds, residents had access to a wide trading network, stretching throughout the Norwegian empire, as well as adjacent lands like Ireland.

[[File:Howmore 20090609 St Dermot's Chapel.jpg|thumb|The remains of the early 13th-century Howmore monastery]]
However, in the mid-12th century, [[Somerled]], a [[Norse-Gael]] of uncertain origin, launched a coup, which made Suðreyjar independent of Norwegian domination. Following his death, Norwegian authority was nominally restored, but in practice the kingdom was divided between Somerled's heirs ({{lang|gd|[[Clann Somhairle]]}}), and the dynasty that Somerled had deposed (the [[Crovan dynasty]]). The final return of Scotland's territory was to follow. The [[Clann Ruaidhrí|MacRory]], a branch of Somerled's heirs, ruled Uist, as well as [[Barra]], [[Eigg]], [[Rùm]], the [[Rough Bounds]], [[Isle of Bute|Bute]], [[Isle of Arran|Arran]] and northern [[Jura, Scotland|Jura]].<ref>''Kingship and Unity, Scotland 1000-1306'', G. W. S. Barrow, Edinburgh University Press, 1981</ref><ref>''Galloglas: Hebridean and West Highland Mercenary Warrior Kindreds in Medieval Ireland'', John Marsden, 2003</ref><ref>''Lismore: The Great Garden'', Robert Hay, 2009, Birlinn Ltd</ref><ref>''Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland'', 90 (1956-1957), A.A.M. Duncan, A.L Brown, pages 204-205</ref><ref>''The Kingdom of the Isles: Scotland's Western Seaboard'', R. A. McDonald, 1997, Tuckwell Press</ref>{{refn|group="note"|[[Isle of Muck|Muck]] and [[Canna, Scotland|Canna]] were ruled by the [[Bishop of the Isles]] and [[Abbot of Iona]], respectively}} A small monastery was established at [[Howmore]].{{refn|group="note"|St. Dermot's Chapel and parts of the Clan Ranald chapel date from this period}}

=== Lordships ===

[[File:Howmore 20090609 St Mary's Church.jpg|thumb|left|The remains of the late 13th-century parish church]]
In the 13th century, despite Edgar's [[Quitclaim deed|quitclaim]], Scottish forces attempted to restore parts of Suðreyjar to Scotland, culminating in the [[Battle of Largs]]. In 1266, the matter was settled by the [[Treaty of Perth]], which acknowledged the whole of Suðreyjar to Scotland, in exchange for a compensatory sum of money.{{refn|group="note"|4,000 marks}} The Treaty expressly preserved the status of the rulers of Suðreyjar; the MacRory lands, excepting Bute, Arran, and Jura, became the ''Lordship of [[Garmoran]]'', a quasi-independent crown dependency. Following this, the Norse longhouses were gradually abandoned, in favour of new [[Blackhouse]]s{{refn|group="note"|in which the space was shared with livestock,<ref>Smith, H., Marshall, P. and Parker Pearson, M. 2001. Reconstructing house activity areas pp. 249-270. In Albarella, U (ed) Environmental Archaeology: Meaning and Purpose. Kluwer Academic Publishers.</ref>}} and a new parish church was built at Howmore for South Uist.{{refn|group="note"|Now called ''the big church'' (''Teampall Mòr'' in Gaelic)}}

At the turn of the century, [[William I of Scotland|William I]] had created the position of [[Sheriff of Inverness]], to be responsible for the Scottish highlands, which now extended to Garmoran.<ref>Dickinson W.C., ''The Sheriff Court Book of Fife'', Scottish History Society, Third Series, Vol. XII (Edinburgh 1928), pp. 357–360</ref><ref>''The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707'', K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2017), 15 July 1476</ref> In 1293, however, king [[John Balliol]] established the [[Sheriffdom of Skye]], which included the Outer Hebrides. Nevertheless, following his usurpation, the Skye sheriffdom ceased to be mentioned,{{refn|group="note"|in surviving records, at least}} and the Garmoran lordship (including Uist) was confirmed to [[Ruaidhrí Mac Ruaidhrí|the MacRory leader]]. In 1343, King [[David II of Scotland|David II]] issued a further charter for this to [[Raghnall Mac Ruaidhrí|the latter's son]].<ref>''Regesta Regum Scottorum VI'' ed. Bruce Webster (Edinburgh 1982) no. 73.</ref>

[[File:Drimsdale black houses - geograph.org.uk - 242645.jpg|thumb|Blackhouses in Howmore]]
Just three years later{{refn|group="note"|1346}} the sole surviving MacRory heir was [[Amy of Garmoran]]. The southern parts of the Kingdom of the Isles had become the ''[[Lordship of the Isles]]'', ruled by the [[Clan Donald|MacDonald]]s (another group of Somerled's descendants). Amy married the MacDonald leader, [[John of Islay, Lord of the Isles|John of Islay]], but a decade later he divorced her, and married the king's niece instead (in return for a substantial [[dowry]]). As part of the divorce, John deprived his eldest son, [[Ranald MacDonald (founder of Clanranald)|Ranald]], of the ability to inherit the Lordship of the Isles, in favour of a son by his new wife. As compensation, John granted Lordship of Uist to Ranald's younger brother Godfrey, while making Ranald Lord of the remainder of Garmoran.

However, on Ranald's death, disputes between Godfrey and his nephews (the elder of whom founded [[Clan Ranald]]) led to an enormous amount of violent feuding. In 1427, frustrated with the level of violence in the Highlands, [[James I of Scotland|King James I]] demanded that Highland leaders should attend a meeting at [[Inverness]]. On arrival, many of the leaders were seized and imprisoned; Alexander MacGorrie, son of Godfrey, was considered to be one of the two most reprehensible, and after a quick [[show trial]], was immediately executed.<ref name="G65">{{Citation | author1=Gregory, Donald | title=History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland, from A.D. 1493 to A.D. 1625, with a brief introductory sketch, from A.D. 80 to A.D. 1493 | publisher=Edinburgh, W. Tait | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DaoHAAAAQAAJ | access-date=11 May 2012 | year=1836 }}, p. 65</ref> King James declared the Lordship of Uist forfeit.

===Fracture===

[[File:Calbhaigh castle - geograph.org.uk - 878406.jpg|thumb|left|[[Calvay Castle]], in Loch Boisdale]]
Following the forfeiture, and in that same year, [[Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross|the Lord of the Isles]] granted [[Laird]]ship of the southern third of South Uist (traditionally called ''Lochboisdale''{{refn|group="note"|, after [[Lochboisdale]], which forms its northern boundary}}), together with [[Barra]], to Giolla Adhamhnáin mac Néill, leader of the [[Clan MacNeil|MacNeils]]. At around this time [[Calvay Castle]] was built, guarding Lochboisdale.

[[File:Caisteal Bheagram - geograph.org.uk - 823321.jpg|thumb|Caisteal Bheagram in Drimsdale]]
The remainder of South Uist remained with the Scottish crown until 1469, when [[James III of Scotland|James III]] granted Lairdship of it to [[John of Islay, Earl of Ross|John of Ross]], the Lord of the Isles; in turn, John passed it to his own half-brother, [[Hugh of Sleat]] (the grant to Hugh was later confirmed by the king—[[James IV of Scotland|James IV]]—in a 1493 charter). Hugh died a few years later, in 1498, and for reasons that are not remotely clear, his son—John of Sleat—immediately resigned, transferring all authority to the king.

On 3 August that same year, [[James IV of Scotland|king James IV]] awarded the central third of South Uist (traditionally known as ''Kilpheder''{{refn|group="note"|after its main settlement, Kilpheder}}), by charter to [[Ranald Bane]], leader of [[Clan Macdonald of Clanranald|Clan Ranald]].<ref name="AMac238">Angus & Archibald Macdonald. ''The Clan Donald'' volume 2, The Northern Counties Publishing Company Ltd, 1900, p. 238</ref> Two days later,{{refn|group="note"|5 August}} the king gave Ranald Bane a charter for the northern third (traditionally known as ''Skirhough''{{refn|group="note"|after its main settlement, Howmore; ''Sgire'' is Gaelic for ''district''}}) as well.<ref name="AMac238" /> Ranald Bane, or his heirs, built Casteal Bheagram, on Loch an Eilean in Skirhough, as their local stronghold.{{Refn|group="note"|Ranald's grandchildren, and their heirs, used [[Borve Castle, Benbecula|Borve Castle]], on [[Benbecula]], as their main residence in Uist; Caisteal Bheagram, as a small tower, was more useful merely as a refuge, and vantage point.}}

===John Moidartach and his sons===

Some time after Ranald Bane's nephew, John Moidartach,{{refn|group="note"|''Moidartach'' refers to [[Moidart]]}} succeeded as laird, he fell out of favour with [[James V of Scotland|King James V]].{{refn|group="note"|Surviving records do not explain why.}} By 1538, James had transferred lairdship of Kilpheder to John's younger half-brother, Farquhar;{{refn|group="note"|Though they shared the same father, Farquhar's mother was Marion MacIntosh, while the name of John's mother was ''Dorothy'' (her surname is unknown).}}<ref>''Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland'', edited by M. Livingstone, 1908, HM General Register House, volume II, entry 441</ref> the king gave him Skirhough shortly afterwards.<ref>''Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland'', edited by M. Livingstone, 1908, HM General Register House, volume II, entry 592</ref> In 1563, Farquhar sold his portion of South Uist to a distant relation, [[James MacDonald, 6th of Dunnyveg|James MacDonald]] (heir of the second son of John of Islay);{{refn|for 2,000 [[Merk (coin)|marks]]|group="note"}}<ref>''Clan Donald'', Donald J MacDonald, MacDonald Publishers (of Loanhead, Midlothian), 1978, p.298</ref> that same year, [[Mary, Queen of Scots]], issued a charter confirming James MacDonald as laird of these lands.<ref>''Register of the Great Seal of Scotland'', edited by Maitland Thomson, 1912, HM General Register House, volume IV, entry 335</ref>

[[File:Howmore 20090609 Clan Ranald Chapel.jpg|thumb|The Clan Ranald chapel at Howmore<!--the clanranald stone would be a better picture-->]]
In the following year, Farquhar was murdered by John Moidartach's sons.<ref name="JMac301">''Clan Donald'', Donald J MacDonald, MacDonald Publishers (of Loanhead, Midlothian), 1978, p.301</ref> The year after that,{{refn|group="note"|1565}} as opponents of the [[Scottish reformation]], Moidartach and his family took the side of [[Mary, Queen of Scots|the Queen]] during the [[Chaseabout Raid]], and were consequently back in royal favour; the Queen prohibited them from being punished for Farquhar's murder.<ref name="JMac301" /> By the last decades of the century, John Moidartach had obtained a practical hold on Farquhar's former lands, though seemingly as a tenant of James MacDonald's heirs. In 1584 John died, and was buried at Howmore; a decorated stone from the site (the ''Clanranald Stone'') is thought to have been his headstone.{{refn|group="note"|Following the theft of the stone, in the 1990s, it is now located at the Kildonan museum.}}

In 1596, concerned by the active involvement of highland leaders in Irish rebellions against [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth of England]], king [[James VI and I|James VI of Scotland]] (Elizabeth's heir) demanded that they send well-armed men, as well as attending themselves, to meet him at [[Dumbarton]] on 1 August, and produce the charters for their land. As neither John Moidartach's heirs, nor those of James MacDonald, did so, Skirhough and Kilpheder became forfeit, by the corresponding Act of Parliament. Consequently, the king awarded them to Donald Gorm Mòr, the heir of Hugh of Sleat, as a reward;<ref>''Register of the Great Seal of Scotland'', edited by Maitland Thomson, 1912, HM General Register House, volume VI, entry 161</ref> he had been one of the few Highland leaders who obeyed the king's summons.<ref>''Clan Donald'', Donald J MacDonald, MacDonald Publishers (of Loanhead, Midlothian), 1978, p.309</ref> Donald Gorm Mòr [[subinfeudation|subinfeudated]] Skirhough and Kilpheder back to Clan Ranald, for £46 per annum.

===Reunification===

[[File:Loch Baghasdail - geograph.org.uk - 448913.jpg|thumb|left|Loch Boisdale]]
The leader of the MacNeils did not submit to the 1609 [[Statutes of Iona]]. Using this as justification, Clan Ranald drove the MacNeils out of Lochboisdale, and were subsequently awarded a charter for it, in 1610.<ref>''Register of the Great Seal of Scotland'', edited by Maitland Thomson, 1912, HM General Register House, volume VII, entry 129</ref> In 1622, Donald Gorm Mòr's successor, Donald Gorm Òg,{{refn|group="note"|''Og'' means ''the younger''}} is found requesting that the Privy Council physically punish the Clan Ranald leadership for not removing their families and tenants from Skirhough;<ref>''Register of the Privy Council of Scotland'', edited by I Hill-Burton, 1877, HM General Register House, volume XIII, 741-742</ref> presumably they hadn't been paying the rent.<ref name="AMac321">Angus & Archibald Macdonald. ''The Clan Donald'' volume 2, The Northern Counties Publishing Company Ltd, 1900, p. 320-321</ref> By way of settlement of the dispute,{{refn|group="note"|agreed at the [[Chanonry of Ross]]}} Donald Gorm Og was granted lairdship over Lochboisdale as well;<ref name="AMac321" /> thus Donald Gorm Og became laird of the whole of South Uist, while Clan Ranald held it as his feudal vassals.

In 1633, Donald Gorm Òg decided to simply sell lairdship of South Uist to [[Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll|the Earl of Argyll]];{{refn|group="note"|for 26,921 marks, 10 shillings, and 8 pence}} in January 1634, this arrangement was confirmed by a crown charter.<ref>Angus & Archibald Macdonald. ''The Clan Donald'', Volume 2, The Northern Counties Publishing Company Ltd, 1900, p. 324</ref> In 1661, as a leading opponent of king [[Charles I of Scotland|Charles I]], the Earl's son — [[Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll|the Marquess of Argyll]] — was convicted of high treason, and his lands became forfeit. Thus, in 1673, it was the king demanding that Clan Ranald pay their outstanding rent for South Uist.<ref>Angus & Archibald Macdonald. ''The Clan Donald'', Volume 2, The Northern Counties Publishing Company Ltd, 1900, p. 339</ref>

===Debt, poverty and loss===

[[File:Ormacleit Castle - geograph.org.uk - 444355.jpg|thumb|The ruins of Ormaclete Castle.]]
In 1701, Ailean Dearg MacDonald, the Chief of [[Clan MacDonald of Clanranald]], built Ormaclete Castle as his new main residence in South Uist. According to local ''[[Seanchaidh]]'' Angus MacLellan, Ailean Dearg is said to have gone into considerable debt in order to build the castle and, according to the [[oral tradition]], once played a prank that terrified his many creditors when they visited South Uist, which resulted in his debts all being cancelled and his credit restored.<ref>Angus MacLellan & [[John Lorne Campbell]], (2001), ''Stories from South Uist'', [[Birlinn Limited]]. Pages 89-91, 222.</ref>

In 1715, some [[venison]] caught fire in the kitchen, which led to the whole castle burning down. At the time, like many of the other [[Clan Donald]] leaders, Ailean Dearg was away fighting in the [[Jacobite rising of 1715]]. A few days after the fire, Ailean Dearg was fighting on the right wing of the Jacobite Army at the [[Battle of Sheriffmuir]] when he fell mortally wounded. Ailean Dearg was, according to [[John Lorne Campbell]], "killed, it was popularly said, by a [[silver bullet]] that negatived the charm he used to wear".<ref>John Lorne Campbell, "Canna; Story of a Hebridean Island," p. 90.</ref> Alasdair Dubh, 11th Chief of [[Clan MacDonald of Glengarry]] then managed to rally the faltering warriors of [[Clan Donald]] by throwing up his [[Blue bonnet (hat)|blue bonnet]] and crying ({{langx|gd|"Buillean an-diugh, tuiream a-màireach"!}}) ("Blows today, mourning tomorrow!").<ref>Ronald Black (2019), ''An Lasair: Anthology of 18th-century Scottish Gaelic Verse'', Birlinn Limited. Page 405.</ref> After these events, the Chiefs of Clan Ranald moved their main residence back to [[Benbecula]].

During the time when the Chiefs of Clanranald were [[absentee landlord]]s, the estate [[Factor (Scotland)|Factor]] lived, according to Angus MacLellan, in a house at Loch Eynort on a site still known as ({{langx|gd|Rubha Taigh a' Mhàil}}), or "The Rent House Point."<ref>Angus MacLellan & [[John Lorne Campbell]], (2001), ''Stories from South Uist'', [[Birlinn Limited]]. Page 81, 220.</ref>

During the [[Jacobite rising of 1745]], Ranald MacDonald, the son of the Clan Ranald leader,{{refn|group="note"|who was also called Ranald}} amassed large amounts of debt by funding the Jacobite army.{{refn|group="note"|his father, by contrast, was unwilling to actively support the campaign}} In the following year, [[Charles Edward Stuart|Bonnie Prince Charlie]] was able to hide at Calvay Castle, after fleeing from the [[Battle of Culloden]], until he was able to escape with the aid of [[Flora Macdonald|Flora MacDonald]]. Though an act of attainder (and forfeit) was subsequently passed against Ranald, it had no effect, due to accidentally naming him as ''Donald'' MacDonald.

[[File:Kelp on the beach - geograph.org.uk - 1472137.jpg|thumb|left|Kelp on the Bornish beach]]
Ranald's debts proved burdensome for his family, but his grandson, [[Ranald George Macdonald|Ranald George MacDonald]], was able to keep them at bay thanks to the [[Napoleonic Wars]]; the wars had restricted the supply of certain minerals, turning the production of [[soda ash]] by burning [[kelp]] into a highly profitable activity. Kelp harvesting (and burning) became one of the principle economic activities of the population of South Uist,<ref>{{cite book|last=Innes|first=Bill|title=Old South Uist|year=2006|publisher=Stenlake Publishing|location=Catrine, Ayrshire|isbn=9781840333817|page=3,4|url=http://www.stenlake.co.uk/books/view_book.php?ref=440|access-date=22 October 2013|archive-date=23 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023110943/http://www.stenlake.co.uk/books/view_book.php?ref=440|url-status=dead}}</ref> but when the wars ended, competition from imported [[barilla]] resulted in the kelp price collapsing.<ref name="OldSouthUist">{{cite book|last=Innes|first=Bill|title=Old South Uist|year=2006|pages=3, 4}}</ref> In 1837, facing bankruptcy,<ref name="OldSouthUist" /> Ranald sold South Uist to Lt. Colonel [[John Gordon (soldier)|John Gordon]] of [[Cluny Castle|Cluny]].

Already accustomed to [[Sugar plantations in the Caribbean|treating people as slaves]], and seeing the financial advantages to livestock farming, Gordon was ruthless, evicting the population with short notice. On 11 August 1851, he demanded that everyone in South Uist attend a public meeting at Lochboisdale; according to an eyewitness,{{refn|group="note"|Catherine MacPhee}} he dragged the attendees from the meeting, sometimes in handcuffs, and threw then onto waiting ships, like cattle.<ref>''The Jaws of Sheep: The 1851 Hebridean Clearances of Gordon of Cluny'', James A. Stewart, in ''Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium'', 1999</ref> Having [[Highland Clearances|"cleared"]] much of the land, he replaced the population with flocks of [[Scottish Blackface|Blackface]] sheep, bringing in [[Scottish Borders|Lowland]] farmers to care for them. The former population largely moved to Canada; the remaining populace of South Uist represented less than half of the 1841 total.{{refn|group="note"|which was 5093}}<ref name="ArchPear">''South Uist:Archaeology and History of a Hebridean Island.'' Pearson, Shaples, Symonds. 2004. {{ISBN|978-0-7524-2905-2}}</ref>

Meanwhile, as both Col. Gordon and his [[Factor (Scotland)|Factor]]s considered the nearby island of [[Eriskay]] "agriculturally worthless", accordingly used the island as a dumping ground for evicted tenants from his many other island estates throughout the southern [[Outer Hebrides]]. For the most part, however, the newly arrived islanders of Eriskay, which drastically multiplied the island's population, belonged overwhelmingly to the once strictly illegal [[Catholic Church in Scotland]] and had their family roots across the [[Sound of Barra]] in South Uist.<ref>Roger Hutchinson (2010), ''The Life and Legacy of a Hebridean Priest'', Birlinn Limited. Page 130-131.</ref>

=== Later history ===

Lochboisdale became a major herring port later in the 19th century. In 1889, counties were formally created in Scotland, on shrieval boundaries, by [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889|a dedicated Local Government Act]]; South Uist therefore became part of the new [[Invernessshire|county of Inverness]]. Following late 20th-century reforms, South Uist became part of the Highland Region.  The population level remained steady after the 19th-century clearances (in 2004 it was 2,285<ref name="ArchPear" />). Following a series of different landowners, South Uist was owned by South Uist Estates Ltd from 1960. In 2006, the local community bought all of the company's shares, via the [[special purpose vehicle]] ''Sealladh na Beinne Mòire''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storasuibhist.com/about-us/|title=About Us|publisher=Stòras Uibhist|date=2013|access-date=2018-06-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Who owns Scotland? |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news-2-15012/who-owns-scotland-here-s-the-next-five-in-our-top-20-1-1153750 |website=The Scotsman}}</ref>

===MOD Hebrides===
[[File:South Ridge of Stulabhal - geograph.org.uk - 15963.jpg|thumb|right|East Coast]]
In the north west of the island at ({{Coord|57|20|N|07|20|W|region:GB_type:isle|display=inline}}), a missile testing range was built in 1957–58 to launch the [[MGM-5 Corporal]] missile, Britain and America's{{clarify|date=February 2017}} first guided nuclear weapon. This development went ahead despite significant protests, some locals expressing concern that the [[Scottish Gaelic]] language would not survive the influx of English-speaking Army personnel. The British Government claimed that there was an 'overriding national interest' in establishing a training range for their newly purchased Corporal, a weapon that was to be at the front line of [[Cold War]] defence. The Corporal missile was tested from 1959 to 1963, before giving way to [[MGM-29 Sergeant]] and [[MGM-52 Lance]] tactical nuclear missiles. The 'rocket range' as it is known locally has also been used to test high-altitude research rockets, [[Skua (rocket)|Skua]] and [[Petrel (rocket)|Petrel]]. Local opposition to the range inspired the 1957 novel ''[[Rockets Galore (novel)|Rockets Galore]]'' by [[Compton Mackenzie]], which was made into the film ''[[Rockets Galore!]]''.

[[MOD Hebrides]] is still owned by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|MoD]] operated by [[QinetiQ]] as a testing facility for missile systems such as the surface-to-air [[Rapier missile]] and [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

==Ownership of South Uist==
After a protracted campaign, South Uist residents took control of the island on 30 November 2006 in Scotland's biggest community land buyout to date. The previous landowners, a sporting syndicate, sold the assets of the {{convert|92000|acre|km2|adj=mid}} estate for £4.5&nbsp;million<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6195966.stm| title=Land buyout reality for islanders| work=BBC News | date=30 November 2006 | access-date=4 January 2010}}</ref> to a Community Company known as ''Stòras Uibhist'', which was set up to purchase the land and to manage it.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060629104706/http://www.storasuibhist.com/index.php Stòras Uibhist]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150904123745/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20061201/ai_n16909442 ''Islanders pay £4.5m to be rid of feudal lairds''] The Independent newspaper. (1 December 2006) Retrieved 29 July 2007.</ref> The buyout resulted in most of South Uist, and neighbouring Benbecula, and all of Eriskay coming under community control.<ref>''The quiet revolution''. (19 January 2007) Broadford. West Highland Free Press.</ref>  The proposal for community ownership received the overwhelming support of the people of the islands, who "look forward to regenerating the local economy, reversing decline and depopulation, and reducing dependency, while remaining aware of the environmental needs, culture and history of the islands". The company claims its name—''Stòras Uibhist'' (meaning 'Uist Resource')—symbolises hope for the future wealth and prosperity of the islands.  The organisation's website states that ''Stòras Uibhist'' comprises South Uist Estates Ltd, South Uist Renewable Energy (the wind farm) and Lochboisdale Development Limited ("which is responsible for the newly built Marina in the port of Lochboisdale").<ref>[https://storasuibhist.com/about-us/ About Us]</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Our Lady of the Isles.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Our Lady of the Isles]]]]
Tourism is important to the island's economy and attractions include the Kildonan Museum, housing the 16th-century Clanranald Stone, and the ruins of the house where [[Flora MacDonald (Scottish Jacobite)|Flora MacDonald]] was born.

South Uist is home to the Askernish Golf Course.<ref>[http://www.askernishgolfclub.com/ Askernish Golf Course]</ref> The oldest course in the Outer Hebrides, Askernish was designed by [[Old Tom Morris]], who also worked on the Old Course at St Andrews. Morris was commissioned by [[Emily Gordon Cathcart|Lady Gordon Cathcart]] in 1891.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/jun/28/south-uist-golf-course |newspaper=[[The Observer]] |date=28 June 2009 |access-date=28 February 2014 |title=The missing links |last=Owen |first=David |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904123745/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/jun/28/south-uist-golf-course |archive-date=4 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Askernish course existed intact until the 1930s, but was partly destroyed to make way for an aircraft runway, then abandoned, and ultimately lost. Its identity remained hidden for many years before its apparent discovery, a claim disputed by some locals.<ref>[http://www.cybergolf.com/state.asp?stateID=78&newsID=3857 cybergolf.com re Askernish course.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927022343/http://www.cybergolf.com/state.asp?stateID=78&newsID=3857 |date=2007-09-27 }} Retrieved 16 June 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6753819.stm| title=Crofters deny Old Tom claim| work=BBC News| date=15 June 2007| access-date=2007-06-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| author=Forgan, Duncan| date=28 July 2007| title=Island pins hopes on past links| location=Edinburgh| newspaper=[[The Scotsman]]}}</ref>
Restoration of the course to Morris's original design was held up by disagreements with local crofters,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070907180950/http://www.storasuibhist.com/LatestPressReleases.php Storas Uibhist press release]</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=New Yorker |date=April 20, 2009 |url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/04/20/090420fa_fact_owen |author=David Owen |title=The Ghost Course }}</ref> but after legal challenges were resolved in the courts, the course opened in August 2008.  The summer music school, Ceòlas,<ref>[http://www.ceolas.co.uk/ Ceòlas]</ref> takes place every year from the first Sunday of July in Daliburgh School on the island. In 2019, it was estimated that the school contributed around £210,000 to the local economy.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-oban-times/20190725/282016148922811| newspaper=The Oban Times | title =Record numbers flock to annual summer school | via=PressReader.com | date=25 July 2019 }}</ref> It is then followed by the local children's summer school, Fèis Tir a'Mhurain.

The Explore South Uist Web site discusses attractions to tourists: Loch Druidibeg a National Nature Reserve, the Cladh Hallan Roundhouses archaeological site, Ormacleit Castle
(completed in 1708 and destroyed by fire in 1715), Uist Sculpture Trail "of seven commissioned works by artists", the Statue of Our Lady of the Isles, the Askernish Golf Course, Flora MacDonald's Monument, Kildonan Museum and Crafts and some Standing Stones.<ref>[https://www.isle-of-south-uist.co.uk/what-to-do/ What To Do]</ref>  The community group owner of South Uist, the Stòras Uibhist, owns the Lochcarnan 6.9MW wind farm project which began operation in 2013. It is composed of three Enercon E-70 2.3MW turbines. In 2019, the operation required re-financing which was easily obtained. A spokesperson for Stòras Uibhist said that the wind farm is important because it "generates income we can reinvest back into the communities ... to boost the economy, protect local crofting practices and generate employment opportunities".<ref name="renews.biz"/>

==Wildlife and conservation==
{{See also|Flora and fauna of the Outer Hebrides}}
[[File:South Uist machair (timniblett).jpg|thumb|Flowering [[Machair (geography)|machair]] on South Uist]]
The west coast of South Uist is home to the most extensive cultivated [[Machair (geography)|machair]] system in Scotland,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACselection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0012713|title=South Uist Machair SAC|publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|access-date=2018-06-11}}</ref> which is protected as protected a both a [[Special Area of Conservation]] and a [[Special Protection Area]] under the [[Natura 2000]] programme.<ref name=SPA>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8578|title=South Uist Machair and Lochs SPA|publisher=NatureScot|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref><ref name=SAC>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8380|title=South Uist Machair SAC|publisher=NatureScot|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref> Over 200 species of flowering plants have been recorded on the reserve, some of which are nationally scarce. South Uist is considered the best place in the UK for the aquatic plant Slender Naiad ''([[Najas flexilis]])'',<ref>[http://www.jncc.gov.uk/protectedsites/SACselection/species.asp?FeatureIntCode=S1833 JNCC Slender Naiad report] Retrieved 29 July 2007.</ref> which is a [[European Protected Species]]. Nationally important populations of breeding waders are also present, including [[common redshank|redshank]], [[dunlin]], [[northern lapwing|lapwing]] and [[ringed plover]]. The island is also home to [[greylag goose|greylag geese]] on the lochs, and in summer [[corn crake|corncrake]]s on the machair. [[European otter|Otter]]s and [[hen harrier]]s are also seen.<ref name="SPA"/><ref name="SAC"/>

Loch Druidibeg in the north of the island was formerly (until 2012) a [[national nature reserve (Scotland)|national nature reserve]] owned and managed by [[Scottish Natural Heritage]] (SNH).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/B907229.pdf|access-date=20 June 2014|title=Scottish National Heritage| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014131520/http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/B907229.pdf| archive-date=2012-10-14}}</ref> The area, which is now protected as a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]], covers 1,675&nbsp;hectares of [[Machair (geography)|machair]], [[bog]], freshwater [[loch]]s, [[estuary]], heather moorland and hill.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/977|title=Loch Druidibeg SSSI|publisher=NatureScot|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref><ref>[http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/nnr/large_print/Loch%20Druidibeg.pdf SNH Loch Druidibeg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205902/http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/nnr/large_print/Loch%20Druidibeg.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }} Retrieved 29 July 2007.</ref> Ownership of the SSSI was transferred from SNH to the local community-owned company Stòras Uibhist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/islands/1478164/loch-druidibeg-handed-over-by-scottish-natural-heritage-to-community-group/|title=Loch Druidibeg handed over by Scottish Natural Heritage to community group|publisher=Press and Journal|date=19 May 2018|access-date=11 June 2018}}</ref>

An area of the south west coast of the island is designated as the ''South Uist Machair National Scenic Area'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/9150|title=South Uist Machair NSA|publisher=NatureScot|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref> one of [[national scenic area (Scotland)|40 such areas]] in Scotland which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and ensure its protection from inappropriate development.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/national-designations/national-scenic-areas/|title=National Scenic Areas|publisher=NatureScot|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref> The designated area covers 13,314&nbsp;[[hectares|ha]] in total, of which 6,289&nbsp;ha is on land, with a further 7,025&nbsp;ha being marine (i.e. below [[Mean low water spring|low tide level]]).<ref name=nsa-area>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Countryside/Heritage/Areas/maps|title=National Scenic Areas - Maps|publisher=SNH|date=2010-12-20|access-date=2018-06-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140337/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Countryside/Heritage/Areas/maps|archive-date=2018-06-12|url-status=dead}}</ref>

There has been considerable controversy over [[European hedgehog|hedgehogs]] on South Uist. The animals are not native to the islands, having been introduced in the 1970s to reduce garden pests. It is claimed that they pose a threat to the eggs of ground-nesting wading birds on the island. In 2003 the Uist Wader Project — headed by Scottish Natural Heritage — began a cull of hedgehogs in the area. Following a campaign and concerns over animal welfare, this cull was called off in 2007; instead, hedgehogs are being captured and moved to mainland Scotland.<ref>[http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/campaign.htm Epping Forest Hedgehog Rescue] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060827031217/http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/campaign.htm |date=August 27, 2006 }} Retrieved 1 January 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite news| author=Ross, John| date=21 February 2007| title=Hedgehogs saved from the syringe as controversial Uist cull called off| location=Edinburgh| newspaper=[[The Scotsman]]| url=http://news.scotsman.com/hedgehogs/Hedgehogs-saved-from-the-syringe.3348351.jp| access-date=2009-08-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Campaign wins reprieve for Uist hedgehogs| author=Paul Kelbie| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/campaign-wins-reprieve-for-uist-hedgehogs-437050.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503032826/http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/campaign-wins-reprieve-for-uist-hedgehogs-437050.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=May 3, 2008| newspaper=[[The Independent]]| date=2007-02-20}}</ref>

Along with the island's situation on the North Atlantic Ocean, its machair is considered to be one of the most vulnerable coasts in Scotland due to relative [[sea level rise]] and the potential effects of [[climate change]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hebrides-news.com/uist-climate-change-risk-4819.html|title = Uist at risk from climate change}}</ref> Specifically, research<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dynamiccoast.com/files/reports/NCCA%20-%20Cells%208%20and%209%20-%20The%20Western%20Isles.pdf |title=Dynamic Coast - National Coastal Change Assessment: Cells 8 and 9 - The Western Isles |author=CREW |date=2017 |publisher=Dynamic Coast}}</ref> has shown that the most vulnerable areas include Ìochdar, Stoneybridge, Cille Pheadair, and Orasay.

==Gaelic==
At the 2011 Census it was found that 1,888 [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]] speakers live on South Uist and Benbecula, this being 60% of the two islands' population.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/naidheachdan/24954480 Census 2011 stats] BBC News. Retrieved 20 April 20-14.</ref> 'Na Meadhoinean', Middle District in South Uist, is the strongest Gaelic-speaking community in the world, at 82%.

A local Gaelic folktale tells of how a seal came out of the sea to settle a boundary dispute between the communities of Lochboisdale and Kilpheder by showing the antagonists where the boundary line should lie.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/38282|title = Mar a roinn ròn am fearann eadar Baghasdal agus Cille Pheadair}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZldoGwV6evM|title = Mar a chaidh Baghasdal is Cille Pheadair a' sgaradh le ron}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
The 1962 television series, [[The Dark Island]], was filmed in South Uist.

==Notable residents==
[[File:Loch Druidibeg - geograph.org.uk - 242658.jpg|thumb|Stilligarry]]
* [[Angus Peter Campbell]] (born 1952) poet and novelist with a high importance to modern [[Scottish Gaelic literature]], as well as journalist, broadcaster and actor.
* [[Kathleen MacInnes]] (born 1969), singer, TV presenter and actress
* [[Danny Alexander]] (born 1972), [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] [[Scottish MPs|Member of Parliament]]; lived at West Geirnish on South Uist for three years as a child<ref>[http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1890704 "Alexander hears jobs and cuts fears"]. (27 Aug 2010) Aberdeen. ''Press and Journal''.</ref>
* Fr. [[Allan MacDonald (poet)|Allan MacDonald]] ({{langx|gd|Maighstir Ailean}}) (1859–1905), [[Roman Catholic priest]] at Daliburgh, folklore collector, and highly important poet in [[Scottish Gaelic literature]]
* [[Flora MacDonald (Scottish Jacobite)|Flora MacDonald]] (1722–1790), born at Milton; known for her help of the fugitive [[Prince Charles Edward Stuart]] after the [[Battle of Culloden]]
* [[Etienne Macdonald]] Although not a resident of the island, the family of this marshall of [[Napoléon Bonaparte]] originated in Howbeg, South Uist
* [[Angus McPhee]] (1916–1997), born at Iochdar; outsider artist
*[[Margaret Fay Shaw]] (1903–2004), American photographer and folklorist

==See also==
{{Portal|Scottish islands}}
* [[List of islands of Scotland]]
* [[Bun Sruth]], a loch in the southeast
* [[Easaval]], a hill in the south
* [[Iochdar]], a hamlet on the west coast
* [[Kilaulay]], a township on the northwest coast
* [[Ushenish]], a headland on the east coast
* [[Scottish island names]]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|group="note"}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Ballin Smith, Beverley; Taylor, Simon; and Williams, Gareth (2007) ''West over Sea: Studies in Scandinavian Sea-Borne Expansion and Settlement Before 1300''. Leiden. Brill. {{ISBN|97890-04-15893-1}}
* {{Gaelic Placenames}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|South Uist}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline|South Uist}}
* [http://www.rte.ie/archives/2016/0218/769156-gaelic-the-language-of-god/ The Island Where God Speaks Gaelic Raidió Teilifís Éireann documentary from 1971]
* [http://www.armadale.org.uk/uist.htm Archaeological Aerial Photographs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105044203/http://www.armadale.org.uk/uist.htm |date=5 November 2013 }}
* '[https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/2017/06/south-uist-hebridean-first/ South Uist a Hebridean First]': Flag Institute press release 30 June 2017
* [http://www.biggarden.co.uk An Gàrradh Mòr, Historic walled garden at Cille Bhrìghde]
* [https://dx.doi.org/10.11141/ia.8.4 The world in a spin: representing the Neolithic landscapes of South Uist] in Internet Archaeology {{Doi|10.11141/ia.8.4}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030906194633/http://astronautix.com/sites/souhuist.htm Rocket launches at South Uist]
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Uist, North and South}}

{{Hebrides}}
{{Islands of Scotland}}
{{NSAs in Scotland}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|57|16|N|7|19|W|region:GB_type:isle|display=title}}

[[Category:South Uist| ]]
[[Category:Uist islands]]
[[Category:Islands of the Outer Hebrides]]
[[Category:Community buyouts in Scotland]]
[[Category:National scenic areas of Scotland]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of the Outer Hebrides]]
[[Category:Highland Estates]]
[[Category:Parishes in Western Isles]]

[[de:Kilpheder]]