Camuscross
Encyclopedia
Camuscross is a small crofting township on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
Camuscross is situated on Camus Croise bay, on the west shore of the Sound of Sleat
, in the Highland Council area. It lies close to the village of Isleornsay
and the island of Ornsay
.
: 2 to 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) on average. The hill grazing was less than a tenth of the size of most other Sleat
townships, with many more crofters. It is thought that the crofts were deliberately made too small to live on, forcing the crofters to fish during the herring
boom.
harbour was one of the most promising harbours in the whole of Skye, for a time the main connection to the mainland. Isle Ornsay post office, situated where the estate office now is, was the main post office for the whole of Sleat
.
Isle Ornsay harbour saw the departure of emigration ships. The William Nichol, a government emigration ship left on 6 July 1837, bound for Australia as part of "Langs" Bounty Scheme. Conditions on the voyage were poor, with the deaths of 19 children and 2 adults from a manifest
of over 300. The Sillery departed on 7 September 1853 for Canada, including 332 people from Knoydart and the Glengary estates, who had been cleared
to make way for sheep. Houses were burnt and levelled to the ground. Four young men from Inverguseran 'escaped' over the hills to Lochaber
.
in the middle of the village, which is where the crofters traditionally met to discuss township matters.
The Steering Group organise the Camuscross Crofting Olympics, an afternoon of serious and not-so-serious competitions in August.
Camuscross is situated on Camus Croise bay, on the west shore of the Sound of Sleat
Sound of Sleat
The Sound of Sleat is a narrow sea channel off the western coast of Scotland. It divides the Sleat peninsula on the south-east side of the Isle of Skye from Morar, Knoydart and Glenelg on the Scottish mainland....
, in the Highland Council area. It lies close to the village of Isleornsay
Isleornsay
Isleornsay is a village lying off the main Armadale to Sleat road on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It overlooks, but is not upon, the island of Ornsay. The island itself shelters one of the best natural harbours in southern Skye...
and the island of Ornsay
Ornsay
Ornsay is a small tidal island to the east of the Sleat peninsula on the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.-Description:Widely acknowledged as one of the most beautiful tidal islands in Western Scotland, the island provides good shelter to a natural harbour which is overlooked by the...
.
History
In the early 19th century, Lord MacDonald created a township of 40 small croftsCroft (land)
A croft is a fenced or enclosed area of land, usually small and arable with a crofter's dwelling thereon. A crofter is one who has tenure and use of the land, typically as a tenant farmer.- Etymology :...
: 2 to 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) on average. The hill grazing was less than a tenth of the size of most other Sleat
Sleat
Sleat is a peninsula on the island of Skye in the Highland council area of Scotland, known as "the garden of Skye". It is the home of the clan MacDonald of Sleat...
townships, with many more crofters. It is thought that the crofts were deliberately made too small to live on, forcing the crofters to fish during the herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
boom.
Harbour
Isle OrnsayIsleornsay
Isleornsay is a village lying off the main Armadale to Sleat road on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It overlooks, but is not upon, the island of Ornsay. The island itself shelters one of the best natural harbours in southern Skye...
harbour was one of the most promising harbours in the whole of Skye, for a time the main connection to the mainland. Isle Ornsay post office, situated where the estate office now is, was the main post office for the whole of Sleat
Sleat
Sleat is a peninsula on the island of Skye in the Highland council area of Scotland, known as "the garden of Skye". It is the home of the clan MacDonald of Sleat...
.
Isle Ornsay harbour saw the departure of emigration ships. The William Nichol, a government emigration ship left on 6 July 1837, bound for Australia as part of "Langs" Bounty Scheme. Conditions on the voyage were poor, with the deaths of 19 children and 2 adults from a manifest
Manifest
Manifest has different meanings. It may refer to the following:Arts* Manifest , the Melbourne Anime FestivalBusiness* Manifest Limited, the UK marketing companyComputing...
of over 300. The Sillery departed on 7 September 1853 for Canada, including 332 people from Knoydart and the Glengary estates, who had been cleared
Highland Clearances
The Highland Clearances were forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. They led to mass emigration to the sea coast, the Scottish Lowlands, and the North American colonies...
to make way for sheep. Houses were burnt and levelled to the ground. Four young men from Inverguseran 'escaped' over the hills to Lochaber
Lochaber
District of Lochaber 1975 to 1996Highland council area shown as one of the council areas of ScotlandLochaber is one of the 16 ward management areas of the Highland Council of Scotland and one of eight former local government districts of the two-tier Highland region...
.
Camuscross Community Initiative
Camuscross Community Steering Group was set up in February 2007 to develop various projects for community benefits. It is working on affordable house sites, a network of heritage paths with interpretation, and hoping to build a local shop and cafe. The group has been researching local history and has collected a number of place names from local people. It publishes a newsletter called An Lianag – after the name of the greenVillage green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
in the middle of the village, which is where the crofters traditionally met to discuss township matters.
The Steering Group organise the Camuscross Crofting Olympics, an afternoon of serious and not-so-serious competitions in August.