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Machir Bay is a small 
bay
A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a Gulf (geography), gulf, sea, sound (geography), sound, or bight (geogra ...
on the Western coast of the isle of Islay
Islay ( ; gd, Ìle, sco, Ila) is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Known as "The Queen of the Hebrides", it lies in Argyll just south west of Jura, Scotland, Jura and around north of the Northern Irish coast. The isl ...
in the Inner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides (; Scottish Gaelic: ''Na h-Eileanan a-staigh'', "the inner isles") is an archipelago off the west coast of mainland Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, whic ...
of Scotland. It is one of the features of the Rhinns of Islay
The Rinns of Islay (Scottish Gaelic: Na Roinn Ìleach; alternative English spelling Rhinns of Islay) is an area on the west of the island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.
It is a peninsula that is attached to the main body of the i ...
and lies within a few hundred metres of the small settlement of Kilchoman. To the north, the cape of Coul Point separates Machir Bay from Saligo Bay. Kilchiaran Bay lies immediately to the south.
The northern and southern parts of Machir Bay are largely rocky, with a sandy beach area near the top of the bay. Several small streams flow into the bay, notably Allt na Criche and Allt Gleann na Ceardaich, both of which flow into the north of the bay.
Area
The area surrounding Machir Bay is sparsely populated today, but archeological evidence shows a long history of human settlement. There are remnants of twodun
A dun is an ancient or medieval fort. In Ireland and Britain it is mainly a kind of hillfort and also a kind of Atlantic roundhouse.
Etymology
The term comes from Irish language, Irish ''dún'' or Scottish Gaelic ''dùn'' (meaning "fort"), ...
s to the southeast of the bay: one, Dun Neadean is located on a rocky knoll by the coastline, near the old road between Kilchoman and another small hamlet to the south, Kilchiaran. The enclosed area covers an area of 20 metres by 13. There remains little more of the 3.5 metre-thick wall than foundations covered in grass. The second dun, Dun Chroisprig is also located on a hill. Its outer wall roughly encompasses the hill, with a diameter of about 13 metres. An entrance 1.5 metres in width faces to the west-northwest.
Shipwrecks
On 18 November 1835, the Stella, a vessel fromPalermo
Palermo ( , ; scn, Palermu , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan ...
bound for Greenock
Greenock (; sco, Greenock; gd, Grianaig, ) is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council areas of Scotland, council area in Scotland, United Kingdom and a former burgh of barony, burgh within the Counties of Scotland, historic ...
, ran aground at Machir Bay. The entire crew and part of the cargo were saved.
On 16 November 1888, during a storm, a Norwegian barque, La Plata, sailing from Newcastle to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
and carrying coal and coke, was wrecked at Machir Bay due to the sudden shift of unsecured cargo, causing the ship to list and run aground after becoming uncontrollable. 3 of 12 crewmen were lost.
Perhaps the most famous incident was the wreck of in October 1918, shortly before the end of the Great War. A navigation error caused it to collide with . The casualty toll was estimated at 470 men, which makes it one of the worst convoy accidents of the war.Scott, R. Neil (2012). ''Many Were Held by the Sea: The Tragic Sinking of HMS Otranto''. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. .
Miscellaneous
One of thewhiskies
Whisky or whiskey is a type of liquor, distilled alcoholic beverage made from Fermentation in food processing, fermented grain mashing, mash. Various grains (which may be Malting, malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, Maize ...
made at the nearby Kilchoman distillery is named after Machir Bay.
A charity on Islay - Islay Development Initiative - has a range of candles made with Islay beeswax from their apiary of native dark European bees, named after beaches on the island using scents of plants found on each beach. Machir Bay scent is spearmint and chamomile. The Charity uses funds raised to support Islay BeachWatch, which keeps the beaches clear of marine litter.
References