Scalpay is a popular location for fishing, diving, walking and relaxing, has a population of around 300 and the majority of islanders speak Gaelic.
Eilean Glas, which can be found on a small peninsula to the eastern shore of the island, is home to the first lighthouse to be built in the Outer Hebrides. The island has quite a number of lochans, the largest of these being Loch an Duin, which has a small island with the remains of a fort.