Eday

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For the marketing term, see eDay.

Scottish Island of Eday
Location

OS grid reference:	HY560338
Names
Gaelic or Celtic name:	Unknown
Norse name:	Eid-oy
Meaning of name:	Old Norse for 'isthmus island'
Area and Summit
Area:	2,745 ha
Area rank if >40 ha:	31
Highest elevation:	Ward Hill 101 m
Population
Population:	121
Population rank:	41 out of 89
Main settlement:	Calfsound
Groupings
Island Group:	Orkney
Local Authority:	Orkney Islands

References:	^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

European Marine Energy Centre Tidal power test site on Eday under construction

Eday is one of the Orkney Islands, which are located to the north of the Scottish mainland in the United Kingdom. Eday is located in the North Isles of Orkney, and is about 15 miles north of the main island of Orkney Mainland. With an area of eleven square miles, Eday is the ninth largest of the Orkney Islands.

The centre of Eday is moorland covered with heather, and the island's main industries have been peat extraction and limestone quarrying. Attractions on the island include the Stone of Setter standing stone and the chambered cairns of Vinquoy, Braeside and Huntersquoy. Eday is also known for its seabirds and for Carrick house, built in 1633, where the pirate John Gow was captured.

Eday can be reached by both sea and air from the Orkney Mainland. Orkney Ferries provide ferry crossings to Backaland on Eday from Kirkwall on Orkney Mainland. The Orkney inter-island air service, operated by Loganair, connects Kirkwall Airport with Eday Airport.

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) based at Stromness in Orkney is a new Scottish Executive-backed research facility. They have installed a wave testing system at Billia Croo on the Orkney mainland and a tidal power testing station on Eday.^[5]