Yell (island)

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Scottish Island of Yell (island)
Location

OS grid reference:	HU492935
Names
Gaelic or Celtic name:	Possibly Pictish
Norse name:	Gjall
Meaning of name:	Old Norse for 'barren'
Area and Summit
Area:	21,211 ha
Area rank if >40 ha:	11
Highest elevation:	Ward of Otterswick 205 m
Population
Population:	957
Population rank:	15 out of 89
Main settlement:	Mid Yell
Groupings
Island Group:	Shetland
Local Authority:	Shetland Islands

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

Yell is one of the North Isles of Shetland, Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 957.

It is the second largest island in the Shetlands after the Mainland with an area of 82 square miles.

Ferries sail from Ulsta on the island to Toft on the Shetland Mainland and from Gutcher on Yell to Belmont on Unst and Oddsta on Fetlar. Other settlements on Yell include Burravoe, home to the Old Haa Museum, Mid Yell, Cullivoe and Gloup.

The coastline of Yell includes numerous voes where otters and seabirds including merlins, skuas and red-throated divers are common.

Attractions on the island include an Iron Age fort at Burgi Geos, the Sands of Breckon composed of crushed shells, and the Daal of Lumbister gorge.

[edit] Prehistory

A petrosomatoglyph or stone footprint at North Yell, up Hena, 12" by 4", is known locally as the 'Wartie' and was used to wash in dew or rain-water and standing in it was supposed to get rid of warts. In legend it was made by a giant placing one foot here and the other on the Westing of Unst.