Hildasay
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Hildasay | |
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Location | |
Hildasay shown within Scotland. | |
OS grid reference: | HU355403 |
Names | |
Gaelic name: | |
Norse name: | Hildasey |
Meaning of name: | battle island, or island of Hilda |
Area and Summit | |
Area: | 108 ha |
Area rank (Scottish islands): | 144 |
Highest elevation: | 32 m |
Population | |
Population (2001): | 0
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Groupings | |
Island Group: | Shetland |
Local Authority: | Shetland Islands |
References: | [1][2][3][4] |
Hildasay (Old Norse: Hildasey) is an uninhabited island off the west coast of the Shetland Mainland. It is also known as Hildisay locally.
[edit] Geography and geology
Hildasay has an area of 1 km² (108 ha), and is 32 m at its highest point. It consists of red-green granite (epidotic syenite) that was quarried for many years.[2][5]
The south coast has two narrow inlets, Cusa Voe and Tangi Voe. "West", the larger of two lochs, has a single islet. A satellite island, Linga lies to the south east. A long line of skerries and holms lies to the north west.[2]
[edit] History
The island possibly takes its name from a Norse war goddess.[5]
Hildasay has been uninhabited since the late nineteenth century, but as late as 1891 had a population of 30. The island's former industries included curing herring and quarrying granite. The remains of a railway line leading from the quarry to the harbour can still be seen.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ a b c Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). ISBN 0-901824-25-9
- ^ a b c Overview of Hildasay. Gazeteer for Scotland. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
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