Hildasay

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hildasay
Location
Hildasay (Scotland)
Hildasay
Hildasay
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


Groupings
Island Group: Shetland
Local Authority: Shetland Islands
Scotland
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.

The pier on Hildasay
The pier on Hildasay

[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

  1. ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
  2. ^ a b c Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
  3. ^ Ordnance Survey
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ a b c Overview of Hildasay. Gazeteer for Scotland. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.

Coordinates: 60°8′48″N 1°21′35″W / 60.14667, -1.35972

Languages