Otterswick

Otterswick on the Isle of Yell in the Shetland Islands, on the inlet of Otters Wick. It is on the east side of the island. There is also an "Otterswick" on Sanday in the Orkney Islands.[1]

The surrounding area is a breeding ground of Red-throated Divers,[2] and as the name suggests, there are many otters in the area.

The German ship Bohus was wrecked near here in 1924.[3], and its figurehead, known as the "White Wife of Otterswick"[4] can be seen near the village. The original one, made of wood has rotted away, and it has been replaced by a fibreglass replica.[5] Despite being a German boat, the Bohus was built in Grangemouth on the Firth of Forth, and was originally known as Bertha.[3]

References

  1. ^ Hall, Adrian and Brown, John (September 2005). "Otterswick, Sanday". Edinburgh: Orkney Landscapes: <http://www.fettes.com/orkney/>. http://www.fettes.com/Orkney/otterswick.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-07. 
  2. ^ "SPA description: Otterswick and Graveland". JNCC. http://www.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1934. Retrieved 2009-08-07. 
  3. ^ a b "White Wife of Otterswick". Shetlopedia. http://shetlopedia.com/White_Wife_of_Otterswick. Retrieved 2009-08-07. 
  4. ^ "South East Yell". Sea Kayak Shetrland. http://www.seakayakshetland.co.uk/Yell.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-07. 
  5. ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543.