Eynhallow

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Eynhallow
Location
Eynhallow
Eynhallow shown within Scotland
OS grid reference HY359291
Names
Norse name Eyinhelga[1]
Meaning of name "Holy Island"
Area and summit
Area 75 hectares (0.29 sq mi)
Area rank 168[2]
Highest elevation 30 metres (98 ft)
Population
Population 0[3]
Groupings
Island group Orkney
Local Authority Orkney Islands
References [4][5][6][7]
Eynhallow in 1980

Eynhallow (Old Norse: Eyinhelga) is a small, presently uninhabited island, part of Orkney, off the north coast of mainland Scotland.

Geography

Eynhallow lies in Eynhallow Sound between Mainland, Orkney and Rousay. It is 75 hectares (0.29 sq mi) in area.

There is no ferry to the island, although Orkney Heritage Society organises a trip each July.[8] Otherwise, visitors have to arrange their own transport to the island by private local boat hire. Access can be problematic, as there are strong tidal surges in the surrounding strait, squeezed between Mainland of Orkney and Rousay.[9]

History

The island's main attraction is Eynhallow Church dating from the twelfth century or earlier, and perhaps originally part of a monastery.[10] The site is maintained by Historic Scotland.

In 1841 it had a population of 26.[10] It has been uninhabited since the landowner cleared crofters away in 1851. It is now a bird sanctuary.

It has its own folklore, concerning the initial finding of the island. Eynhallow was believed to be the summer residence of the shape-shifting mer-people the Finfolk, who were driven away by the farmer, Guidman o' Thorodale from Evie.[11][12]

See also

  • Gurness


Notes

  1. Anderson (1873) p. 176
  2. Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands >20ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
  3. National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013) (pdf) Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland - Release 1C (Part Two). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland’s inhabited islands". Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  4. Haswell-Smith (2004) pp. 381-83
  5. Ordnance Survey. Get-a-map (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure. http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  6. Orkney Placenames
  7. Pedersen, Roy (January 1992) Orkneyjar ok Katanes (map, Inverness, Nevis Print)
  8. Orkney Heritage Society website
  9. "Eynhallow". Around Rousay. Retrieved 8 January 2008. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Overview of Eynhallow". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 5 January 2008. 
  11. "Folklore". orkneyjar.com. Retrieved 8 January 2008. 
  12. Turnbull, Catherine (29 July 2010) "Exploring the Mysteries of Eynhallow". Kirkwall: Orkney News.

References

  • Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7. 
  • Anderson, Joseph (ed.) (1873) The Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. Edmonston and Douglas. The Internet Archive. Retrieved 26 August 2013.


External links

Coordinates: 59°8′41″N 3°7′11″W / 59.14472°N 3.11972°W / 59.14472; -3.11972

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