View source for West Linga

{{Infobox island 
|name=West Linga
|norse=lyng-øy
|county=Shetland
|picture=Westlinga.jpg
|picture caption=The Bight of Cudda, West Linga, towards the Head of Berg
|os grid ref=HU533651
|latitude=60.36
|longitude=-1.0346
|area=309 acres
|area rank=133=
|highest point=171 feet
|population=0
}}
'''West Linga''' is an uninhabited island located between [[Mainland, Shetland|Mainland]] and [[Whalsay]] in [[Shetland]]. 

It is a long narrow island covered in rough heath, hence its name; this is one of several islands of Shetland named "Linga", which leans "heather island".

West Linga is separated from [[Whalsay]] by Linga Sound, and [[Lunning]] on [[Mainland, Shetland]] to the west. [[Little Linga]], Swarta Skerry, Lona Skerry and Ketill Holm lie to the west. The [[Calf of Linga]] to the south is a drying islet. [[Wether Holm, West Linga|Wether Holm]] is separated by a channel 10 feet deep at the north end.{{ref Haswell-Smith}}

There are two lochs, and a natural arch in the north west. The two main hills are at either end - North and South Ward. A cairn stands in the south.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1886.html | title=Overview of West Linga| publisher=Gazetteer for Scotland| accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref>

The rock is coarse micaceous, and hornblendic gneiss with granite veins. There is a raised beach above Croo Wick at the southern extremity.<ref name=Smith/> 

[[File:Croo Wick.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Croo Wick, West Linga]]

==History==
West Linga appears to have been inhabited intermittently until the late 18th century. The lack of an anchorage and somewhat brackish water have hindered settlement.<ref name=Smith/>

Some acreage on "Liungøuo í Hwalsøyo" is recorded in 1485 for sale for 10 marks, as part of an illegal land sale, at Korskirken near Bergen in Norway.<ref>Schei, Liv - ''The Shetland Story''</ref>

Hugh MacDiarmid who lived on nearby [[Whalsay]], said in ''The Uncanny Scot'' that he had spent three days on the island, living in a cave, with lots of matches and two books. In fact it transpired that he'd been there only for a few hours.<ref name=Smith/> Interestingly, one of MacDiarmid's best known poems was ''On a Raised Beach''.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Shetland}}