Hildasay

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Hildasay

Scalloway Islands
(Shetland)

Hildasaypier.jpg
Hildasay Pier
Location
Location: 60°8’24"N, 1°21’36"W
Grid reference: HU355403
Area: 267 acres
Highest point: 105 feet
Data
Population: 0

Hildasay, also known as Hildisay, is an uninhabited island off the west coast of Mainland, Shetland, amongst the Scalloway Islands.

The island's name is Old Norse (Hildasey) and means either "Battle Island" or "Hilda's Island".

Hildasay has an area of 267 acres and reaches just 105 feet at its highest point. It consists of red-green granite (epidotic syenite) that was quarried for many years.[1][2]

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.[1]

History

The island possibly takes its name from a Norse war goddess, Hilda, whose name is cognate with the Old English Hild, meaning "battle".

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.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Overview of Hildasay". Gazetteer for Scotland. http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1399.html. Retrieved 2007-12-15. 
The Scalloway Islands

East BurraHildasayOxnaPapaSouth HavraTrondraWest BurraWest Head of Papa

Islands of Shetland

Inhabited islands:
Mainland  •
Bressay  • Burra (East & West)  • Fair Isle  • Fetlar  • Foula  • Muckle Roe  • Out Skerries  • Papa Stour  • Trondra  • Unst  • Vaila  • Whalsay  • Yell

Other islands:
Balta  •
Bigga  • Brother Isle  • Colsay  • Hascosay  • Hildasay  • Lamba  • Linga, Muckle Roe  • Linga, Yell  • Mousa  • Muckle Flugga  • Noss  • Oxna  • Papa  • Papa Little  • Samphrey  • South Havra  • Uyea, Northmavine  • Uyea, Unst  • Vementry  • West Linga