Hildasay (Scots: Hildasay; Old Norse: Hildisey) (from the Old Norse masculine name Hildir with ey "island"),[5] also known as Hildisay, is an uninhabited island off the west coast of the Shetland Mainland.
| Scots name | Hildasay |
|---|---|
| Old Norse name | Hildasey |
| Meaning of name | battle island, or island of Hilda |
| Location | |
  Hildasay Hildasay shown within Scotland | |
| OS grid reference | HU355403 |
| Coordinates | 60°08′N 1°22′W / 60.14°N 1.36°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Shetland |
| Area | 108 ha (267 acres) |
| Area rank | 146 [1] |
| Highest elevation | 32 m (105 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Shetland Islands |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1 |
 | |
| References | [2][3][4][5] |
Geography and geology
editHildasay has an area of 108 hectares (267 acres), and is 32 metres (105 ft) in elevation at its highest point. It consists of red-green granite (epidotic syenite) that was quarried for many years.[3][6]
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.[3]
History
editHildasay 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.[6]
As of 2020 there was one house on the island, which was temporarily occupied by charity walker Chris Lewis and his dog Jet when movement restrictions were imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]
Notes and references
edit- ^ Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ a b c Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
- ^ 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
- ^ a b E. H. Lind. Norsk-Isländska Dopnamn ock Fingerade Namn från Medeltiden. Uppsala: A.-B. Lundequist. 1906-1915. s.n. Hildir, cols. 543-544. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009007424
- ^ a b "Hildasay". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ "Former paratrooper self-isolating on 'uninhabited' Hildasay". BBC News. BBC. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
60°8′48″N 1°21′35″W / 60.14667°N 1.35972°W
