Westray

Infobox Scottish island |


GridReference=HY461461
celtic name=N/A
norse name=Vestrey
meaning of name= Old Norse for 'west island'
area=4,713 ha
area rank=24
highest elevation= Fitty Hill 169 m
Population=563
population rank=20
main settlement=Pierowall
island group=Orkney
local authority=Orkney Islands
references= [2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland] Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) "The Scottish Islands". Edinburgh. Canongate.] [ [http://www.orkneyjar.com/placenames/pl-isle.htm Orkney Placenames] ] [ [http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey] ] [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] Pedersen, Roy (January 1992) "Orkneyjar ok Katanes" (map, Inverness, Nevis Print)]

Westray is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, with a population of around 550 people. Its main village is Pierowall, with a heritage centre, the ruined Lady Kirk and ferries to Papa Westray.

Geography and geology

With an area of 18.2 square miles, it is the sixth largest of the Orkney Islands. The underlying geology is Rousay type Middle Old Red Sandstone, the flagstones of which make excellent building materials. There is very little peat and the soil is noted for its fertility.

History

At the time of the earliest known settlements, c. 3500 BC, in Westray and neighbouring Papa Westray, it is believed that the two islands were joined. Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) "Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland". London. HarperCollins.] A neolithic and bronze age site at the Links of Noltland is in the care of Historic Scotland. [Lewis, Caroline (December 2007) [http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART52775.html "Archaeologists Find Mysterious Neolithic Structure in Orkney Links of Noltland Dig"] 24hourmuseum.org.uk.] "Collins Encyclopedia of Scotland" says that "A larger settlement at Noltland on Westray is less well preserved" than the one on neighbouring Papa Westray.Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) "Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland". London. HarperCollins.]

Westray constituted a major family estate during the saga period Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) "Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland". London. HarperCollins.]

And it was at Noltland on Westray too, that one of the most impressive castles in Orkney, and indeed the Northern Isles, was built, Noltland Castle [ [http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/WESTRAY/Documents/westraypastpresentfuture1.pdf The Heritage of Westray] ] . The castle was commissioned in the 1560s by Gilbert Balfour, who probably played the leading role in the murder of Lord Darnley, consort of Mary I. Balfour married Margaret Bothwell, the sister of Adam Bothwell, Bishop of Orkney who endowed him with Westray, when it was episcopal property. The Castle is situated above the Bay of Pierowall, was built in the 1560s. It is notable for an unusually large spiral staircase, "second only to Fyvie Castle, while its triple tiers of gunloops are without parallel in Scotland, if not Europe". Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) "Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland". London. HarperCollins.] However, Balfour was executed by the Swedes before he could use it.

Other attractions include the Romanesque Cross Kirk and the Castle O'Burrian sea stack once used as a hermitage.

Noup Head Lighthouse was constructed in 1898 [ [http://www.nlb.org.uk/ourlights/history/nouphead.htm NLB website] ]

Economy and infrastructure

Flights leave the island's Westray Airport at Aikerness for Kirkwall on the Orkney Mainland, and to Papa Westray in the world's shortest scheduled journey (two minutes). The main ferry terminal is at Rapness with regular sailings by Orkney Ferries to Kirkwall.

The island's main industries are fishing, fish farming and cattle farming. Tourism is also important to the island economy. The Westray Development Trust is well-known for its renewable energy and recycling initiatives and plans to make the island self-sufficient in energy by 2012. [ [http://www.dtascot.org.uk/popup.cfm?p_n=199617&p_i=199617 DTA Scotland members] ]

People associated with Westray

* Sam Harcus Councillor for North Isles Ward of Orkney Isles Council. Sam was formerly the Local Development Officer for Westray. He has an interest in renewable energy.

Wildlife

The spectacular sea cliffs around Noup Head are home to thousands of seabirds including 60,000 Common Guillemot and Black-legged Kittiwake, 30,000 Razorbill and numerous Atlantic Puffin and Black Guillemot. During the 1990s the Black Rat ("Rattus rattus") may have been present [ [http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/aliens/audit/fulltext.doc An Audit Of Alien Species In Scotland] (May 2004) (Microsoft Word). Edinburgh. Scottish Natural Heritage.] although they have not been recorded since. Mice, and the Orkney Vole are present however, as are European Otters.

ee also

List of Orkney islands

References

Gallery

External links

*http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/WESTRAY/
*http://www.westrayandpapawestray.com/