Graemsay

Infobox Scottish island |

---

GridReference=HY255055
celtic name=
norse name=Grímsey
meaning of name=Grímr's Island
area= 409 ha
area rank= 76
highest elevation= West Hill 62 m
Population=21
population rank= 64
main settlement=
island group=Orkney Islands
local authority=Orkney
references= [2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland] Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.] [ [http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey] ] [cite web| url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/pdfs/placenamesF-J.pdf| title=Placenames| author=Iain Mac an Tailleir| publisher=Pàrlamaid na h-Alba| accessdate=2007-07-22] [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)]

Graemsay is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland. Graemsay lies in the western approaches to Scapa Flow, between Stromness (Mainland Orkney) and Hoy, separated from the Mainland by Clestrain Sound. An Orkney Ferries service links the island with Stromness and Moaness on Hoy.

Graemsay's main source of employment is crofting. Parts of the island are largely undeveloped and are a haven for many wild plants.

The area of Graemsay is about 1.6 square miles.

Wildlife

Birds include oystercatchers, ringed plovers, redshank and curlew.

History

As with many other Orkney Islands, there is a connection to the Celtic Church, possibly a pre-Norse one. There are the remains of two early churches, dedicated to St Bride and to St Columba., who are both saints of Irish origin.

The island has two lighthouses, Hoy High (NE) and Hoy Low (NW), both built in 1851 by Alan Stevenson [cite web| url=http://www.graemsay.org.uk/| title=Graemsay website| accessdate=2007-07-22] for the 19th century herring industry.

At the Point of Oxna in the far north west, in Burra Sound, are block ships, which were scuttled deliberately during World War II. This is a common feature of the straits/former straits around Scapa Flow

The school closed in 1996 and the island's children travel daily by boat to school in Stromness.

Geography and geology

The island's geology is old red sandstone of the Devonian period, with two volcanic faults, and some granite-schist on the north coast. The latter is a great rarity in Orkney.

The island is surrounded by strong tidal races which are known locally as "roosts".

Footnotes

58° 55' 48.00", -3° 18' 0