Swona

Infobox Scottish island |


latitude=58.75
longitude=-3.05
GridReference=ND387844
celtic name=
norse name=Svíney
meaning of name=Pig/whale island
area=92 ha
area rank= 151
highest elevation=Warbister Hill 41 m
Population=0
population rank=
main settlement=
island group=Orkney
local authority=Orkney Islands
references= [2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland] [http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey] ] [cite book |author=Haswell-Smith, Hamish| title=The Scottish Islands| isbn=1-84195-454-3| location=Edinburgh| publisher=Canongate] 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)]

Swona is an uninhabited island in the Pentland Firth off the north coast of Scotland.

Geography and geology

Swona is the northern of the two islands in the Pentland Firth between the Orkney Islands and Caithness on the Scottish mainland. It lies in the southern approaches to Scapa Flow, west of South Ronaldsay.

Situated in the tidal stream of the Pentland Firth, a tidal race is present at both the north and south ends of the island, being minimal briefly at the turn of the tide. Between the races is a calm eddy which extends down-tide as the tide strengthens. The races are highly visible, with over-falls and whirlpools. Large swell waves can also be present, especially in bad weather conditions. When entering or leaving the eddies crossing the races, even large powerful vessels can be pushed off course, such is the demarcation between the relatively calm eddy and the fast-moving tide in the races.

Swona is about one and a quarter miles long by about half a mile wide, with a maximum height of approximately 127 feet (41m) and an area of about 92 hectares (0.35 square miles). It is made up of Old Red Sandstone with cliffs on the east coast.

It is administered as part of the Orkney Islands, while Stroma, to the south, is part of the Highland Region (although traditionally part of Caithness). There is no regular access to the island, however, the ferry from Gills Bay, near John o' Groats, to St Margaret's Hope usually passes close to the island, dependent on the tidal direction at the time.

In 2005 Swona is owned by two Orkney farmers, but not worked due to difficulty of access. It is a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) conservation area with a number of rare plants.

History

The island takes its name from Old Norse, "Svíney" or "Swefney", meaning either "Swine Isle" or "Sweyn’s Isle" (Sweyn Asleifsson). [cite web| url=http://www.orkneyguide.com/ogbpdf/Vikings.pdf| title=The Orkney Vikings| accessdate=2007-12-16]

There are prehistoric, pre-Norse and Norse remains on the island. as well as the remains of more recent crofting settlement including a herd of feral cattle. The island was populated from around 500BC until 1974.

Boats were built on the island for a number of years. The last of these, the "Hood" can be seen pulled well up the shingle beach by the landing stage. It is of course no longer seaworthy, having a hole in it caused by the feral cows using it as a rubbing post. The landing stage and boat can be seen briefly in passing through a gap in the rocks near the north end of the island on the east side. The last house to be occupied can also be seen in this area.

The island was the site of many shipwrecks caused by the strong currents in the Pentland Firth. In 1931, a 6,000 ton Danish freighter called "Pennsylvania" was wrecked on the island. The Orkney newspaper of the time said that it was one of the most richly-laden ships that was ever wrecked in the area. After some plundering, the wreck was finally bought by a syndicate of Stroma and Swona men.

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote in "Records of a Family of Engineers" of his father Thomas Stevenson's experience seeing the islanders as wreckers. He was aboard a ship which was close to being wrecked on the island watched as the islanders "callously awaited the harvest of the sea". Fortunately for Stevenson, the wind picked up and they made their escape.

The Swona Minor light was built in 1906 on the south west tip of Swona. It was originally a cast iron tower but was replaced by a reinforced concrete square tower sometime in the 1980s. The earlier Stroma Lighthouse was built in 1896 and stands at the northern end of Stroma island.

In summer 1973 Arthur Rosie left the island and died shortly afterwards. James and Violet Rosie (brother and sister) left in March 1974. [http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurefirst1758.html Overview of Swona ] ] James had Parkinsons Disease and died c. 1976 of a perforated stomach ulcer. Violet died c. 1984 in South Ronaldsay. They did not return to the island after they left it. Many of the houses, while in a state of dilapidation, are as they were left, with various possessions still to be seen where they were abandoned.

Wildlife

When the population departed they left a herd of beef cattle - 8 cows and 1 bull (Shorthorn - Aberdeen-Angus cross). Five generations later, in 2004, the herd which had turned feral was still going strong, and is now classified as a new breed. It then consisted of ten bulls, four cows, and two calves. This appears to be around the maximum number that the island can support. Two calves are born each spring, although not all live to maturity. The herd gets no additional feed, although it is checked by a vet each year. The animals are self-selecting for hardiness, easy calving, and low-maintenance, feeding off the grass and seaweed. Having been separated from the mainland for so long, they are completely disease-free, and have reverted to wild behaviour. Because of this, DNA samples have been taken, from the ears of some of the cattle that died. In the summer the main herd is usually in the centre of the island.

External links

* [http://www.alanmoar.flyer.co.uk/orkney/Swona/swona.htm Aerial photos of Swona]

Footnotes