Hildasay

Infobox Scottish island |


latitude=60.14
longitude=-1.36
GridReference=HU355403
celtic name=
norse name=Hildasey
meaning of name= battle island, or island of Hilda
area= 108 ha
area rank=144
highest elevation= 32 m
Population=0
population rank=
main settlement=
island group=Shetland
local authority=Shetland Islands
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] ] [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]

Hildasay (Old Norse: Hildasey) is an uninhabited island off the west coast of the Shetland Mainland. It is also known as Hildisay locally.

Geography and geology

Hildasay has an area of 1 km² (108 ha), and is 32 m at its highest point. It consists of red-green granite (epidotic syenite) that was quarried for many years.cite web| title=Overview of Hildasay| url=http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurefirst1399.html| publisher=Gazeteer for Scotland| accessdate=2007-12-15]

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.

History

The island possibly takes its name from a Norse war goddess.

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.

References