Hildasay Explained

Coordinates:60.14°N -1.36°W
Location Map:Scotland Shetland
Gridreference:HU355403
Scots Name:Hildasay
Norse Name:Hildasey
Meaning Of Name:battle island, or island of Hilda
Area:1080NaN0
Area Rank:146
Highest Elevation:320NaN0
Population:1
Island Group:Shetland
Local Authority:Shetland Islands
References:[1] [2] [3]

Hildasay (Scots: Hildasay; Norse, Old: Hildisey) (from the Old Norse masculine name Hildir with ey "island"),[3] also known as Hildisay, is an uninhabited island off the west coast of the Shetland Mainland.

Geography and geology

Hildasay has an area of 108ha, and is 32m (105feet) in elevation at its highest point. It consists of red-green granite (epidotic syenite) that was quarried for many years.[4]

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

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.[4]

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.[5]

Notes and references

60.1467°N -1.3597°W

Notes and References

  1. 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
  2. Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint).
  3. 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
  4. Web site: Hildasay. Gazetteer for Scotland. 20 April 2020.
  5. Web site: Former paratrooper self-isolating on 'uninhabited' Hildasay . BBC News . BBC . 20 April 2020 . 20 April 2020.