Unst

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Scottish Island of Unst
Location

OS grid reference:	HP600091
Names
Gaelic or Celtic name:	Possibly of Pictish origin
Norse name:	Possibly Orn-vist
Meaning of name:	Possibly Old Norse for 'home of the eagle'
Area and Summit
Area:	12,068 ha
Area rank if >40 ha:	14
Highest elevation:	Saxa Vord 284 m
Population
Population:	720
Population rank:	19 out of 89
Main settlement:	Baltasound
Groupings
Island Group:	Shetland
Local Authority:	Shetland Islands

References:	^[1]^[2]^[3]

Unst is one of the North Isles of the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It is the northernmost of the inhabited British Isles and is the third largest island in the Shetlands after the Mainland and Yell. It has an area of 46 square miles.

Unst is largely grassland, with coastal cliffs. Its main village is Baltasound, formerly the second largest herring fishing port after Lerwick and now the location of a brewery, a leisure centre and the island's airport. Other settlements include Uyeasound, home to Greenwell's Booth (a Hanseatic warehouse) and Muness Castle, (built in 1598 and sacked by pirates in 1627); and Haroldswick, location of a boat museum and a heritage centre.

The usually resident population of Unst and Fetlar in the 2001 census was 806; many of were employed at the Saxa Vord Royal Air Force radar station. However, this closed in 2006 with the loss of more than 100 jobs ^[4].

The island lays claims to many "most northerly" UK titles. The tiny settlement of Skaw in the northeast of the island is the northernmost settlement in the UK. The Muckle Flugga lighthouse, just off the far north of Unst, was opened in 1858 and is the most northerly lighthouse in the UK, situated close to Out Stack, the most northerly rock in the UK.

Unst is important for its seabird colonies, including those at Hermaness National Nature Reserve. It is also known for its plant life, including Norwegian sandwort and Shetland Mouse-ear, the latter unique to the island.

Unst is also home to the PURE project ^[5] (Promoting Unst Renewable Energy), a community-owned clean energy system based on hydrogen production. This project is part of the Unst Partnership, the community's development trust.

Ferries link Belmont on the island to Gutcher on Yell and Oddsta on Fetlar.

Less well known is an extraordinary bus shelter on the island, known as Bobby's Bus Shelter, furnished by local residents with a sofa, television, computer and other home comforts.

At the southern end of Unst, above the islands ferry terminal, stands Belmont House dating from 1775. Being restored by the Belmont Trust, it will be used as a high class holiday house and also become a venue for weddings, meetings, art and community events. Shetlands most outstanding Georgian building and highly important within Scotland, the Belmont restoration project is costing over £1m and should be completed by 2009.^[6]

In January 2007, Unst was rocked by an earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale. This is believed to be one of the most powerful earthquakes in the UK in the past 10 years.^[7]