Westray

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other meanings see Westray (disambiguation)

Scottish Island of Westray
Location

OS grid reference:	HY461461
Names
Gaelic or Celtic name:	Unknown
Norse name:	Vestrey
Meaning of name:	Old Norse for 'west island'
Area and Summit
Area:	4,713 ha
Area rank if >40 ha:	24
Highest elevation:	Fitty Hill 169 m
Population
Population:	563
Population rank:	20 out of 89
Main settlement:	Pierowall
Groupings
Island Group:	Orkney
Local Authority:	Orkney Islands

References:	^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Westray is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, with a population of around 550 people. Its main village is Pierowall, with a heritage centre, the ruined Lady Kirk and ferries to Papa Westray.

With an area of eighteen square miles, it is the sixth largest of the Orkney Islands.

The island's main industries are fishing, fish farming and cattle farming. Tourism is also important to the island economy. The Westray Development Trust is well-known for its renewable energy and recycling initiatives and plans to make the island self-sufficient in energy by 2012.^[5]

Noltland Castle^[6] situated above the Bay of Pierowall, was built in the 1560s and is notable for an unusually large spiral staircase. Other attractions include the Romanesque Cross Kirk and the Castle O'Burrian sea stack once used as a hermitage.

Noup Head Lighthouse was constructed in 1898^[7] and the spectacular sea cliffs around the headland are home to thousands of seabirds.^[2]

Flights leave the island's Westray Airport at Aikerness for Kirkwall on the Orkney Mainland, and to Papa Westray in the world's shortest scheduled journey (2 minutes). The main ferry terminal is at Rapness with regular sailings by Orkney Ferries to Kirkwall.