Out Skerries

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Out Skerries
The bridge that connects the two largest islands, Housay and Bruray
The bridge connecting the two largest islands Housay and Bruray connects
Waters Atlantic Ocean
Geographical location 60 ° 25 ′  N , 0 ° 46 ′  W Coordinates: 60 ° 25 ′  N , 0 ° 46 ′  W
Map of Out Skerries
Number of islands 3 (+ numerous rocky cliffs)
Main island Housay
Total land area 4 km²
Residents 74 (2011)
View of Grunay (front) and Bound Skerry (with lighthouse)
View of Grunay (front) and Bound Skerry (with lighthouse)

The Out Skerries are a group of islands in the east of the Shetland Islands about 40 km northeast of Lerwick , the capital of the Shetlands. The archipelago now forms a community council area . It used to belong to the Civil parish Whalsay until it was incorporated in 1891 after nesting .

The two largest and still inhabited islands are Housay with 50 inhabitants and the neighboring island of Bruray, connected by a bridge, with the port and the airfield , on which 24 inhabitants live, as of 2011. In addition to some smaller and uninhabited islands, the now uninhabited ones also belong Grunay as well as the island of Bound Skerry to the Out Skerries.

On the latter stands the 30 meter high white lighthouse built in 1858. Since its automation in 1972, no permanent residents have lived on the island, which was once inhabited by three lighthouse keepers. Here is also the most easterly point in all of Scotland .

Most of the 76 inhabitants live on the hilly and treeless archipelago of about 4 km² from fishing and agriculture (especially cattle breeding).

Although the islands do not have any steep coasts worth mentioning, one can see numerous migratory and sea birds here.

Some accommodation options are available on the inhabited islands. Visitors to the archipelago, poor in sightseeing, can travel by ferry from Lerwick (approx. 3 hours) or by plane (20 min.).

Web links

Commons : Out Skerries  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland - Release 1C (Part Two). Statistical Bulletin, August 15, 2013, p. 13. Digitized version on the official website for the 2011 census, PDF file, 86 kB, accessed on May 28, 2018 (English)