Rousay

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Rousay
Rousay cliff coast
Rousay cliff coast
Waters North Sea
Archipelago Orkney Islands
Geographical location 59 ° 9 '33 "  N , 3 ° 2' 13"  W Coordinates: 59 ° 9 '33 "  N , 3 ° 2' 13"  W
Location of Rousay
length 10 km
width 8.5 km
surface 48.4 km²
Highest elevation Blotchnie Fiold
249  m
Residents 216 (2011)
4.5 inhabitants / km²
main place Banks
Ordnance Survey Map Sheet (1959)
Ordnance Survey map sheet (1959)

The Scottish island of Rousay ( Old Norse Hrolfs-ey - Rolfs Insel, medieval also Rauland) belongs to the northern Orkney . It is separated from the main island of Mainland by the 2–4 km wide Eynhallow Sound , which is named after the now uninhabited island of Eynhallow in the Strait .

The approximately 10 km long and up to 8.5 km wide island has an area of ​​48.4 km². Blotchnie Fiold is the highest mountain 250 meters. Most of the 216 inhabitants (as of 2011) live on scattered farms, there is no main town. The main occupations, as in most of the small Orkney Islands, are agriculture, fishing and tourism.

The island with its raised bogs and lakes is a haven for birds, which are rare in the rest of Great Britain . On Rousay there are nature and bird sanctuaries that can be explored on marked trails. Like the neighboring islands of Egilsay and Wyre, they are looked after by the Trumland Reserve.

Prehistory and History

Stalled Cairn by Blackhammer - interior view

A Neolithic settlement ( Rinyo ) and numerous megalithic tombs were discovered on Rousay . Particularly noteworthy is the two-storey passage tomb Taversoe Tuick . Nearby are Blackhammer , Midhowe and the Knowe of Yarso (with a modern concrete roof). Right next to it, on the flat cliffs, is the 4.5 m high Broch of Midhowe , one of the better preserved Iron Age towers of the Orkney. The Yetnasteen and the grave of Bigland Round are at the foot of Faraclett Head in the northeast of the island. The ruins of St Mary's Church and the mansions of Trumland House and Westness House bear witness to Rousay's recent history .

Infrastructure

From the pier in Brinian in the southwest of the island, there are regular ferry connections to Tingwall on the Mainland and to the smaller neighboring islands of Wyre and Egilsay . There are places to stay. All of the sights listed here are close to the 30 km long circular road that mostly runs along the coast.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Joseph Ben, Description of the Orkney Islands. Belfast Monthly Magazine 2/9, April 30, 1809, p. 268
  2. ↑ 2011 census data

literature

  • Charles Tait: The Orkney Guide Book. Edition 2.1. C. Tait, Kelton - St. Ola - Orkney 1999, ISBN 0-9517859-0-7 .
  • Anna Ritchie: Prehistoric Orkney . Historic Scotland, London et al. 1995, ISBN 0-7134-7593-5 .

Web links

Commons : Rousay  - collection of images, videos and audio files