South Ronaldsay

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South Ronaldsay
Windwick, South Ronaldsay
Windwick, South Ronaldsay
Waters North Sea
Archipelago Orkney Islands
Geographical location 58 ° 48 ′  N , 2 ° 57 ′  W Coordinates: 58 ° 48 ′  N , 2 ° 57 ′  W
Location of South Ronaldsay
length 12 km
width 8.5 km
surface 49.8 km²
Highest elevation Ward Hill
119  m
Residents 909 (2011)
18 inhabitants / km²
main place St. Margaret's Hope
Ronnie Simison's private museum for Liddle and Tomb of the Eagles
Burwick Pier

South Ronaldsay is the southernmost inhabited of the Orkney Islands and has a length (north - south) of 12 km and a maximum width of 8.5 km and an area of ​​49.8 km². Its name is derived from "Rognvalds southern island". The highest point of the almost treeless island is the 119 m high Ward Hill in the center.

The main town of the island, which has 909 inhabitants (as of 2011) and a destination for the residents of Kirkwall, is the old ferry and fishing port of St. Margaret's Hope on the north coast. The 7-year-old Norwegian princess of the same name is said to have died here in 1290 AD (known as the "Girl of Norway"), who was to become Queen of Scotland.

history

In the north-west of South Ronaldsay is the small fishing village "Herston Village", which was built during the heyday of the herring fishery in the first half of the 19th century, with the "St Peter's Kirk" in which a Pictish symbol stone is kept. To the south are the impressive cliffs and rock formations of Harrabrough . Just a few hundred meters to the north lie the ruins of the Broch Howe of Hoxa . According to legend, the Jarl Thorfinn Skullsplitter ( German  "the skull splitter " ) was buried here in the year 963 or 976 . In the far west of the island there are remains of gun emplacements at Hoxa Head , which reflect the strategic importance of the island in World War II. Another prehistoric monument is the Windwick Broch . Liddle Farm to the south has a private museum near two archaeological sites. Here is Banks tomb and the Tomb of the Eagles two about 5000 years old megalithic . The remains of the Liddle Burnt Mound, a Bronze Age or Iron Age ancient cooking place , can be viewed in the neighborhood . Numerous finds, some of which the owner of the farm, R. Simison, excavated himself (including some skulls), can be viewed in his small private museum. In 2010, the excavation of the Banks Tomb plant began. It is an undisturbed found megalithic complex of the Maeshowe type that promises a lot of knowledge. Another attraction in the south of the island is the Old St. Mary's Church near Burwick. Today's church stands on what is believed to be the oldest foundation on Orkney and thus Scotland . This is where the "Church Stone" is kept. The round gray stone is an inauguration stone in which two footprints are carved. There are similar stone prints in Dunadd and the Shetlands .

traffic

There are ferry connections from St. Margaret's Hope to the Scottish port of Gill's Bay (Ro-Ro ferry operated by Pentland Ferries Ltd.) and from Burwick Pier in the south with the passenger ferry to John o 'Groats (JOG Ferries). To the main island of Orkney, Mainland with the (main town) Kirkwall and the airport, leads a road built during the Second World War , which leads over the neighboring islands ( Burray ) and the four dams of the Churchill Barriers . There are bus connections to Kirkwall. On South Ronaldsay, guests can stay in hotels and private accommodations.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ 2011 census data

Web links

Commons : South Ronaldsay  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files