North Ronaldsay

North Ronaldsay

Gaelic name	N/A
Norse name	Rínansey
Meaning of name	Old Norse, possibly "Ringa's Isle"
A view of the house and loch at Garso on North Ronaldsay, with the lighthouse in the distance
Location
North Ronaldsay North Ronaldsay shown within Orkney
OS grid reference	HY759542
Coordinates	59°22′N 2°25′W / 59.37°N 2.42°W / 59.37; -2.42
Physical geography
Island group	Orkney
Area	690 hectares (2.7 sq mi)
Area rank	64
Highest elevation	20 metres (66 ft)
Administration
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	Orkney Islands
Demographics
Population	72
Population rank	50
Population density	10.4 people/km2
Largest settlement	Hollandstoun
References

North Ronaldsay Lighthouse

North Ronaldsay lighthouse lies at the north of the island at Point of Sinsoss
Orkney
Location	North Ronaldsay, Orkney, Scotland
Coordinates	59°23′23″N 2°22′52″W / 59.389656°N 2.381233°W / 59.389656; -2.381233
Year first constructed	1789 (first)
Year first lit	1854 (current)
Automated	1998
Deactivated	1809 (first)
Construction	brick tower (current) stone tower (first)
Tower shape	tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern (current) cylindrical tower and no lantern (first)
Markings / pattern	unpainted tower with two white bands, black lantern, ochre trim (current) unpainted tower
Height	43 metres (141 ft) (current) 21 metres (69 ft) (first)
Focal height	42 metres (138 ft)
Range	24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi)
Characteristic	Fl W 10s.
Fog signal	blast every 60s.
Admiralty number	A3722
NGA number	3280
ARLHS number	SCO-155 (current) SCO-154 (first)
Managing agent	North Ronaldsay Trust

North Ronaldsay is the northernmost island in the Orkney archipelago of Scotland. With an area of 690 hectares (2.7 sq mi), is the fourteenth largest. Mentioned in the Orkneyinga saga, in modern times it is known for its historic lighthouse, migratory bird life and unusual breed of sheep.

North Ronaldsay lies around 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north of its nearest neighbour, Sanday at grid reference HY759542. The island is around 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) long along its length and is defined by two large sandy bays; Linklet Bay on the eastern shoreline and South Bay at the south. The west of the island is very rocky with many skerries. Low-lying and exposed, the island's climate is extremely changeable and frequently inclement. The surrounding waters are stormy and treacherous, and have been a notorious "graveyard" for ships (hence the unusually early provision of a lighthouse on the island).

Hollandstoun at the south of the island is the most sizable settlement lying roughly equidistant from the airfield and the pier. The island is also home to a bird observatory.

North Ronaldsay has a unique dry stone dyke that surrounds the island whose purpose is to keep the seaweed-eating North Ronaldsay sheep off the arable land.

A well-preserved Iron Age broch known as the Broch of Burrian is located on the southern tip of the island. Excavations in 1870-1 uncovered a large number of Iron Age and Pictish artefacts, with occupation continuing up to the Norse occupation of the Orkney islands in the 9th century.

According to the Orkneyinga saga, Torf-Einarr, the 10th century Norse Earl of Orkney, killed Hálfdan Longlegs on North Ronaldsay in revenge for Hálfdan and his brother Gudrød Ljome's slaying of Rögnvald Eysteinsson, Torf-Einarr's father. Hálfdan and Gudrød, who were the sons of King Harald Finehair of Norway had trapped Rögnvald in his house and set it alight. Harald, apparently appalled by his sons' actions, overthrew Gudrød and restored Rögnvald's lands to his son, Thorir Rögnvaldarson, whilst Hálfdan fled westwards to Orkney and displaced Torf-Einarr. From a base in Caithness, Torf-Einarr resisted Hálfdan's occupation of the islands. After a battle at sea, and a ruthless campaign on land, Torf-Einarr spied Hálfdan hiding on North Ronaldsay. The sagas claim that Hálfdan was captured, and sacrificed to Odin as a blood-eagle.