Whalsay
| Norse name | Hvalsøy |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | whale island |
| Location | |
 Whalsay
Whalsay shown within the Shetland Islands
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| OS grid reference | HU560638 |
| Coordinates | 60°20′00″N 0°59′00″W / 60.3333°N 0.983333°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Shetland |
| Area | 1,970 hectares (7.6 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 36 |
| Highest elevation | Ward of Clett 119 metres (390 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Shetland Islands |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1,061 |
| Population rank | 14 |
| Population density | 53.86 people/km2 |
| Largest settlement | Symbister |
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| References | |
Whalsay (Old Norse: Hvalsey or Hvals-øy, meaning 'Whale Island') is the sixth largest of the Shetland Islands in Scotland.
Whalsay, also known as "The Bonnie Isle", is a peat-covered island in the Shetland Islands. It is situated east of the Shetland Mainland and has an area of 7.6 square miles (20 km2). The main settlement is Symbister, where the fishing fleet is based. The fleet is composed of both pelagic and demersal vessels. Other main settlements include Clate, Isbister, Sandwick, Saltness, Huxter, Challister, Marrister, North Park and furthest north is Skaw.
The island is fertile and fairly densely populated, with crofting taking second place to fishing as the main local industries.
Ferries sail from Symbister to Laxo and Vidlin on the Shetland Mainland. When normal service is in operation two ferries run a tandem service between Symbister and Laxo. Departure times from the two terminals are normally around every 35 minutes according to a timetable, with the crossing taking approximately 30 minutes. The two ferries currently in service are the Hendra and the Linga. The Vidlin terminal is used when the weather causes the crossing to Laxo to become too rough. The journey between Symbister and Laxo takes around 30 minutes, but can take slightly longer depending on the weather and tides.
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