Eynhallow is a small, presently uninhabited island in Eynhallow Sound, between Rousay and the

Mainland Mainland is defined as "relating to or forming the main part of a country or continent, not including the islands around it egardless of status under territorial jurisdiction by an entity" The term is often politically, economically and/or demogr ...

Orkney Orkney (), also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago off the north coast of mainland Scotland. The plural name the Orkneys is also sometimes used, but locals now consider it outdated. Part of the Northern Isles along with Shetland, ...

, off the north coast of mainland Scotland. It is in area. There is an unnamed

skerry A skerry ( ) is a small rocky island, or islet, usually too small for human habitation. It may simply be a rocky reef. A skerry can also be called a low stack (geology), sea stack. A skerry may have vegetative life such as moss and small, ...

about to the north-east of the island, separated by Fint Sound. Sheep Skerry adjoins the southern end of the island. There is no ferry to the island, although

Orkney Heritage Society The Orkney Heritage Society in Orkney, Scotland, is a nonprofit organisation founded in 1968. It promotes "the beauty, history and character of Orkney" as well as "high standards of architecture and planning" in Orkney. It organizes conferences ...

organises a trip each July. Otherwise, visitors have to arrange their own transport to the island by private local boat hire. Access can be problematic, as there are strong tidal surges in the surrounding strait, funnelled between Mainland and Rousay.

Etymology

The Norse named the island ''Eyinhelga'',Anderson (1873) p. 176 meaning "holy island". Johan Blaeu's 17th century ''

Atlas Novus An atlas is a collection of maps; it is typically a bundle of maps of Earth or of a continent or region of Earth. Advances in astronomy have also resulted in atlases of the celestial sphere or of other planets. Atlases have traditionally been ...

'' records the name as ''Alhallow''. Skene's 19th century translation of

John of Fordun John of Fordun (before 1360 – c. 1384) was a Scottish chronicler. It is generally stated that he was born at Fordoun, Mearns. It is certain that he was a secular priest, and that he composed his history in the latter part of the 14th ...

's 14th century '' Chronica Gentis Scotorum'' records the name as ''Enhallow''.

History

The island's main attraction is Eynhallow Church, dating from the 12th century or earlier, and perhaps originally part of a

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

. The site is maintained by

Historic Scotland Historic Scotland () was an executive agency of the Scottish Government, executive agency of the Scottish Office and later the Scottish Government from 1991 to 2015, responsible for safeguarding Scotland's built heritage and promoting its und ...

. In 1841 the island had a population of 26. It has been uninhabited since the landowner cleared crofters away in 1851. The clearing led to the discovery of the church ruins, forgotten until then. The island is now a

bird sanctuary An animal sanctuary is a facility where animals are brought to live and to be protected for the rest of their lives. In addition, sanctuaries are an experimental staging ground for transformative human–animal relations. There are five types of ...

. Described as "perhaps the most mystical of the Orkney isles", it has its own folklore concerning the initial finding of the island. Eynhallow was believed to be the summer residence of the

shape-shifting In mythology, folklore and speculative fiction, shapeshifting is the ability to physically transform oneself through unnatural means. The idea of shapeshifting is found in the oldest forms of totemism and shamanism, as well as the oldest existen ...

mer-people the Finfolk before they were driven away by a farmer from Evie, the Guidman o' Thorodale.

Cinderella stamps

Cinderella stamp issues have been made for Eynhallow since at least 1973. They have no postal currency.Scotland, Eynhallow: Cinderella Stamps
" ''colnect.com''. Retrieved 6 October 2024.

Notes

References

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External links