View source for Stronsay

{{Short description|Island in Orkney, Scotland}}
{{Infobox Scottish island
|Image=Whitehall village from the air - geograph.org.uk - 224605.jpg
|ImageCaption= An aerial view of Whitehall, with Grice Ness at the end of Stronsay's north-eastern peninsula
|location_map = Scotland Orkney
|caption=Stronsay shown within Orkney
|coordinates = {{coord|59.1|-2.6|display=inline}}
|GridReference=HY669239
|celtic name=Stronsaigh
|norse name=Strjónsey
|meaning of name= Old Norse for "good fishing and farming island"<ref name= Smith>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 370–72</ref><ref>[http://www.orkneyjar.com/placenames/pl-isle.htm Orkney Placenames] Orkneyjar. Retrieved 28. May 2012.</ref>
|area=  {{convert|3275|ha|sqmi|0}}
|area rank=27
|highest elevation= Burgh Hill   {{convert|44|m|ft|0}}
|Population=321<ref name=RESAS>{{RESAS}}</ref>
|population rank=26
|population density =10 people/km<sup>2</sup><ref name=Smith/><ref name=RESAS/>
|main settlement=[[Whitehall, Orkney|Whitehall]]
|island group=[[The Mainland, Orkney|Orkney]]
|local authority=[[Orkney|Orkney Islands]]
|references=<ref name=OS5>{{cite map|title=Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 5 ''Orkney (Northern Isles)''|ISBN=9780319228111|publisher=Ordnance Survey|date=2008}}</ref>
<ref>Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) ''Orkneyinga Saga''. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). {{ISBN|0-901824-25-9}}</ref><ref name=Pedersen>Pedersen, Roy (January 1992) ''Orkneyjar ok Katanes'' (map, Inverness, Nevis Print)</ref>
}}
'''Stronsay''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|t|r|ɒ|n|z|iː|}}) is an island in [[Orkney]], Scotland. It is known as Orkney's 'Island of Bays', owing to an irregular shape with miles of coastline, with three large bays separated by two isthmuses: St Catherine's Bay to the west, the Bay of Holland to the south and Mill Bay to the east. Stronsay is {{convert|3,275|ha|sqmi|0|abbr=off}} in area, and {{convert|44|m|ft|0|abbr=off}} in altitude at its highest point. It has a usually resident population of about 320. The main village is [[Whitehall, Orkney|Whitehall]], home to a heritage centre.

Sights on the island include the [[Vat of Kirbister]], a [[natural arch]] described as the "finest in Orkney",<ref name= Smith/> white sand beaches in the three bays, and various [[seabird]]s amongst which are [[Arctic tern]]s.

==Environment==
===Geography and geology===
[[File:Vat of Kirbister.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|Vat of Kirbister, on the east coast of Stronsay]]
As with most of Orkney, Stronsay is made up of [[Old Red Sandstone]] which has produced a fine soil in many places.<ref name= Smith/> It is generally low-lying.

On the eastern coast, spectacular rock formations include the Vat of Kirbister – Stronsay's famous natural rock arch, often described as the finest in Orkney. The coast around Odiness Bay features numerous dramatic geos, caves, flagstone rock platforms and sea stacks, including Tam's Castle, reputed to have once housed a hermitage on its flat summit.

Stronsay is the seventh largest of the Orkney Islands. Surrounding small islands include [[Linga Holm]], [[Papa Stronsay]], the [[Holm of Huip]] (named after a district in north west Stronsay) and the Holms of Spurness. To the north is [[Sanday, Orkney|Sanday]], to the north west [[Eday]], to the south west [[Shapinsay]] and [[Mainland, Orkney|Mainland Orkney]], and the islet of [[Auskerry]] due south.

===Wildlife===
[[File:Stronsay beast1.jpg|thumb|Sketch of the "[[Stronsay beast]]" made by Sir Alexander Gibson in 1808.]]
While the landscape has few trees, the fertile soil supports a wide variety of wildflowers, including [[Mertensia maritima|oysterplant]], [[frog orchid]]s, [[Ophioglossum|adder's tongue]], and also a naturalised population of [[Senecio patagonicus|Patagonian ragwort]].<ref name= Smith/> Seals can also be spotted at many locations, including the Ayre of the Myers, a popular picnic spot near Whitehall, at the twin south-facing bays at Houseby and Sand of Crook or from the seal-hide near Holland Bay.

There is a wide variety of birds on the island, and birdwatchers have recorded many rarities. Common species include [[whooper swan]], various ducks and geese including the [[greater white-fronted goose]], as well as [[common redshank]], [[common snipe]], [[common quail]], [[great skua]], [[corn bunting]] and [[corncrake]], the last of which is rare in Scotland. Many seabirds can be seen from Lamb Ness and Lamb Head. The Stronsay Bird Reserve is said to be one of the best sites in Europe to spot rare migrants such as [[American golden plover]], [[Arctic redpoll]], [[pied wheatear]], [[rustic bunting]], [[scarlet rosefinch]], [[tawny pipit]] and various [[warbler]]s, including [[Radde's warbler]], [[marsh warbler]] and [[western subalpine warbler]].<ref name= Smith/>

Both the Rothiesholm Peninsula and coastline of south-eastern Stronsay have been designated [[Important Bird Area]]s (IBAs) by [[BirdLife International]] because they support breeding [[seabird]]s.<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url= https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/2682 |title=Rothiesholm Peninsula, Stronsay|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2024|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 2024-08-31}}</ref><ref name=bli2>{{cite web |url= https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/2599 |title=South-eastern Stronsay|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2024|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 2024-08-31}}</ref>

==History==
Two flint arrowheads discovered at a site investigated by [[Orkney College]] in April 2007 are believed to date from the late [[Paleolithic]] or early [[Mesolithic]] periods some 10–12,000 years ago. They were found amongst a scattered collection of other tools on a farm. If confirmed, they could be the earliest human artifacts found in Scotland.<ref>Ross, John (5 October 2007) "Orkney arrowheads find points to Scotland's earliest settlement". Edinburgh. ''The Scotsman''.</ref>

The island is now agricultural, but during the 18th and 19th centuries, [[kelp]] collection and [[herring]] curing employed up to 5000 people. The population was over 1000 for the entire 19th century and until the mid-20th century, with the 1891 census recording a population of 1275, excluding seasonal itinerants involved in the herring industry.<ref name= Smith/>

The kelp burning industry was started by James Fea of Whitehall in 1727,<ref name= Smith/> and thrived during the remainder of the 18th century, lasting into the early 19th century; some of the kiln ruins can still be seen.

==Demography and economy==
The usual resident population of the island was 321 in 2022<ref name="RESAS" /> compared to 349 in 2011<ref>{{NRS1C}}</ref> and 342 in 2001.<ref>{{GRO10}}</ref> The island is mainly agricultural; farming and fishing are the main industries. The community is trying to develop the economy by improving tourism infrastructure. There is a thriving craft community, with several specialised craft shops.

Much of the settlement is strung out along the island's main road, but the main population centre is Whitehall village, in the north of the island, with a row of seafront houses and two piers, a link to the village's foundation as a herring fishing station in the 19th century. There is a variety of accommodation in Whitehall, including the Stronsay Hotel, Storehouse B&B and FishMart hostel. The island's school is well-resourced and caters for nursery, [[Primary schools|primary]] and [[Secondary schools|secondary]] pupils.

[[Orkney Ferries]] sail from Whitehall to [[Kirkwall]] on the [[Orkney Mainland]], and planes fly there from the island's airstrip ([[Stronsay Airport]]), also in the north of the island.

Whitehall overlooks the separate island of [[Papa Stronsay]], across the blue waters of Papa Sound. A prominent feature of the smaller island is the monastery complex of the Transalpine Redemptorist monks who live there. Visitors are welcome and the monks can help arrange boat trips.

Moncur Memorial Church is the [[Church of Scotland]] centre of worship on Stronsay and there is a [[Catholic]] chapel in Whitehall, which is part of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen|Diocese of Aberdeen]].<ref>[http://www.visitorkney.com/brochure/island_guides/Stronsay.pdf "Stronsay"] Visitorkney.com. Retrieved 25 August 2013.</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Scottish islands}}
* [[List of islands of Scotland]]
* [[Papa Stronsay]] – a nearby islet which belongs to the [[Transalpine Redemptorists]], a [[traditionalist Catholic]] organisation.
* [[Stronsay Beast]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{Haswell-Smith}}
{{clear|left}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Stronsay}}
{{North East Orkney}}
{{Orkney Islands}}
{{Islands of Scotland}}
{{coord|59|07|N|2|36|W|type:isle|display=title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}

[[Category:Stronsay| ]]
[[Category:Islands of the Orkney Islands]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Orkney]]
[[Category:Natural arches of Scotland]]