| Old Norse name | Eyinhelga[1] |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | Holy island |
 Eynhallow viewed from Rousay, from the north-east, with the Orkney Mainland beyond | |
| Location | |
  Eynhallow Eynhallow shown within Orkney | |
| OS grid reference | HY359291 |
| Coordinates | 59°08′N3°07′W / 59.14°N 3.11°W /59.14; -3.11 |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Orkney |
| Area | 75 hectares (0.29 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 168 [2] |
| Highest elevation | 30 metres (98 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Orkney Islands |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0[3] |
 | |
| References | [4][5][6][7] |
Eynhallow is a small, presently uninhabited island inEynhallow Sound, betweenRousay and theMainland ofOrkney, off the north coast of mainland Scotland. It is 75 hectares (0.29 square miles) in area.There is an unnamedskerry about 100 metres (330 feet) 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, althoughOrkney Heritage Society organises a trip each July.[8] 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.[9]
The Norse named the islandEyinhelga,[1] meaning "holy island".[6]Johan Blaeu's 17th centuryAtlas Novus records the name asAlhallow.[10] Skene's 19th century translation ofJohn of Fordun's 14th centuryChronica Gentis Scotorum records the name asEnhallow.[11]
The island's main attraction isEynhallow Church, dating from the 12th century or earlier, and perhaps originally part of amonastery.[12] The site is maintained byHistoric Scotland.
In 1841 the island had a population of 26.[12] It has been uninhabited since the landownerclearedcrofters away in 1851. The clearing led to the discovery of the church ruins, forgotten until then.[13] The island is now abird sanctuary.
Described as "perhaps the most mystical of the Orkney isles",[14] it has its own folklore concerning the initial finding of the island. Eynhallow was believed to be the summer residence of theshape-shiftingmer-people theFinfolk before they were driven away by a farmer fromEvie, the Guidman o' Thorodale.[15][16]
Cinderella stamp issues have been made for Eynhallow since at least 1973. They have no postal currency.[17]
59°8′41″N3°7′11″W / 59.14472°N 3.11972°W /59.14472; -3.11972
