| Scottish Gaelic name | Bheastraigh / Ueastraigh |
|---|---|
| Scots name | Westree[1] |
| Old Norse name | Vestrey[2] |
| Meaning of name | Old Norse for 'west island' |
 A view of the western side of the island, with West and East Kirbest in the foreground and Langskaill beyond | |
| Location | |
  Westray Westray shown withinOrkney | |
| OS grid reference | HY461461 |
| Coordinates | 59°18′N3°00′W / 59.3°N 3.0°W /59.3; -3.0 |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Orkney |
| Area | 47.13 square kilometres (18.2 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 24 [3] |
| Highest elevation | Fitty Hill 169 metres (554.5 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Orkney Islands |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 588[4] |
| Population rank | 20 [3] |
| Population density | 12.5 people/km2[4][5] |
| Largest settlement | Pierowall |
 | |
| References | [5][6][7][8] |
Westray (/ˈwɛstriː/,Scots:Westree) is one of theOrkney Islands inScotland, with a usual resident population of just under 600 people. Its mainvillage isPierowall, with aheritage centre, the 15th-centuryLady Kirk church and pedestrianferry service to nearbyPapa Westray island. Westray has a number of archeological sites dating from 3500 BC, and remains of several Norse-Viking settlements. The spectacularsea cliffs around Noup Head are home to thousands ofseabirds.
Westray has an area of 18.2 square miles (47 km2), making it the sixth largest of the Orkney Islands. The underlying geology is Rousay-type MiddleOld Red Sandstone, the flagstones of which make excellent building materials. There is very littlepeat and the soil is noted for its fertility.[5]
At the time of the earliest known settlements, c. 3500 BC, in Westray and neighbouringPapa Westray, it is believed that the two islands were joined.[9] ANeolithic andBronze Age site at theLinks of Noltland is in the care ofHistoric Scotland.[10] The site is threatened by the rapid erosion of the overlying sand dunes. Ongoing excavations have revealed over 30 buildings of Neolithic and Bronze Age date,[11] the earliest of which overlaps in use with theKnap of Howar on the neighbouring island of Papa Westray (known as Papay to the locals), the oldest standing structure in NW Europe. TheWestray Wife, 4 cm carved Neolithicfigurine was discovered on the Noltland dig in 2009;[12] this is the oldest carving of a human found in the British Isles.[13]
In 2010 some local businesses reported a 45% increase in turnover since the discovery of the figurine.[14] Since then, four further figurines have been found, together with a wealth of other artefacts (carved stone ball, decorated grooved ware pottery, numerous carved bone objects and beads etc.). In 2015, a substantial subterranean building dating from the Bronze Age was uncovered; this was very well preserved and is interpreted as a sauna.[15] The excavations won 'Best Rescue Dig' of the year in the prestigious 2014 Current Archaeology awards.[16] Several of the figurines and other artefacts from the site can be seen at Westray Heritage Centre and the excavation is open seasonally (free of charge).[17] The Heritage Centre also exhibits the 'Westray Stone' - a neolithic carved stone from a chambered tomb which closely resembles the art style of the Boyne Valley in Ireland.[18]
Westray constituted a major family estate during thesaga period of the 10th - 11th centuries.[9] Largescale excavations ofNorse period sites have been undertaken at Tuquoy,Quoygrew and Langskaill in recent years. Each of these was the site of a Viking-Norse settlement. Tuquoy has remains of a longhouse, a large rectangular building, and amidden (refuse dump).[19] Quoygrew (Scheduled Monument SM13504) has the remains of a longhouse dating from 1100AD, used continuously until the early 20th century.[20][21] Langskaill appears to have been anIron Age settlement in use from 500 BC to the 14th century. An underground chamber was discovered in Langskaill farm in 1965. The investigation appears to indicate the abrupt disappearance of the pre-Norse culture, indicating an invasion by force by the Vikings. The Norse invaders built a large high-status settlement over the site of the earlier settlement.[22]
It was at Noltland on Westray too, that one of the most impressive castles in Orkney, and indeed theNorthern Isles, was built,Noltland Castle.[23] The castle was commissioned in the 1560s byGilbert Balfour, who probably played the leading role in the murder ofLord Darnley, consort ofMary, Queen of Scots. Balfour married Margaret Bothwell, the sister ofAdam Bothwell,Bishop of Orkney who endowed him with Westray, when it was episcopal property. The castle situated above the Bay of Pierowall, was built in the 1560s. It is notable for an unusually large spiral staircase, "second only toFyvie Castle, while its triple tiers ofgunloops are without parallel in Scotland, if not Europe".[9] However, Balfour was executed by the Swedes before he could use it.
Other attractions include theRomanesque Cross Kirk and the Castle O'Burriansea stack once used as ahermitage.Noup Head Lighthouse was constructed in 1898.[24]
The spectacularsea cliffs around Noup Head are home to thousands ofseabirds including 60,000common guillemot andblack-legged kittiwake, 30,000razorbill and numerousAtlantic puffin andblack guillemot.[5] The cliffs along the western and northern coasts of the island, along with adjoining areas of grassland and maritime sedge-heath, have been designated asImportant Bird Areas (IBAs) byBirdLife International because they support breedingseabirds andwaterbirds, while the sandy bays of the southern coast support winteringwaders.[25][26]
During the 1990s theblack rat (Rattus rattus) may have been present[27] although they have not been recorded since. Mice and theOrkney vole are present however, as areEuropean otters.[5]
Flights leave the island'sWestray Airport at Aikerness forKirkwall on theOrkney Mainland, and to Papa Westray in theworld's shortest scheduled flight, of two minutes.[28] The main ferry terminal is atRapness with regular sailings byOrkney Ferries to Kirkwall.
Theisland's main industries arefishing,fish farming andcattle farming. Tourism is also important to the island economy. The local cheese, Westray Wife, is an organic unpasteurised cheese available in mild and mature varieties. It marries well with the local range of Westray chutneys (all Fairtrade) and bakery goods (including oatcakes). Fresh fish, seafood and lobster is available and is of a very high standard.
The WestrayDevelopment Trust is well known for itsrenewable energy andrecycling initiatives and plans to make the island self-sufficient in energy by 2012.[29] A 900 kW community-owned wind turbine was erected in October 2009, the third large-scale such project in Scotland. "When the community realised it was their turbine, not someone else’s, there was no objection," stated Alasdair McVicar of Westray Renewable Energy.[30][31]
59°18′N3°00′W / 59.300°N 3.000°W /59.300; -3.000
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