East Burra

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East Burra
Old Norse nameBarrey [1]
Meaning of nameeast broch island?
Location
Shetland UK relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
East Burra
East Burra shown within Shetland
OS grid reference HU388339
Coordinates 60°05′N1°19′W / 60.08°N 1.31°W / 60.08; -1.31
Physical geography
Island group Shetland
Area515 ha
Area rank73  [2]
Highest elevation81 m
Administration
Council area Shetland Islands
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Demographics
Population105 [3]
Population rank44  [2]
Population density20 people/km2 [3] [4]
Lymphad3.svg
References [4] [5]
The south end of East Burra View from south end of East Burra Shetland.jpg
The south end of East Burra

East Burra (Old Norse : Barrey) [6] is one of the Scalloway Islands, a subgroup of the Shetland Islands in Scotland. It is connected by a bridge to West Burra.

With an area of 515 hectares (1,273 acres) it is the twelfth largest of the Shetland Islands.

East Burra has a much smaller population than West Burra and no substantial settlement; rather, there are a few hamlets and a scattering of individual croft houses. It is known for its Neolithic remains including a burnt mound, and for sea caves. The roofless, plain, Old Haa (manor or laird's house) of Houss is a prominent feature. From Houss, it is possible to walk the two kilometres or so to the cliffs at the southern end of the island. From there, the island of South Havra, nowadays home only to sheep and seabirds, can be clearly seen.

East Burra is linked to the Shetland Mainland via West Burra and Trondra by a series of bridges.

Etymology

Collins Encyclopedia of Scotland suggests that the name "Burra" is a corruption of "Borgarey" (island of the broch), [7] and while this is unlikely, and no broch is extant, the place name Brough, on West Burra lends some support to this case. However, the form used in the Orkneyinga saga is "Barrey". [1]

References

  1. 1 2 Anderson, Joseph (ed.) (1873) The Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. Edmonston and Douglas. The Internet Archive. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  2. 1 2 Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent. 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census and 101 such islands in 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Scottish Islands Data Dashboard". RESAS/Scottish Government. 2025. p. 6. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  4. 1 2 Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN   1-84195-454-3.
  5. ↑ Ordnance Survey. OS Maps Online (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure.
  6. ↑ 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
  7. ↑ Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland. London. HarperCollins.

60°5′20″N1°18′6″W / 60.08889°N 1.30167°W / 60.08889; -1.30167


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