Haaf Gruney

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Haaf Gruney from Unst Haafgruney.jpg
Haaf Gruney from Unst

Haaf Gruney is a small island in the north east of the Shetland Islands.

Contents

Geography and geology

The island is between Unst and Fetlar which are to the north and south respectively. Between it and Yell are a mini-archipelago of small islands including Linga, Sound Gruney, Urie Lingey, Daaey and Wedder Holm. Uyea is also to the west.

There was formerly a chromite mine. [1]

History

Name

The island's name is a corruption of the Norse hafgröney, [1] gröney meaning "green island", and "ha(a)f" being an old word (still in some use in Shetland), meaning deep open water, especially that used for fishing. "Haaf" is added to distinguish it from other islands, such as Sound Gruney nearby.

A voyage to Karmøy

On August 4, 1745, two girls from Uyea rowed here to milk some of the cows grazing here. Unfortunately, their return was marred by a strong storm, and eventually they found their tiny boat blown to Karmøy in south west Norway. The Uyea girls ended up marrying Karmøy men, and their descendants still live there. [1] [2]

Literary References

Haaf Gruney is used as a setting in the 2014 novel The Sixteen Trees of the Somme (Svøm med dem som drunker) by Norwegian author Lars Mytting.

Wildlife

Haaf Gruney is a national nature reserve for the storm petrels which breed there. Mousa in the southern Shetland islands also has a strong colony.

The islet is no longer used for grazing, but there are marine Eurasian otters living here, and the usual seals.

See also

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Ramna Stacks Group of islands in Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK

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Little Roe

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Urie Lingey

Urie Lingey is one of the Shetland Islands. It is between Fetlar and Unst, and Yell is to the west.

Sound Gruney

Sound Gruney is one of the Shetland islands. It lies about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) north of Hamars Ness on Fetlar, south of Unst, and to the east of Yell.

Fethaland Human settlement in Scotland

Fethaland or Fedeland is an abandoned settlement at the extreme north end of Mainland, Shetland. It was the site of the largest Haaf fishing station in Shetland.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN   978-1-84195-454-7.
  2. Manson, T.M.Y. Drifting alone to Norway: the amazing adventure of Betty Mouat (1986)

Coordinates: 60°39′48″N0°50′12″W / 60.66333°N 0.83667°W / 60.66333; -0.83667