| Scots name | Aidee[1] |
|---|---|
| Old Norse name | Eiðøy[2] |
| Meaning of name | Old Norse for "isthmus island"[2][3] |
 One of Eday's beaches, with sea caves adjacent to the southern end of Calf Sound | |
| Location | |
  Eday Eday shown within Orkney | |
| OS grid reference | HY560338 |
| Coordinates | 59°10′19″N 2°46′59″W / 59.172°N 2.783°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Orkney |
| Area | 2,745 ha (6,780 acres)[2] |
| Area rank | 31 [5] |
| Highest elevation | Ward Hill 101 m (331 ft)[2][4] |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Orkney Islands |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 130[6] |
| Population rank | 39 [5] |
| Population density | 5.8 people/km2[2][6] |
| Largest settlement | Backaland |
 | |
| References | [7] |
| Calf of Eday Lighthouse Calf Sound | |
 Lighthouse on Calf Sound, Eday. The land on the upper right of the picture is the northern tip of the Calf of Eday. | |
| Coordinates | 59°14′13″N 2°45′48″W / 59.236906°N 2.763399°W |
| Constructed | 1909 (first) |
| Foundation | concrete base |
| Construction | aluminium tower |
| Automated | 2002 |
| Height | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Shape | octagonal prism tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings | white tower and lantern |
| Power source | solar power  |
| Operator | Northern Lighthouse Board[8] |
| First lit | 2002 (current) |
| Focal height | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Range | 8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi) (white), 6 nmi (11 km; 6.9 mi) (red, green) |
| Characteristic | Fl (3) WRG 10 s |
Eday (/ˈiːdiː/, Scots: Aidee) is one of the islands of Orkney, which are located to the north of the Scottish mainland. One of the North Isles, Eday is about 24 kilometres (13 nautical miles) from the Orkney Mainland. With an area of 27 km2 (10 sq mi), it is the ninth-largest island of the archipelago. The bedrock of the island is Old Red Sandstone, which is exposed along the sea-cliffs.
There are various well-preserved Neolithic tombs, as well as evidence of Bronze Age settlement and the remains of a Norse-era castle. During the period of Scottish rule the substantial property of Carrick House was developed at Calfsound, which became a burgh for a short period. During the British era many agricultural improvements were introduced, although there has been a substantial decline in the population since the mid-nineteenth century. In the twenty-first century the Eday Partnership has had success in promoting the island's economy. Local placenames reflect the diverse linguistic heritage and the landscapes of the island and its surrounding seas attract abundant wildlife.
- ^ "Map of Scotland in Scots - Guide and gazetteer" (PDF).
- ^ a b c d e Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 386
- ^ "Orkney Placenames" Archived 30 August 2000 at the Wayback Machine Orkneyjar. Retrieved 29 Feb 2012
- ^ Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 5 Orkney (Northern Isles) (Map). Ordnance Survey. 2008. ISBN 9780319228111.
- ^ a b Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
- ^ a b National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland's Inhabited Islands" (PDF). Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland Release 1C (Part Two) (PDF) (Report). SG/2013/126. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ Pedersen, Roy (January 1992) Orkneyjar ok Katanes (map, Inverness, Nevis Print)
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Scotland: Orkney". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 27 May 2016.