Old Norse name | Strjónsey |
---|---|
Meaning of name | Old Norse for "good fishing and farming island"[1][2] |
An aerial view of Whitehall, with Grice Ness at the end of Stronsay's north-eastern peninsula | |
Location | |
OS grid reference | HY669239 |
Coordinates | 59°06′N 2°36′W / 59.1°N 2.6°W |
Physical geography | |
Island group | Orkney |
Area | 3,275 hectares (13 sq mi) |
Area rank | 27 [3] |
Highest elevation | Burgh Hill 44 metres (144 ft) |
Administration | |
Council area | Orkney Islands |
Country | Scotland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Demographics | |
Population | 349[4] |
Population rank | 26 [3] |
Population density | 10.7 people/km2[1][4] |
Largest settlement | Whitehall |
References | [5] [6][7] |
Stronsay (/ˈstrɒnziː/) is an island in Orkney, Scotland. It is known as Orkney's 'Island of Bays', owing to an irregular shape with miles of coastline, with three large bays separated by two isthmuses: St Catherine's Bay to the west, the Bay of Holland to the south and Mill Bay to the east. Stronsay is 3,275 hectares (13 square miles) in area, and 44 metres (144 feet) in altitude at its highest point. It has a usually resident population of 349. The main village is Whitehall, home to a heritage centre.
Sights on the island include the Vat of Kirbister, a natural arch described as the "finest in Orkney",[1] white sand beaches in the three bays, and various seabirds amongst which are Arctic terns.