Graemsay facts for kids
| Norse name | Grímsey |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | Grímr's Island |
 An aerial view of Graemsay, from above Hoy |
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| OS grid reference | HY255055 |
| Coordinates | 58°55′59″N 3°17′00″W / 58.933°N 3.2833°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Orkney Islands |
| Area | 409 ha (1.58 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 76 |
| Highest elevation | West Hill 62 m (203 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Orkney |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 28 |
| Population density | 6.8 people/km2 |
| Largest settlement | Breckan |
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| Hoy High Lighthouse in 2003 | |
| Location | Graemsay Island Orkney Scotland United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 58°56′08″N 3°16′24″W / 58.935665°N 3.273202°W |
| Year first constructed | 1851 |
| Automated | 1978 |
| Construction | stone tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower, black lantern, ochre trim |
| Height | 33 metres (108 ft) |
| Focal height | 35 metres (115 ft) |
| Range | white: 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) red: 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi) |
| Characteristic | Oc WR 8s. |
| Admiralty number | A3644 |
| NGA number | 3200 |
| ARLHS number | SCO-104 |
Graemsay is a small island in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. It is located near the entrance to Scapa Flow, a famous natural harbour. The island is known for its two important lighthouses. Graemsay is part of the Stromness area.
Contents
Island Life and Location
Graemsay is found between the islands of Hoy and Mainland Orkney. A narrow stretch of water called Clestrain Sound separates it from Mainland Orkney. The island covers about 409 ha (1.58 sq mi). Much of the land is used for traditional farming, known as crofting.
The waters around Graemsay have strong currents, which locals call roosts. An Orkney Ferries boat, usually the MV Graemsay, connects the island to Stromness on Mainland Orkney and Moaness on Hoy.
People sometimes call Graemsay 'Orkney's green isle'. This is because it has lots of green plants and grass.
Nature and Wildlife
Graemsay is a great place for birds. You can often see oystercatchers, ringed plovers, redshank, and curlew. Many parts of the island are left wild, providing a safe home for many different types of plants.
A Look at Graemsay's Past
Like many islands in Orkney, Graemsay has links to early Celtic Christianity. There are old church ruins dedicated to St Bride and St Columba. These saints were from Ireland.
Lighthouses and Wartime History
The island's two lighthouses, Hoy High and Hoy Low, were built in 1851. They were designed by Alan Stevenson to help ships during the busy 19th-century herring fishing industry.
During World War II, some ships were deliberately sunk near the Point of Oxan. These "block ships" helped protect Scapa Flow from enemy submarines. A Coastal Defence Battery was also built there in 1944 to guard the western entrance to Scapa Flow until the war ended.
The Island School
Graemsay primary school was built in 1876. At one time, it had as many as 60 students. In the late 1990s, the school became very unusual. It had four staff members but only one student! This made it the most expensive state school in the United Kingdom at the time. The school closed in 1996. Today, children living on Graemsay travel by boat every day to attend school in Stromness.
Graemsay's Lighthouses
Graemsay is home to two important lighthouses: Hoy Sound Low and Hoy Sound High. They are located at the northern ends of the island. Both were built in 1851 by Alan Stevenson. They are tall, round towers with balconies and lanterns. They are painted white with black lanterns and yellow-brown details.
The Hoy High Light is about 33 metres (108 ft) tall. It shows a white and red light that turns on and off every 8 seconds, depending on the direction.
The Hoy Low Light is about 12 metres (39 ft) tall. It shows a white light that stays on for the same amount of time it is off, every 3 seconds. These two lighthouses work together to guide ships safely into Hoy Sound from the Atlantic Ocean.
