Westray Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Westray
Physical geography
Norse name	Vestrey
Meaning of name	Old Norse for 'west island'
A view of the western side of the island, with West and East Kirbest in the foreground and Langskaill beyond
OS grid reference	HY461461
Coordinates	59°18′N 3°00′W / 59.3°N 3.0°W / 59.3; -3.0
Island group	Orkney
Area	47.13 square kilometres (18.2 sq mi)
Area rank	24
Highest elevation	Fitty Hill 169 metres (554.5 ft)
Administration
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	Orkney Islands
Demographics
Population	588
Population density	12.5 people/km²
Largest settlement	Pierowall

Westray (Scots: Westree) is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland. It is home to just under 600 people. The main village on the island is Pierowall. Here you can find a heritage centre, the old 15th-century Lady Kirk church, and a ferry service. This ferry can take you to the nearby island of Papa Westray.

Geography and Geology: Westray's Landscape
History: Discovering Westray's Past
Economy and Infrastructure: Life on Westray
Wildlife: Animals of Westray
- Seabirds and Other Animals
Images for kids
See also

Geography and Geology: Westray's Landscape

The west coast of Westray, showing sandstone cliffs and a rock arch.

Westray is the sixth largest of the Orkney Islands. It covers an area of about 47 square kilometers (18.2 square miles). The island's land is made of a type of rock called Middle Old Red Sandstone. This stone is great for building.

Westray has very little peat, which is a type of soil made from decayed plants. Instead, its soil is known for being very fertile. This means it is good for growing crops.

History: Discovering Westray's Past

Westray has a long and interesting history. People have lived here for thousands of years.

Ancient Times: Neolithic and Bronze Age Settlements

Around 3500 BC, the earliest known settlements appeared on Westray. At that time, Westray and its neighbor, Papa Westray, might have been connected.

A very important ancient site is the Links of Noltland. This site has remains from the Neolithic (New Stone Age) and Bronze Age. It is looked after by Historic Scotland.

Amazing Finds at Noltland

Excavations at Noltland have uncovered more than 30 buildings. These buildings date back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age. The oldest ones were used at the same time as the Knap of Howar on Papa Westray. The Knap of Howar is the oldest standing building in Northwest Europe.

In 2009, a small carved stone figure was found at Noltland. It is called the Westray Wife and is only 4 centimeters tall. This is the oldest carving of a human ever found in the British Isles. Since then, four more figures and many other items have been found. These include carved stone balls, decorated pottery, and bone objects.

In 2015, a large underground building from the Bronze Age was found. It was very well preserved and might have been a sauna. The Noltland excavations won an award for 'Best Rescue Dig' in 2014. You can see some of these amazing finds at the Westray Heritage Centre. The excavation site is also open to visitors during certain times of the year.

The Heritage Centre also has the 'Westray Stone'. This is a carved stone from an ancient tomb. Its art style is similar to carvings found in the Boyne Valley in Ireland.

Viking and Norse Periods

During the time of the Vikings and Norse people, Westray was a major family estate. Archaeologists have found many Viking-Norse sites. These include places like Tuquoy, Quoygrew, and Langskaill.

Noltland Castle: A Historic Fortress

Noltland Castle is one of the most impressive castles in the Orkney Islands. It was built in the 1560s by Gilbert Balfour. He was a powerful figure who had connections to important events in Scottish history.

The castle is located above the Bay of Pierowall. It is famous for its very large spiral staircase. It also has many openings for guns, which are unique in Scotland. However, Gilbert Balfour was unable to use the castle himself.

Other Historic Sites

Other interesting places on Westray include the Cross Kirk. This church has a special type of old architecture called Romanesque. There is also the Castle O'Burrian sea stack. This tall rock formation was once used by a hermit, someone who lives alone.

The Noup Head Lighthouse was built in 1898. It helps guide ships safely.

Economy and Infrastructure: Life on Westray

Westray has important connections to other places.

Travel and Transport

Flights leave from Westray Airport at Aikerness. You can fly to Kirkwall on the Orkney Mainland. There are also flights to Papa Westray. The flight between Westray and Papa Westray is the world's shortest scheduled flight, lasting only two minutes!

The main ferry port is at Rapness. From here, Orkney Ferries offers regular trips to Kirkwall.

Main Industries and Local Products

The main jobs on Westray are fishing, fish farming, and cattle farming. Tourism is also very important for the island's economy.

Westray is known for its local cheese, called Westray Wife. It is an organic, unpasteurized cheese. You can also find local chutneys and bakery goods, like oatcakes. Fresh fish, seafood, and lobster are also available.

Renewable Energy Efforts

The Westray Development Trust works on renewable energy and recycling. They had a goal to make the island self-sufficient in energy by 2012. In 2009, a large wind turbine was built. This turbine is owned by the community. It was one of the first big community-owned wind projects in Scotland.

Wildlife: Animals of Westray

Westray is a great place for wildlife, especially seabirds.

Seabirds and Other Animals

The amazing sea cliffs around Noup Head are home to thousands of seabirds. You can see many common guillemots and black-legged kittiwakes. There are also lots of razorbills, Atlantic puffins, and black guillemots.

While some types of rats might have been present in the past, they haven't been seen recently. However, mice and the Orkney vole live on the island. You can also find European otters here.