EDAY EDAY - “THE ISTHMUS ISLE” T
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ogb 3 collated.qxp 26/10/2005 21:38 Page 474 NORTH ISLES - EDAY EDAY - “THE ISTHMUS ISLE” t h mum height of 101m at the g i r y Ward Hill (HY552300), p o c from which there is an n w o excellent panoramic view of r C the North Isles. There are also good panoramas from Flaughton Hill (HY554320, 100m), Vinquoy Hill (HY561385, 76m) and the Red Head (HY570405, 70m). Because of its central position Eday has good Aerial view of Eday from the northwest - The Calf and Calf Sound are on the left, the isthmus is in the centre views in all directions. This He asked his wife, of whom interior was divided by flag- over the east-facing entrance position was convenient in he was not overfond, to stones and he entrance faced passage and The roof lintels the past when much peat jump onto the end of the west. The lower chamber is form the floor of the upper was exported to other peat- stone to assist with rocking still intact, but is normally chamber. less islands as fuel. it into position. Her sub- full of water. The well-built stantial weight was suffi- interior is rectangular and The restored Vinquoy cham- Neolithic Age The Stone of cient to move the stone, but divided into three compart- bered cairn (HY560381, Setter (HY564371) is one of as she jumped up and down ments by two pairs of 72m) is near the top of the Orkney's most spectacular she overbalanced and fell upright flagstones which eponymous hill and has a standing stones, its ancient into the hole, closely fol- almost touch the roof. There fine view to the south. This appearance and height lowed by the monolith. The is an extra compartment Maeshowe-type tomb is (4.5m) adding to the drama stone was secured upright of its central location over- The Stone of Setter is the tallest monolith in Orkney with stones and the wife looking Calf Sound. It is allegedly remains beneath it EDAY (ON Eid-ey, Isthmus only takes Loganair's placed at a focal point in the to this day. Isle) Formed mostly from Islander aircraft, not island landscape and can be Middle Old Red Sandstone, Boeings, and is situated near seen from most of the cham- Braeside chambered cairn Eday is less fertile, and has the Bay of London (ON bered cairns. This standing (HY536375) has been much much more peat cover than Lund-inn, Woodland, HY564342). stone has luckily so far robbed but is a small tripar- the other North Isles. The The name suggests that there escaped the attention of tite Orkney-Cromarty type red sandstone is exposed in may have been trees here in those who steam-cleaned the cairn. Interestingly the pas- spectacular cliffs at the Red Norse times. Certainly at Brodgar and Stenness sage is at a slight angle to Head (HY570405). Eday low ebbs the remains of stones, and it is still covered the axis of the cairn, and freestone, from a quarry trees can be seen at the Bay with a marvellous selection directly faces the Stone of near Fersness (HY536336), of Mussetter, which is just of lichens. is said to have been used in across the isthmus which Setter. Two pairs of stalls and the upright back stone the building of St Magnus gives the island its name. Due to weathering the remain, while traces of the Cathedral. monolith resembles a giant walls can be made out. Like Rousay, Eday has a hand, but local lore has it The island also has its own hilly centre with agricultural that it was put there by a Nearby, Huntersquoy London Airport! This one land around the shores. laird. He had carefully pre- chambered cairn (HY562377) Most of the cultivated land pared the socket and the is on two levels and is simi- London Airport is at the south end, and in the stone was in place on an lar to Taversoe Tuick on north on the shores of Calf earth ramp ready to slide Rousay. The upper chamber Sound. The island is 12km into position, but despite is largely gone, but is of the (7.5 miles) long and 3km (2 strenuous efforts his men Bookan-type, where the miles) wide, with a maxi- were not able to move it. 474 475 ogb 3 collated.qxp 26/10/2005 21:38 Page 476 NORTH ISLES - EDAY EDAY - “THE ISTHMUS ISLE” There is a Bronze Age burnt S M H mound exposed by a small A C stream at Warness R (HY553285), where burnt stones once used for cooking can be seen. Eday has sev- eral other burnt mounds indicating a considerable population at that time. Church chambered cairn is largely destroyed Spiral-marked stone from Church chambered cairn Iron Age, Picts and Norse fortified house here, over Calf Sound. It became quently Earl of Carrick, a Braeside chambered cairn faces the stone of Setter Vikings Eday is unique while parts of walls, midden famous as the penultimate title he was allowed to take among the larger islands in built of large blocks of red turf. Good examples are at and artefacts which may scene of a latter day pirate by renaming his property at having no obvious broch sandstone and has two pairs Linkataing (HY554393), date from the Neolithic to drama in 1725, when Calf Sound, in 1630. Lands site. However the Castle of of side chambers, which where a dyke can be traced Norse times have been “Pirate Gow” was captured were conveyed to him in Stacklebrae (HY564288) at have low entrances and are for 350m, enclosing a pre- found here. The name by his one time school mate 1632 by Charles I and the south end may well be rectangular in plan. The historic roundhouse. A sad- Veness (ON Ve-ness, Holy and owner of Carrick, James formed into the grand- concealing a multiperiod cells are about 1.5m high, dle quern can be seen in the Headland) is also interest- Fea, and surrendered to the sounding “Burgh of settlement site. Similarities while the main chamber ruins. Two standing stones ing, suggesting the presence authorities. Carrick”. to ruins at Tuquoy in reaches nearly 3m. The and a stalled tomb are on the of a chapel here either in Westray suggest that there east-facing entrance passage slope above. early Viking times or later. The original building of John Stewart (b. c1568) was may have been an important is about 4m long. The southeast end of Eday is 1633 includes the low, crow- the third son of Earl Robert Further remains of dykes S quite fertile, while both the stepped part of the house, Stewart and Jean Kennedy. M Bronze Age The Fold of can be made out round the H Bay of Greentoft and courtyard and arched gate- The four brothers did not A C Backaland Bay are excellent way to the sea. The builder seem to be very friendly, and Setter (HY564375) is a ruined United Presbyterian R Bronze Age enclosure 85m Church (HY558325) which places to keep boats. was John Stewart, brother of 1596 John was tried in in diameter, possibly used was built in 1831 using Patrick Stewart, under Edinburgh for “consulting for livestock. Eday has a stones quarried from a large Scottish Connection whom he was “Master (heir) with Alyson Balfour, and large number of sub-peat nearby cairn. A broken spi- Carrick House has a fine of Orkney”. He was created Witch, for the destructioune dykes, many of which have ral-marked stone was saved setting, with a superb view Lord Kinclaven and subse- of Patrik Erll of Orkney by been revealed by peat cut- here, the rest of which is pre- Vinquoy chambered cairn interior showing cells Vinquoy chambered cairn interior showing cell and entry ting, suggesting that it may sumably somewhere in the have been much more fertile abandoned church. It is in the past before the peat somewhat ironic that the started to form around tomb survived for 5,000 1000BC. These dykes can be years, but its nemesis did not seen in several banks, often last for 100! partly exposed above the Plan of Braeside chambered cairn Huntersquoy chambered cairn lower entrance Plan of Huntersquoy chambered cairn upper level S M H A C R 476 477 ogb 3 collated.qxp 26/10/2005 21:38 Page 478 NORTH ISLES - EDAY EDAY - “THE ISTHMUS ISLE” tablet set in the wall is thought to have come some thirty years later from Sound, when the estate was owned by Arthur Buchanan. The house can be visited by arrangement with Mrs Joy, Tel (01857) 622260. Redhouse (HY556385), Carrick, Calf Sound and the Red Head above Papleyhouse, at the north end of Eday, is a 19th century croft, which over- looks the Sound of Faray. It consists of a dwelling house with byres, a barn, stable Veness from the east and other outbuildings, all of at the edge of the Mill Loch Eday Heritage Walk, in the (HY560288), where there is a which are substantially (HY564368) from which north of the island, starts from good beach. This signposted intact. It is in the process of excellent views may be had. the shop and takes in the hide walk follows the shore and renovation and makes a very The moors have most of at Mill Loch, Braeside, cliffs to the Point of Warness interesting visit, which is a Orkney's breeding Huntersquoy and Vinquoy and returns to the road via the Whimbrel, as well as Hen chambered cairns and farm of Greentoft.