Linga, Bluemull Sound

Linga is a small uninhabited island in the Bluemull Sound, Shetland, Scotland. It is one of many islands in Shetland called Linga. It has an area of 45 ha and is 26m at its highest point.

Linga

Old Norse name	Lyngey
Meaning of name	Heather Island
Linga from the north
Location
Linga Linga shown within Shetland
OS grid reference	HU557986
Coordinates	60.66°N 1.0°W / 60.66; -1.0
Physical geography
Island group	Shetland
Area	45 ha (111 acres)
Area rank	210= [1]
Highest elevation	26 m (85 ft)
Administration
Council area	Shetland
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Demographics
Population	0
References	[2][3][4]

Geography and geology

Linga is made up of "coarse mica-schist and gneiss."^[2]

It is situated off the east coast of Yell, near the village of Gutcher, and has an area of 111 acres (0.45 km²). It is separated from Yell by Linga Sound, and Unst is to the northeast. Sound Gruney and Urie Lingey are to the southeast, and Hascosay is to the south.

There is little freshwater on the island.

History

A hut in the north of the island.

It is said that Jan Tait of Fetlar once kept a bear on the island, and this is commemorated in the placename - "Bear's Bait." It was said to be from Norway, where he had been taken for a murder trial, but he was pardoned for capturing this particular bear, which had been causing problems over there.^[2]

An abandoned chapel is located on the island. After buying land, an unknown duke once planned to build a large house there. However, this was cancelled as doctors and other services refused to provide services to such a small, remote island.

On 19 July 1923, the SS Jane ran aground on the island.^[5] The 840-ton ship, carrying herring from Baltasound, Unst, to Lerwick, later sank into 20m of water just off the island.

There are also the remains of a sheep fold in the north.

Wildlife

Surprisingly for an island whose name derives from the Norse for "heather isle," very little grows here.

Otters, guillemots and seals breed on the island.