YELL (ISLAND)

'Yell' is one of the North Isles of Shetland, Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 957. It is the second largest island in Shetland after the Mainland with an area of 212 square kilometres (82 square miles).Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) ''The Scottish Islands''. Edinburgh. Canongate.
Ferries sail from Ulsta on the island to Toft on the Shetland Mainland and from Gutcher on Yell to Belmont on Unst and Oddsta on Fetlar. Other settlements on Yell include Burravoe, home to the Old Haa Museum, Mid Yell, Cullivoe and Gloup.
The coastline of Yell includes numerous voes where otters and seabirds including merlins, skuas and red-throated divers are common.
Attractions on the island include an Iron Age fort at Burgi Geos, the Sands of Breckon composed of crushed shells, and the Daal of Lumbister gorge.

Contents

Prehistory

Origin of name

References

External links

Prehistory

A petrosomatoglyph or stone footprint at North Yell, up Hena, 12" by 4", is known locally as the 'Wartie' and was used to wash in dew or rain-water and standing in it was supposed to get rid of warts. In legend it was made by a giant placing one foot here and the other on the Westing of Unst.

Origin of name

There are various possible derivations of the island's name. It may originally have been a Pictish name of unknown meaning similar to the modern 'Yell'. The Proto-Norse was ''Jala'' or ''Jela'' which may have meant 'white island' referring to the beaches. The Old Norse was ''Gjall'' signifying 'barren'.

References

1. 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
2. Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) ''Orkneyinga Saga''. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). ISBN 0-901824-25-9
3. Ordnance Survey

External links

★ Shetlopedia.com — Yell

★ Listen to recordings of a speaker of Yell Scots