South Ronaldsay

Infobox Scottish island

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GridReference=ND449899
celtic name=Unknown
norse name=Rognvaldsey
meaning of name= Old Norse for Rognvald/Ronald's island'
area=4,980ha
area rank=22
highest elevation= Ward Hill 118 m
Population=854
population rank=16
main settlement=St Margaret's Hope
island group=Orkney
local authority=Orkney Islands
references= [2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland] cite book| title=The Scottish Islands| author=Haswell-Smith, Hamish|year=2004| isbn=1-84195-454-3| location=Edinburgh| publisher=Canongate] [ [http://www.orkneyjar.com/placenames/pl-isle.htm Orkney Placenames] ] [ [http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey] ] [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] Pedersen, Roy (January 1992) "Orkneyjar ok Katanes" (map, Inverness, Nevis Print)]

South Ronaldsay is one of the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland. It is linked to the Orkney Mainland by the Churchill Barriers, running via Burray, Glimps Holm and Lamb Holm.

Geography and geology

With an area of 4,980 hectares (19 square miles), it is the fourth largest of the Orkney islands after The Mainland, Hoy and Sanday. Ferries sail from Burwick on the island to John o' Groats on the Scottish mainland and from St Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay.

South Ronaldsay's main village is St Margaret's Hope, named either after Margaret, Maid of Norway who died there or possibly St. Margaret. The village has a small museum and is known for its annual Boys' Ploughing Match.

The cardinal points of the island are Ayre of Cara, by Churchill Barrier no. 4 (north), Grim Ness (east), Brough Ness, (south) and Hoxa Head, (west).

History

Many well-preserved houses and other structures in the local vernacular style make it one of the most picturesque settlements in the Northern Isles.Fact|date=February 2008 The island is also known for the Neolithic Isbister Chambered Cairn, popularly known as the "Tomb of the Eagles". [Hedges, J. 1990. Tomb of the Eagles: Death and Life in a Stone Age Tribe. New Amsterdam Books. ISBN 0-941533-05-0]

In 1991, the island was rocked by false allegations of widespread child abuse and satanic rituals in a scandal that saw nine children being removed from their families by police and social workers. The case was thrown out of court when it was found the social workers were using unorthodox interrogation techniques to force confessions from the children, who all denied the abuse.cite web| title=Orkney 'abuse' children go home| publisher= BBC On this Day (April 4, 1991)| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/4/newsid_2521000/2521067.stm| accessdate=2007-07-13]

References

External links

* [http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/eastmainland/eastmainland/index.html Undiscovered Scotland Page]