Eynhallow, Orkney
An otherwise unremarkable small island in the Orkneys has a sinister tale to tell, if you believe that sort of thing!
This is a small island, less than a third of a square mile in area, that sits in the narrow channel between two much larger Orcadian islands, namely Mainland and Rousay (The Orkneys lie off the northeast coast of Scotland). It only rises a few feet above the level of the sea and has a generally flat landscape.
The name Eynhallow means “holy island”, which probably comes from having been the site of a monastery many centuries ago. The ruined church, of 12th-century origin, is all that is left of the monastery. The only other buildings on the island are a few crofts that are used by researchers who study the birdlife; otherwise the island is uninhabited.
The Fin Folk
The island’s reputation for mystery begins with its traditional ability to disappear and reappear. Whether this has anything to do with how much whisky has been consumed by the person reporting this event is not on record!
However, according to Orcadian folklore, Eynhallow was once the summer home of the mysterious Fin Folk. This was, apparently, a race of amphibious shapeshifting sorcerers who spent the winter under the sea in the legendary city of…
