Papay from the south - photograph by Anne Hourston
About Papa Westray
Papa Westray, known affectionately as Papay, is one of Orkney's smallestl isles lying some 20 miles north of Kirkwall. Just 4 miles long by 1 mile wide, Papay is a fascinating and diverse place to visit, steeped in history but with a lively population of around 65.
Papay is green and fertile and because of this has been home to farming activity for at least 5,000 years. Indeed, Historic Scotland lists nearly 60 archaeological sites on Papay, an astonishing testimony to the immense period of human habitation. These range from the Knap of Howar, the oldest known north European houses, built and occupied a millennium before the pyramids, through a huge chambered tomb on the Holm of Papay, to ancient churches heralding the advent of Christianity down to small finds of stone axes.
Today, farming is still the main activity
of the islanders, mainly producing fine beef cattle. Holland Farm
maintains a fine range of traditional stone buildings including a doo'cot,
horse tramp mill, a kiln also an agricultural museum. Local folk are involved
in lobster and crab fishing and recently a market garden business has been
established.
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Sites and sights |
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