North Ronaldsay, the most northerly of the Orkney Islands, is predominantly flat with much of the island lying below 20m. Its coast is exposed, and open to the uninterrupted ocean in all directions. North Ronaldsay is renowned for its unique breed of sheep and the dyke that circles the island, keeping the sheep to the foreshore. This structure is of international significance. Historic Environment Scotland describes it as ‘‘probably the largest drystone construction conceived of as a single entity in the world’.
The sheep are a key part of the island economy. The meat is highly prized for its unique flavour, while wool from the breed is processed at a mill within the lighthouse complex. The island is a bird-watchers paradise. It is a stopping-off place for birds on their spring and autumn journeys to and from lands beyond the Arctic Circle. The North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory was set up to record and study the visiting migrant birds.
Find out more about North Ronaldsay.
