Egilsay

Egilsay is a small, low-lying island in the northern group of the Orkney Islands, Scotland, home to a very small resident community. It is primarily crofting and agricultural in character, reached by a short ferry link and valued today for its quiet walking country, seabird life and regular seal sightings rather than for any intensive industry.

The island’s best-known feature is the evocative ruined 12th-century St Magnus church, associated in local tradition with the martyrdom of St Magnus and serving as a draw for visitors and history enthusiasts. In the present day Egilsay combines small-scale farming with seasonal tourism and a close-knit community that maintains local traditions and basic services.