Muckle Roe () is an island in Shetland, Scotland, in St. Magnus Bay, to the west of Mainland. It has a population of around 130 people, who mainly croft and live in the south east of the island.

'Muckle' is Scots for 'big' or 'great'.

History

The island is referred to in the Orkneyinga saga.

In 1905 a bridge was built between Muckle Roe and the Shetland Mainland over Roe Sound at a cost of £1,020 met from public subscription and a grant from the Congested Districts Board. The construction was of iron and concrete and its completion was followed by a reversal in the population decline seen in the 19th and earlier 20th centuries. The bridge was later widened and strengthened, and opened on 22 October 1947 by the Convener of Zetland, W. Thomson Esq. Construction of a replacement bridge commenced in May 1998, the work being completed in January 1999. It was opened officially by Councillor Drew Ratter on 3 April 1999.

Muckle Roe was part of the civil parish of Delting until the abolition of civil parishes in Scotland by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929.<!--and maybe today part of Delting community council area.-->

Geography and geology

Muckle Roe is approximately in diameter, with high cliffs in the south. Its highest point is Mid Ward . It is the seventh largest of the Shetland islands.

The island's rock is red granite,

Population

{| class="wikitable" style="width:150px; text-align:center;"

|+Muckle Roe population

|-

|1851||290

|-

|1871||216

|-

|1881||230

|-

|1961||103

|-

|1971||94

|-

|1981||101

|-

|1991||115

|-

|2001||104

|-

|2011||130

|-

|2022||128

<gallery mode="packed">

File:Roesound IMG 3968 (20654476344).jpg|Roesound

File:Bridge over Roe Sound to Muckle Roe Island - geograph.org.uk - 335197.jpg|Former Muckle Roe Bridge

File:Bridge to Muckle Roe, Shetland - geograph.org.uk - 144993.jpg|Modern Muckle Roe Bridge

File:Muckle Roe Lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 629940.jpg|Muckle Roe Lighthouse looking west

File:No Visitors ! IMG 5787 (23639939921).jpg|The former Muckle Roe Lighthouse, which now sits at the foot of Sumburgh Head

File:Town Loch and Sandhill Ruin - geograph.org.uk - 910929.jpg|The North Ham and the Town Loch

File:Church of Scotland, Muckle Roe - geograph.org.uk - 535057.jpg|Muckle Roe Chapel

File:Murbie Stacks, Muckle Roe - geograph.org.uk - 886923.jpg|Murbie Stacks

File:Stack and Gilsa Ayre, Muckle Roe - geograph.org.uk - 886947.jpg|Birkie Ayre

File:Muckle Roe Hall.jpg|Muckle Roe Hall

</gallery>

See also

  • List of lighthouses in Scotland
  • List of Northern Lighthouse Board lighthouses

Notes

References

  • Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland. London. HarperCollins.
  • Nicolson, James R. (1972) Shetland. Newton Abbott. David & Charles.
  • Waugh, Doreen "Placing Papa Stour in Context" in Ballin Smith, Beverley; Taylor, Simon; and Williams, Gareth (2007) West over Sea: Studies in Scandinavian Sea-Borne Expansion and Settlement Before 1300. Leiden. Brill.
  • scottishislands.org.uk
  • Shetland in Statistics 2006 from shetland.gov.uk
  • Northern Lighthouse Board