Vaila (Old Norse: "Valey") is an island in Shetland, Scotland, lying south of the Westland peninsula of the Shetland Mainland. It has an area of , and is at its highest point.
Vaila is home to an organic sheep farm and is also known for its mountain hares.
From 1993, the island was owned by Richard Rowland and his wife, Dorota Rychli. The couple sold it to an undisclosed buyer in 2023.
History
The island has been inhabited for thousands of years, and Neolithic and Bronze Age remains have been found there.
In 1490, the Ciske family's estates were divided and Vaila and Foula became the property of Alv Knutsson. However, the Ciskes were Norwegian, and as Scotland had annexed Shetland a few decades before, there were confusing and conflicting claims of ownership.
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In 1837, Arthur Anderson, the co-founder of P&O, chose the island as the base for his Shetland Fishery Company. This helped end landlords' dominance of the Shetland fishing industry. The journalist John Sands lived on Vaila for a while during the late 19th century.
Vaila Hall, was built in the 1890s, by Herbert Anderton, a Yorkshire mill owner. It was purchased by an undisclosed buyer early in 2023.
Geography and geology
right|thumb|300px|Muckle Flaes and Vaila from Culswick, Mainland
The geology consists of fine dark grey sandstone of the type found in nearby Walls, which was formed 400 million years ago, and subjected to glacial processes. There is some Sandsting granite in the south east by Gaada Stacks.