papa westray

Papa Westray, also known as Papay, is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, with a population of around sixty people. According to tradition, in the 8th century, the Pictish King Nechtan attempted to rape a young woman from the island named Triduana, who in response gouged her eyes out. She was later canonised as Saint Tredwell. A chapel was consecrated to her and became a place of pilgrimage for people with eye complaints. Current attractions on the island include Holland House with an associated museum and the Knap of Howar Neolithic farm which claims to be the oldest standing house in Europe, dating from around 3500 BC. Also on the island are the mediaeval St Boniface Kirk with a carved Norse "hogback" grave in the churchyard, and rare plants and birds including Scottish primroses, Arctic terns and Arctic skuas. Ferries sail from Papa Westray to Pierowall and Rapness on Westray, and Kirkwall on the Orkney Mainland. Planes fly from the island's airstrip to Kirkwall and to Westray, the latter route being the world's shortest scheduled flight.

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