Haaf Gruney is a small island in the north east of the Shetland Islands.
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Geography and geology
The island is between Unst and Fetlar which are to the north and south respectively. Between it and Yell are a mini-archipelago of small islands including Linga, Sound Gruney, Urie Lingey, Daaey and Wedder Holm. Uyea is also to the west. There was formerly a chromate mine here.[1]
History
Name
The island's name is a corruption of the Norse hafgröney [1], gröney meaning "green island", and "ha(a)f" being an old word (still in some use in Shetland), meaning deep open water, especially that used for fishing. "Haaf" is added to distinguish it from other islands, such as Sound Gruney nearby.
A voyage to Karmøy
In the 18th century, two girls from Uyea rowed here to milk some of the cows grazing here. Unfortunately, their return was marred by a strong storm, and eventually they found their tiny boat blown to Karmøy in south west Norway. The Uyea girls ended up marrying Karmøy men, and their descendants still live there.[1]
Wildlife
Haaf Gruney is notable for being a national nature reserve. This is because storm petrels breed here. Mousa in the southern Shetland islands also has a strong colony. The islet is no longer used for grazing, but there are sea otters living here, and the usual seals.
References
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| Inhabited islands: Fetlar | Unst | Yell | |
| Other islands: Balta | Gloup Holm | Haaf Gruney | Hascosay | Huney | Linga | Muckle Flugga | Out Stack | Uyea | | |
| Towns and villages: Baltasound | Belmont | Burravoe | Gutcher | Hamars Ness | Haroldswick | Mid Yell | Skaw | Ulsta | Uyeasound | | |
