Graemsay is in the
Western approaches to 'Scapa Flow', lying between Stromness on Orkney mainland and the North
end of Hoy
The current population is 27 (Aug 2011)
There are two
lighthouses, Hoy High to the East and Hoy Low to the West. Both were built & designed by Alan
Stevenson of the famous lighthouse engineering family and were completed in 1851
Parts of the island are largely undeveloped and are
a haven for many wild plants.
The islands school was closed in1996 and the islands children travel
daily by boat to attend classes in Stromness with four year olds
attending nursery school two or three times a week.
Most of the island is
on mains water piped from the island of Hoy though some still have private piped spring
water
There are no shops on the island apart from the post office which opens
two hours per day on just three days per week for pensions and outgoing mail
which is collected and
delivered on a daily basis, five days per week.
Shopping can be ordered
by phone with some mainland shops delivering to the cargo boat though most
folk go over to do a large shop every week or so.