Aerial View of Samphrey (c/o Richard Griffiths - wikipedia.org)

-- Where is it ? --

Samphrey is located to the north of the Shetland Mainland and south of the island of Yell, within the Yell Sound. The island covers an area of 66 hectares and has a highest point of less than 100ft at the islands centre.

-- History --

Many of the remnants of human occupation of Samphrey have already disappeared but there is still a small kirkyard. It is reputed to have very few men buried in it as according to tradition "Samphrey men are always taken by the sea". Such certainty could only have arisen in a community dedicated to fishing and the sea which in the end may have taken too many.

During the 19th century the number of fishermen and their families dwindled. From a high of 36 islanders spread over 6 houses in 1841 the island ended up bereft of human life by 1881. Samphrey is now merely habitation for seabirds and sheep.

-- Books --

None available to my knowledge with any great content about Samphray. This is not an island which seems to have merited much space in the history of our country. Several Shetland/Scottish Islands books mention Samphray in passing but nothing to merit buying any of them for information on this abandoned isle. As ever please contact lonely-isles if you know of any books you think would be of interest and we'll add them to the site !!

-- DVD's & Videos --

None available to my knowledge....please contact lonely-isles if you know of any and we'll add them to the site !!

-- Links --

Yell Ferry - The ferry from the Shetland mainland to Yell and Unst passes by Samphrey so a trip on it could be as close as you might get to this island. This page from Undiscovered Scotland has all you'll need to know if you plan on catching a glimpse of Samphrey on your next visit to the Shetlands.

Sadly information on many of the abandoned isles around Shetlands is very hard to find. Lonely Isles will continue to attempt to find as much information as possible on all of the islands featured on our site. Please continue to return to this page with the assurance that if any worthwhile links do appear for Samphray then they will be added to the page.

Please email Lonely Isles if you know of any suitable links.