Island you can only visit one day a year

An island that was abandoned after a disease outbreak in the 19th century is only available for visits one day of the year.

A trip to an island in Scotland that was abandoned after a disease outbreak in the 19th century is only available one day of the year.

Eynhallow is a small, uninhabited island located between Orkney Mainland and the island of Rousay, off the north coast of Scotland.

And a ferry to the island only runs once a year, each July.

The island was inhabited until 1851, when the four families who lived there fled after a disease epidemic broke out.

To be sure that no one would return, the roofs of their homes were removed.

Eynhallow has an important place in Norse folklore – its name derives from the old Norse Eyin-Helga, meaning “Holy Isle”.

Eynhallow has been uninhabited since 1851 when a disease epidemic broke out and its inhabitants left. Picture: Alamy

Historians believe that for many years the island was considered a place of pilgrimage.

Along with preservation of its natural beauty and the wildlife that live there, and the fact the island is too small to be worth inhabiting, this is why the island remains unpopulated today.

The annual trip to Eynhallow is organised by the Orkney Heritage Society, where visitors can take the Tingwall-Rousay ferry to the island, accompanied by experts, guides and storytellers .

An annual trip to Eynhallow is organised by the Orkney Heritage Society each year using the Tingwall-Rousay ferry. Picture: Alamy

Visits to the island outside of the annual ferry trip can be arranged using private boat hire, but the island’s location and strong tides surrounding it can make access difficult.

One of the stories told about the island is that it’s not always visible to human eyes and could disappear suddenly if not kept within sight.

One of the island’s main attractions is the ruins of Eynhallow Church.

The church was originally used as a dwelling, but its true purpose was only revealed after the thatched roof was lost.

The porch walls, nave gables, and lower section of the chancel walls show traces of the original Norse kirk.

Today, the island is used for grazing sheep and is an important sanctuary for nesting birds, such as Arctic terns. Picture: Alamy

Today, the island is used for grazing sheep and is an important sanctuary for nesting birds, in particular the Arctic tern.

Orkney is one of the top destinations in the UK for seal spotting.

And Eynhallow is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest as a breeding ground for the common seal.

Tickets for this year’s trip to Eynhallow were £35 – $A70.

They can be purchased on Eventbrite via the Orkney Heritage Society website, although the date for next year is yet to be announced.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission