Holm of Melby

Meaning of name	small, rounded islet of Melby
View of the islet from Sandness
Location
Holm of Melby Holm of Melby shown within Scotland
OS grid reference	HU 19375 58350
Coordinates	60°18′32″N 1°39′04″W / 60.3088096°N 1.6511905°W / 60.3088096; -1.6511905
Physical geography
Island group	Shetland
Area	c. 9 hectares (22.2 acres)
Area rank	na [1]
Highest elevation	20 metres (66 ft)
Administration
Council area	Shetland
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Demographics
Population	0
References	[2][3]

Holm of Melby is a small uninhabited island off Mainland, Shetland in Scotland. It lies in the Sound of Papa just offshore from the settlement of Melby in the district of Sandness.^[3][4]

It is less than a mile offshore from Melby and south-east of the nearby islands of Forewick Holm and Papa Stour. There is a natural arch on the north-west tip of the coastline.^[3] It is part of the Sandness Coast SSSI, the main feature of which is its rocky shoreline.^[5]

There are three ancient cairns in ruins on the island. At the site of the south cairn a few large stone slabs are visible protruding through the turf. There is no sign of an internal chamber. The north-western most cairn, which has no "discernible features" is about 10 metres (33 ft) in diameter.

The cairn to the north-east is 19.5 metres (64 ft) in diameter and about 1.2 metres (4 ft) high. A group of three large stones suggest the presence of a chamber.^[6]

• 
  The cliffs of the Holm from the village of Melby, with the southern cairn visible at the summit
• 
  View from Melby churchyard