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Islands of Great Britain Trivia Quiz

There are many islands of Great Britain. Some are inhabited, many are not. Some are connected to the mainland by bridge or causeway, most are not. Some have regular ferry routes, others do not. Here are a few of the better known islands.

A multiple-choice quiz by noctule. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
noctule

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
314,666

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
1807

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is the name of the festival celebrated in Shetland on the last Tuesday in January each year? This festival involves the burning of a wooden replica of a Viking Longship.
Hint

Simmer Dim

Up Helly Aa

Singing Festival

Dancing Festival

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. When you are standing at John O'Groats in Scotland, looking north across the Pentland Firth, you can see (on a good day) this island group. Which is it?
Hint

Inner Hebrides

Shetland

Orkney

Outer Hebrides

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. We are now standing on the cliffs at the north west end of the island of Hoy in Orkney. There is a famous Sea Stack beneath us. What is its name?
Hint

Old Man of Hoy

Cape Wrath

St. John's Head

Marwick Head

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Which island, famous for its knitwear and bird observatory, is part way between Orkney and Shetland?
Hint

Fair Isle

North Ronaldsay

Westray

South Ronaldsay

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. This island, situated in the Irish Sea, is renowned for its tail-less cats and T.T. races. What is its name?
Hint

Ramsey Island

Isle of Man

Ailsa Craig

Anglesey

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. "Speed bonny boat like a bird on the wing,
Onward the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to ___"

Which island is the song referring to?
Hint

Mull

Iona

Eigg

Skye

7. Grace Darling's bravery was recognised by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) by the award of a Silver Medal. On which group of islands off the Northumberland coast did she live?
Hint

Farne Islands

Isle of Wight

Inch Holm

Holy Island

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Which group of remote islands are found to the northwest of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland? The remaining 36 islanders were evacuated at their own request in 1930.
Hint

Benbecula

St Kilda

Mull

Treshnish Isles

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. St Columba founded a monastery on this small Hebridean island in 563 AD. Several kings of Scotland, Ireland, and Norway are buried there. What is the name of this island?
Hint

Staffa

Mull

Iona

Treshnish Isles

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What is the name of the island to the northwest of Wales which is accessible via two bridges? One bridge is Thomas Telford's Menai Suspension Bridge and the other is the Britannia Bridge. Hint

Anglesey

Bartsey

Ramsey Island

Lundy

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the name of the festival celebrated in Shetland on the last Tuesday in January each year? This festival involves the burning of a wooden replica of a Viking Longship.

Answer: Up Helly Aa

Simmer Dim is the name given to the time between sunset and sunrise when it doesn't really get dark during the longest days of the year. A new Guizer Jarl is elected each year. In October 2008, the Guizer Jarl and his squad took a replica boat to Orkney to celebrate the links between Shetland and Orkney. The boat was burnt ceremoniously by the side of the Peedie Sea.

2. When you are standing at John O'Groats in Scotland, looking north across the Pentland Firth, you can see (on a good day) this island group. Which is it?

Answer: Orkney

John O'Groats is the most northerly village in Scotland. There is a summer passenger ferry to Orkney from John O'Groats. John O'Groats is the start or the finish of "length of Great Britain challenges".

3. We are now standing on the cliffs at the north west end of the island of Hoy in Orkney. There is a famous Sea Stack beneath us. What is its name?

Answer: Old Man of Hoy

As the ferry sails from Scrabster to Stromness, the Old Man of Hoy is clearly visible (weather permitting) to the starboard. The Old Man of Hoy is 137m high. The Old Man of Hoy is popular with rock climbers.

4. Which island, famous for its knitwear and bird observatory, is part way between Orkney and Shetland?

Answer: Fair Isle

The traditional jerseys of Fair Isle have distinctive colourful patterns. Westray, North and South Ronaldsay are all islands of Orkney. Whilst Fair Isle is between Orkney and Shetland, it has the distinction of being Britain's most remote island which is inhabited.

5. This island, situated in the Irish Sea, is renowned for its tail-less cats and T.T. races. What is its name?

Answer: Isle of Man

Technically, the Isle of Man is not part of the UK as it is classified as a Crown Dependency. It has its own Parliament, which is called the Tynwald, dating back to the 8th century AD.

6. "Speed bonny boat like a bird on the wing, Onward the sailors cry Carry the lad that's born to be king Over the sea to ___" Which island is the song referring to?

Answer: Skye

The verse in the question is from the "Skye Boat Song". The "lad that was born to be king" was Bonnie Prince Charlie. There is now a bridge to Skye from Kyle of Loch Alsh to Kyleakin.

7. Grace Darling's bravery was recognised by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) by the award of a Silver Medal. On which group of islands off the Northumberland coast did she live?

Answer: Farne Islands

Grace Darling and her father, who was Keeper of the Longstone Lighthouse, rescued survivors from the ship SS Forfarshire which was wrecked on nearby Big Harcar in 1838. They rowed in a coble.

8. Which group of remote islands are found to the northwest of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland? The remaining 36 islanders were evacuated at their own request in 1930.

Answer: St Kilda

St Kilda is owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The Treshnish Isles are close to Mull, and Benebecula is in the Outer Hebrides.

9. St Columba founded a monastery on this small Hebridean island in 563 AD. Several kings of Scotland, Ireland, and Norway are buried there. What is the name of this island?

Answer: Iona

To reach Iona there is a passenger-only ferry from Fionnaport on Mull. John Smith (1938-1994) was leader of the Labour Party when he died. He was buried on Iona.

10. What is the name of the island to the northwest of Wales which is accessible via two bridges? One bridge is Thomas Telford's Menai Suspension Bridge and the other is the Britannia Bridge.

Answer: Anglesey

The Village with the world's longest name, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrabwllllantysiliogogogoch, is on Anglesey. Robert Stephenson was chief engineer for construction of the original Britannia Bridge. It had to be rebuilt in 1972 following a fire in 1970.

Source: Author noctule

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