HOLMS-ISLES, isles, in the county of Orkney.
" Holm " signifies a small island fit only for pasturage,
and is a name by which several islands of the Orkney
group are known, with, in most cases, a distinctive
affix referring to the name of that part of the coast oflF
which any Holm may be situated. Of these islands, one
simply called Holm is in the parish of Westray, and
lies on the east side of Papa- Westray. Holm of Grimbister,
in the parish of Firth, is situated in a creek, off
the farm or shore of Grimbister in the same parish.
Holm of Houton, or the Holm off the Point of Houton,
belongs to Ophir parish, and is south of the main land,
in Scalpa Flow; its scanty herbage feeds a few sheep.
Holm of Huip, in the parish of Stronsay, lies north of
the island of Stronsay, and is appropriated to the pasturage
of sheep and cattle: Huip is the name of a farm
upon the shore of Stronsay. Holm of Pharay, in the
parish of Eday, is situated in Westray Firth, and northwest
of Eday, and forms a northern point of Fersness
bay. All these isles are of very small extent, and uninhabited.
Holm of Midgarth, in the parish of St. Peter,
Stronsay, is also of moderate extent; but it has two dwellings,
and six persons at present reside upon it.