Place Name

Riding Stack, Shetland, Scotland

Whar t ridin is back as t waves pound t stack!

Introduction:

Alright then me duck, welcome tae Riding Stack, a name that sounds like a bairn wi a wild imagination shouted it oot while stuffin biscuits in their pockets. Folk hear it an gan “Riding Stack? Whit’s ridin, whit’s stackin, an whit’s gaun on?” an Shetlanders just smile like “aye, we’ve heard every joke under t sun.”

Maybe it came frae sheep attemptin acrobatics. Maybe it came frae a farmer mishear in t wind. Maybe it came frae a tourist askin directions an gettin a cheeky answer.

Whatever happened, Riding Stack is pure Shetland whimsy wrapped in cliffs, spray, an names that mek ye chuckle wiout even tryin.

This image contains a spoilerReveal Image

Toponymy:

Let’s tak this name apart:

Riding – gallopin horses, auld routes, Shetland ponies wanderin aff again, or folk traversin rugged grund wi stubborn determination

Stack – tall rock battered by sea an storm, nature’s ain cairn, bigger, bolder, an far less likely tae topple

Pit them thegither an ye get Riding Stack, a name that makes visitors pause afore sayin it aloud, then grin like they’ve wandered into a tale wi perfect Shetland timing.

Historical Context:

Earliest mentions o Riding Stack drift back tae foggy Shetland lore. Some reckon Vikings named it efter ridin their horses across t isle an stackin their goods nearby. Others say it wis a misheard phrase shouted ower t wind by a fisherman who’d had one dram too many.

Another tale sez folk muttered “ower by Riding Stack,” an t name stuck like salt spray on a woolly jumper.

Whatever t truth behind its name, Riding Stack endures as a place whar folklore, geology, an humour meet in a glorious muddle.

Points of Interest:

Places worth a wander:

• Muckle Roe Lighthouse – beams, breezes, an windblown hair

• Havra Island – seabirds, seals, an wild quiet

• Shetland Museum and Archives – stories, artefacts, an island heritage

• Lerwick – harbour, seafood, an endless chatter

• Scalloway Castle – ruins, tales, an dramatic stonework

Notable Figures:

Fowk tied tae Shetland:

• George Mackay Brown – poet steeped in salt an story

• Tommy McLean – teller o Shetland folklore

• Dr John Rae – Arctic explorer wi island grit

• Wilma McNair – artist inspired by cliffs an colour

• Peterhead’s Fishing Folk – community woven through Shetland’s maritime life

Conclusion:

So next time ye find yersel at Riding Stack, tak a moment tae feel t wind, watch t waves hammer t rock, an enjoy t daft delight o a name that refuses tae follow sense.

Fer mair wonderfully strange place names, wander ower tae www.strangeplacenames.com   An mind, if t mist rolls in, it’s bringin stories ye werena expectin.

FACEBOOK - strangeplacenames

INSTAGRAM - strangeplacenames_2024