Odd Shetland and Orkney place names put on the map

RESIDENTS of Orkney and Shetland were yesterday found to be among the happiest in the UK, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics.

The Orkney, left, and Shetland maps charted by Stephen Goldman. Picture: Comp

But the beautiful scenery, bountiful wildlife and the calm that comes with living in the islands may not be the only reasons behind their contentment.

A Yorkshire-based mapmaker has charted the Shetland and Orkney’s silliest and rudest place names.

Stephen Goldman has highlighted places such as Bring Head, Canker, Dog Bones, Fitful Head and Ladies Hole on Shetland; his Orkney map charts places such as The Slithers, Dandy’s Water, Mirky Hole, Tongue of Gangsta and Rotten Gutter.

Goldman spent a year producing the maps, which only feature the islands’ most amusing place names.

And they have impressed so much that crime writer Ian Rankin mentioned Goldman’s work on Twitter.

The maps have been praised by council spokespeople from both Orkney and Shetland. A Shetland council spokeswoman said: “We’re proud of our Nordic heritage and the names on the map reflect that.”

• Click here to see Stephen Goldman’s map >>