The second largest of the Out Skerries, the island of Bruray lies 12 miles (19 km) east northeast of the Shetland Mainland. It rises to 53m (173 feet) at Bruray Ward and is connected to Housay, the only other inhabited island in the group, by a bridge. Many of the facilities are located on Bruray, including the airstrip, fire station, school, shop, reservoir and a harbour which receives a regular vehicle ferry from the mainland. The population of Bruray has been in slow decline, recorded as 34 (1961), 35 (1971), 33 (1981), 27 (1991), 26 (2001) and 24 (2011).
