The feral sheep that roam the island of Hirta are

the breed known as Soay's. The island of Soay lies close to the north west corner of Hirta in the St. Kilda Archipelago. Soay derives it's name from Old Norse meaning Sheep Island and Soay Sheep have inhabited the island since the Bronze Age, being the most primitive breed in the UK. In 1932 after all domesticated sheep were cleared from Hirta 107 Soay Sheep were released there. The Soay Sheep on Hirta, like their relatives a short distance across the water range in colour from dark to light, these variations in colour being known as phases. File 6416