West Side, Outer Hebrides
The West Side () is the name used for the (predominantly Gaelic-speaking) settlements along the NW coast of the Isle of Lewis between Dell in Ness to the NE and Shawbost to the SW. The area is about 25 km long and is served by the A857 and A858 roads. The settlements on the West Side are: (from the NE) Galson/Gabhsann, Melbost/Mealabost, Borve/Buirgh, Shader/Siadar, Barvas/Barabhas, Brue/Brù, Arnol, Bragar and Shawbost Shawbost ( gd, Siabost) is a large village in the West Side of the Isle of Lewis. The village of Shawbost has a population of around 500 and lies around west of Lewis's capital Stornoway. Shawbost is within the parish of Barvas. A recent deve .../Siabost. Isle of Lewis {{WesternIsles-geo-stub ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as both Irish and Manx, developed out of Old Irish. It became a distinct spoken language sometime in the 13th century in the Middle Irish period, although a common literary language was shared by the Gaels of both Ireland and Scotland until well into the 17th century. Most of modern Scotland was once Gaelic-speaking, as evidenced especially by Gaelic-language place names. In the 2011 census of Scotland, 57,375 people (1.1% of the Scottish population aged over 3 years old) reported being able to speak Gaelic, 1,275 fewer than in 2001. The highest percentages of Gaelic speakers were in the Outer Hebrides. Nevertheless, there is a language revival, and the number of speakers of the language under age 20 did not decrease between the 2001 and ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Isle Of Lewis
The Isle of Lewis ( gd, Eilean Leòdhais) or simply Lewis ( gd, Leòdhas, ) is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. The two parts are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands. The total area of Lewis is . Lewis is, in general, the lower-lying part of the island: the other part, Harris, is more mountainous. Due to its larger area and flatter, more fertile land, Lewis contains three-quarters of the population of the Western Isles, and the largest settlement, Stornoway. The island's diverse habitats are home to an assortment of flora and fauna, such as the golden eagle, red deer and seal, and are recognised in a number of conservation areas. Lewis has a Presbyterian tradition and a rich history. It was once part of the Norse Kingdom of the Isles. Today, life is very different from elsewhere in Scotland, with Sabbath observance, the Scottish Gaelic language and peat cutting retainin ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ness, Lewis
Ness ( gd, Nis) is the northernmost part of the Isle of Lewis, a community consisting of about 16 villages, including Lionel, Lewis, Lionel, Habost, Swainbost, Cross, Lewis, Cross, North Dell, North and South Dell, Cross Skigersta, Skigersta, Eorodale, Adabroc, Port of Ness, Knockaird, Fivepenny and Eoropie. It was the most north-westerly community in the European Union, when the United Kingdom was a member. Its most northerly point is the Butt of Lewis. The name Promontory, Ness derives from the old Norse for ''headland'' and many of the other place names in the area also have a Norse origin. Ness is part of the Galson Estate, which is owned by ''Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn'' (Galson Estate Trust) which is managed by 10 local trustees elected by the community. The hand-over took place on 12 January 2007. Ness is accessible via the A857 road and is about by road from Stornoway, Outer Hebrides, Stornoway. Ness can also be reached by walking across the moor from North Tolsta in B ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Melbost
Melbost ( gd, Mealabost) is a traditionally Gaelic-speaking village in Point on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis, in Scotland's north-west. It is largely a crofting township and is about east of Stornoway at the head of an isthmus connecting with the Eye Peninsula. Melbost is technically in the district of Point, however it is not located on the Eye Peninsula itself. The RAF Stornoway war memorial is located in the village. Culture The Gaelic poet Murdo Macfarlane ( gd, Murchadh MacPhàrlain) known as 'Bàrd Mhealaboist' (the Melbost Bard) was a published poet and campaigner for Scottish Gaelic who was born and brought up in Melbost. He is famous for the song Cànan nan Gàidheal. See also * Lewis and Harris * History of the Outer Hebrides The Hebrides were settled early on in the settlement of the British Isles, perhaps as early as the Mesolithic era, around 8500–8250 BC, after the climatic conditions improved enough to sustain human settlement. There are exa ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Borve, Lewis
Borve ( gd, Borgh) is a village on the west side of the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, from the island's only town, Stornoway. Location The village lies on the River Borve, which is crossed by two adjacent bridges. The older bridge, built of stone rubble and consisting of a single arch, dates from the late 19th century and is no longer used for road traffic. The modern bridge was built in the early 1990s at a cost of £250,000. The main road through the village is the A857 between Stornoway and Ness. The village is in three parts: Borve, previously Fivepenny Borve, which stretches from the southern boundary to the river Borve; High Borve, previously Mid-Borve, north of the river; and Melbost Borve, nearest Galson. History Prehistory In Melbost Borve there are the remains of a burial ground (Cladh Bhrighid) and the barely visible ruins of a tiny chapel, ''Teampall Bhrìghid'', and a well, ''Tobar'' ''Bhrìghid'', - all dedicated to St Brigid. About north of Melbost Borve stand t ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Barvas
Barvas (Scottish Gaelic: ''Barabhas'' or ''Barbhas'', ) is a settlement, community and civil parish on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. It developed around a road junction. The A857 and A858 meet at the southern end of Barvas. North is the road to Ness; west takes the traveller to Carloway and the West Side; south runs the road to Stornoway. According to the 2011 Census it still has the highest concentration of Scottish Gaelic speakers in Scotland (64% of the population) with 2,037. Prehistory and Archaeology Investigations since 1978 have found archaeological sites in the area that date from the Early Bronze Age to the Early Modern. Notable discoveries and projects: * In 1986–7, there was the excavation of a small Bronze Age cemetery, which was inserted into the remains of an earlier Bronze Age building. * In 1993, Richard Langhorne, curator of Museum nan Eilean in Stornoway, carried out an emergency excavation of a burial, dated to the late Iron Age. * In the early summe ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Brue
Brue ( gd, Brù) is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the West Side district, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It is a crofting township and it is composed of two areas: Am Baile Staigh, which is nearer the coast, and Pàirc Bhrù, which runs towards the moor. In total it covers a road distance of 2.5 km. Brue is situated on a minor road which joins to the A858, and is within the parish of Barvas. The name Brue is an anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic ''Brù'' which in turn comes from an Old Norse word which is believed to have meant ''bridge''; this reflects the centuries of Norsemen occupation and settlement in the Outer Hebrides The Outer Hebrides () or Western Isles ( gd, Na h-Eileanan Siar or or ("islands of the strangers"); sco, Waster Isles), sometimes known as the Long Isle/Long Island ( gd, An t-Eilean Fada, links=no), is an island chain off the west coast .... The coastline at Brue is the site of various cairns, including a prehistoric one, and is ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Arnol
Arnol ( gd, Àrnol) is a small village typical of many settlements of the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Arnol is within the parish of Barvas, and is situated on the A858 road (Great Britain), A858. Once a thriving township with over forty croft (land), crofts, it now has a population of about 100 and supports a much lower number of active crofters. It is the location of the Blackhouse Museum, owned by Historic Environment Scotland. History The township of Arnol has been moved at least three times in the last two hundred years with materials for buildings being robbed and re-used from earlier structures. The early 19th century settlement was actually on the coast but later it was moved inland, closer to the main road. Few of the surviving buildings were lived in for more than 50 years and during that time many were considerably modified, extended and partially rebuilt. The Arnol blackhouses Through the village the ruins of blackhouses can be se ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Bragar
Bragar ( gd, Bràgar, ) is a village on the west side of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, from the island's only town, Stornoway. Bragar is within the parish of Barvas, and is situated on the A858 between Carloway and Barvas. Residents are mainly Gaelic speaking, and many work as crofters. The village's best-known landmark is a whalebone arch, made in 1921 from the jawbone of an blue whale which was beached on the shore the year before. The arch is located at the Lakeview residence, the home of Murdo Morrison (1867 - 1950). Bragar also has a post office, a war memorial, and a school. History A ruined Iron Age broch, Dun Bragar, stands in Loch an Dùin in South Bragar, 80 metres from the road and connected to the lochside by a causeway. In the mid-20th century local people took away many of its stones, and the structure is no longer safe. The remains of a chapel, Teampall Eòin (the Temple of John the Baptist), built in the 15th century or earlier, lie insi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Shawbost
Shawbost ( gd, Siabost) is a large village in the West Side of the Isle of Lewis. The village of Shawbost has a population of around 500 and lies around west of Lewis's capital Stornoway. Shawbost is within the parish of Barvas. A recent development in the village was the renovation of the old school into the new community centre. The scattered settlement is split into three sections: North Shawbost (), South Shawbost () and New Shawbost (). There is a small museum of folk life and nearby is a small stone circle. The village is overlooked by a small hill named Beinn Bhragair, 261 m high. Shawbost is a prominent village on the Isle of Lewis, due to the school, community centre, beach and Harris Tweed mill. Shawbost School The local school has both secondary and primary teaching units. Shawbost School has a roll of 86 pupils between 5–14 years of age. The school is also an optional secondary school for children from the neighbouring villages of Carloway, Bragar, Arnol, B ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |