Park (), also known as South Lochs, is a huge area of land connected to the rest of

Lewis Lewis may refer to: Names * Lewis (given name), including a list of people with the given name * Lewis (surname), including a list of people with the surname Music * Lewis (musician), Canadian singer * " Lewis (Mistreated)", a song by Radiohe ...

only by a narrow neck between

Loch Seaforth Loch Seaforth () is a sea loch in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It consists of three distinct sections; the most seaward is aligned northwest–southeast, a middle section is aligned northeast–southwest and the inner and most northerly sect ...

and

Loch Erisort Loch Erisort () is an 8-mile-long narrow sea inlet on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. Its name is a relic of the Viking Age and came from Old Norse ''Eiríksfjorðr'' = "Eric's fjord ...

. This had a wall called ''Gàrradh an Tighearna'' (''"The Laird's Dyke"'') built across it by the

Earl of Seaforth Earl of Seaforth was a title in the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of Ireland, derived from Loch Seaforth on the coast of Lewis. It was held by the family of Mackenzie from 1623 to 1716, and again from 1771 to 1781. History The Mackenzie ...

in the early 17th century, the outline of which can still be seen. Only the north of Park is now inhabited: settlements in the south were cleared by

Sir James Matheson Sir James Nicolas Sutherland Matheson, 1st Baronet, FRS (17 November 179631 December 1878), was a Scottish opium trader and taipan. Born in Shiness, Lairg, Sutherland, Scotland, he was the son of Captain Donald Matheson. He attended Edinburgh ...

in the nineteenth century. A famous deer raid took place here in 1887 as a demonstration by starving people, commemorated by a broch resembling a cairn at the Eishken junction. Much of this area is still used for

deer stalking Deer stalking, or simply stalking, is a British term for the stealthy pursuit of deer on foot to hunt for venison, for leisure, as trophies, or to control their numbers as part of wildlife management, just as with rabbiting and boar hunting. D ...

Community buyout

The Pairc Estate extends to and includes 11 crofting townships with a combined population of nearly 400. In 2011 the Pairc Community Trust received approval from

Roseanna Cunningham Roseanna Cunningham (born 27 July 1951) is a retired Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who served as Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform from 2016 to 2021. She was previously Cabinet Secretary for Fair Wor ...

, the

Environment Minister An environment minister (sometimes minister of the environment or secretary of the environment) is a cabinet position charged with protecting the natural environment and promoting wildlife conservation. The areas associated with the duties of a ...

, for a bid to buy the estate under the crofting "Right to Buy" provisions of the

Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament which establishes statutory public rights of access to land and makes provisions under which bodies representing rural and crofting communities may buy land. Provisions ...

. Pairc Trust chairman Angus McDowall, said: "This is an historic step forward for our community, and sends an unambiguous message to the landlord that the economic and social development of Pairc in the interests of the whole community should be ranked above private financial gain. It is a complete vindication of the persistence which we and the whole community have shown over so many years in trying to exercise our rights under the Act in order to plan a better future for local crofters and residents." In late 2013, an agreement was reached with the laird, Barry Lomas, for the sale of 26,775 acres (10,835 ha) at a price of £500,000. In May 2014 the community voted to proceed with the buyout, with 166 voting for and 77 against. In December 2015, the community trust formally gained possession of the land. The Pairc Trust now owns and manages the estate from its resource centre at Kershader, South Lochs. Its aims are to develop and enhance local housing, employment, and infrastructure, and to reverse generations of population decline. "The Pairc Trust"
pairctrust.co.uk, accessed 21 February 2025

Crofting townships in Park

Orinsay Orinsay () is a crofting village on the Isle of Lewis in the district of Pairc, Outer Hebrides, Pairc, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The settlement is within the parish of Lochs, Outer Hebrides, Lochs. Orinsay is from Stornoway, the major town ...

* Lemreway * Gravir * Garyvard * Kershader *

Habost Habost () is the name of two crofting townships on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. One is in the Ness area at the northern tip of the island at and is home to an arts and music centre. It is a traditional area of the Clan M ...

* Caversta * Marvig *

Calbost Calbost () is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Calbost is within the parish of Lochs, and within the district of Pairc. Calbost is known for its pretty scenery and lively fishing scene. On November 16, 1939, the ...

* Eishken * Shiltenish * Torastay * Cromore

Natural environment

Loch Cromore, which has a slight salt water content, is good for wildfowl, including wintering whooper swans and common seals frequent the inlets. The deserted village of Stiomrabhagh is a short walk from Orinsay. Fine views of the

Shiant Islands The Shiant Islands (; or ) or Shiant Isles are a privately owned island group in the Minch, east of Harris, Outer Hebrides, Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. They are southeast of the Isle of Lewis.Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) ''Collin ...

may be obtained from Lemreway and Orinsay.

References

External links

The Park Deer Raid
Isle of Lewis {{WesternIsles-geo-stub