By long and solid tradition in Uig, the spot where the Uig Chessmen were found in 1831 is held to be the Bealach Ban, a hollow in the dunes in Ardroil. In November of last year, a paper by Dr David Caldwell et al in Mediæval Archaeology proposed that, on the evidence of the Ordnance Survey Place Names book compiled by contractors from local information in the 1850s, the findspot may have been a few miles away at Mealista. Anna Mackinnon, Ardroil, wrote an initial [ » read more ]

This is the final section of an interesting and detailed piece on the Pygmies Isle (first mentioned by Dean Monro in 1549 as having been inhabited by “little people”) near the Butt of Lewis , published by WC Mackenzie in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquities of Scotland, 13 March 1905 (vol XXXIX, p257).  It’s of no particular relevance to Uig but see what you make of it, in spite of its rather dated tone (and for Lapp, read today Sami – the Sea Sami [ » read more ]

Place names in Enaclete and the surrounding area, mapped by Finlay and Kenny Maciver.  They did Geshader too and you may like to compare the Ordnance Survey map. 1. Airigh Dhubh 23. Caol Loch 2. Loch Croistean 24. Druim Mor 3. Loch a’ Phealair Beag 25. Loch nan Learg a Tuath 4. Old Sheilings 26. Cnoc a’ Charnain 5. Tom nan Laogh 27. Druim na Cloiche Moire 6. Loch na Craobhaig 28. Giarol 7. Loch na Craobhaige Moire 29. Druim a’ Charnain 8. Loch Mor [ » read more ]

Key placenames and landmarks around the township of Geshader, the inlet to Little Loch Roag (the Sruth, next to #18), and the deserted settlement at Strome, as prepared by Finlay and Kenneth Maciver.  There are many more placenames, which we’ll publish once we’ve worked out how best to present them; meanwhile there’s Enaclete too.  Compare to the Ordnance Survey map. 1. Floday 2. Beinn a’Ghlinne Ruaidh 3. Creagan Gorm 4. Rainacleit 5. Druim Ban Gil an Aon Duine 6. Ollashal 7. Sheaval 8. Orcleit an [ » read more ]

from Donald John Macleod, Enaclete and Aberdeen We look upon the Vikings as seafaring rovers who spent their lives raiding and plundering. However, it is evident from place names that some Vikings settled in Uig where they cultivated the land and tended their sheep and cattle. The following Uig placenames are of interest in this respect. Ardfenish (ON prob Fe-nes) – sheep promontory Bastair (bolstadhar) – where cows and people live Cro (kro) – a small sheep pen Dirass Beinn (dyr-ass) – deer ridge Cruim [ » read more ]