Calum Aonghais a’Bhreabadair was born in Valtos in 1862, a son of Angus Maclennan who had travelled the world. The family moved to 11 Kneep. Calum went to Canada as a young man and studied at McGill University in Montreal. He worked for some years as a minister in Canada before returning to Scotland and [...]
Read more →Highland News, Monday 13 October, 1884: The Northern Chronicle publishes the following sensational statement which we trust is somewhat exaggerated:– Mr Wm Mackay, Chamberlain of the Lews, has for some time back been engaged in visiting the different parts of the island for the purpose of collecting rents. On Monday last week [30 September 1884] he [...]
Read more →(click to enlarge) Headmaster Donald Maclean Shawbost; Teacher Annie Macaulay 35 Cliff Back Row: 1. Donald Maciver 8 Crowlista 2. Calum Iain Buchanan 8 Valtos 3. Peggy Morrison 3 Valtos 4. Gladys Goodge Miavaig 5. Murdina Buchanan 7 Valtos 6. Agnes Mackay 4 Carishader 7. Donald Buchanan 7 Valtos 8. Peter M Matheson Crowlista Third Row: [...]
Read more →The machair is in bloom – in case anyone who’s not in Uig or near a machair of their own would like to see it, here it is. Back to ancient history tomorrow.
Read more →(click to enlarge) Headmaster Donald Maclean Shawbost, Teacher Annie Macaulay 35 Cliff Back Row: 1. Calum A Mackay 13 Kneep 2. Malcolm Smith 20 Valtos 3. Murdanie Macdonald 24 Valtos 4. Andrew Mackay 13 Kneep 5. Murdo Maclennan 36 Cliff 6. Norman Morrison 1 Ungeshader 7. Donald J Montgomery Islivig 8. Donald J Morrison 13 Reef [...]
Read more →As told by Rev Donald Macaulay. English text follows the Gaelic. Photo of Brenish by Chris Murray. Bha an cogadh a dol bliadhnaichean agus am màrbhadh eadar Clann ‘ic Leòid, Clann Choinnich agus na Moireasdanaich agus an deidh dha Clann Choinnich an t-eilean fhaiginn mu dheireadh dhaibh b’fhèin agus thàinig siothladh de shìth anns [...]
Read more →From the Diary of John Munro Mackenzie, Chamberlain of the Lews. Reef had been cleared of its 186 tenants a few years previously . In the end, Kneep was never cleared, though many did emigrate from both Valtos and Kneep. Wednesday 12 February, 1851 Wrote letters to Stornoway [from Callanish], afterwards proceeded to Reef and [...]
Read more →Around 8 February 2008, clusters of stones began to emerge from the otherwise unbroken sand in the middle of Traigh na Berie (Reef Beach) on the Valtos peninsula. Unusual activity on the beach and very low winter tides exposed groups of rocks that had not been seen before. They are certainly a structure of some sort, [...]
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