Left, Mairead Macdonald (8 Kneep) and right, her sister Chirsty Ann (Ciorstaidh Anna a’Phurpois) at the shieling at Gearraidh Thodail.  The shieling is at NB095290, between Suainebhal and Direadh Beinn, and the Comann Eachdraidh visited it last summer – see pictures. Chirsty Ann was born in 1912 and so this was taken about 1930.  Note the turf roof, patched with an old sail.  The tin vessels were made by the tinkers who resided during the season in Glen Valtos.  The girls hold a quart jug [ » read more ]

The Morgail Beehives (NB 131199), a group of corbelled huts of unknown date, are described thus by Historic Scotland: Group of corbelled “bee-hive” type shielings, built in remote moorland close to a stream, above Abhainn a Loin. Only one cell had roof intact at time of inspection (1989). Building date not know, but likely to pre-date population clearances of 19th century; they represent an ancient building technique, using the only materials available to hand to construct effective weatherproof shelters.  Principally, a group of 3 adjoining [ » read more ]

From an article in Uig News by Dave Roberts. It appears that shielings were constructed so that one airigh could easily be seen from another, but it is said that very often the girls from a number of shielings would sleep in one building for company. The ancient shieling grounds for Brenish, Islivig and Mangersta were way beyond Raonasgail valley, in the moors north of Loch Craobhaig, at Fidigidh. The people of Carnish had their shielings by Loch Raonasgail, and at Ceann Chuisil. There are also [ » read more ]

From left, Emily Macdonald Gisla, Effie Maclennan 36 Cliff, and two visitors, visiting a shieling. From Emily’s Twenty Years of Hebridean Memories (1939) – observing from Gisla Lodge the girls going to the shielings at Airigh an Fhorsa and Bo Nighean Mhuirich.  The ones Emily mentioned visiting near Loch Coirgeabhat may be at Airigh an Uisge.  Crogabhat, one of our fishing lochs, is a mile from the bungalow, and there we constructed a concrete boathouse which is useful as a lunch hut too when it [ » read more ]

Click to show shieling grounds.  Map and area in acres from Uig, a Hebridean Parish (1960). Valtos (36 tenants) 149 inbye 1482 adjacent pastures 3905 detached/shielings Kneep (18 tenants) 155 inbye 459 adjacent 1806 detached/shielings Reef (14 tenants) 94 inbye 207 adjacent 101 machair 770 detached Total (68 tenants, 14 absent) 398 inbye 2249 adjacent/machair 6481 detached/shielings  

From a piece by Dave Roberts for Uig News. At the north end of Mealisval there is a valley called Tealasdale. The floor of the valley is a chaos of enormous boulders. Beneath some of the gigantic rocks are crevices and hollows into which a person could crawl. Blocking the gaps and holes around some of the boulders are small stone and turf walls, which have been built to create cosy, if cramped, sleeping places, free of draughts. There are at least six of these [ » read more ]

Valtos men at Gisla, returning from the shielings (both Airigh an Fhorsa NB117226 and Airigh Bo Nighean Mhuirich NB 105224 – thanks Calum) with creels of butter, crowdie and cheese.  Murdo Smith 30 Valtos (Murchadh Gobha), Calum Buchanan 7 Valtos (Calum a’Bhodaich), Donald Mackay 15 Valtos (Dòmhnall a’Chreagain) and Norman Buchanan 8 Valtos (Tarmod Sham) in the boat.

Our next àirigh outing is on 26 July to Àirigh Taoireag and Àirigh Smuddaidh, behind Flodrasgairbh to the back of Ardroil (roughly NB047290). Taoireag is an old shieling in use before the villages around Traigh Uig were cleared in the 1830s, and after Ardroil was resettled it was rebuilt by the Macritchies of 11 Ardroil. Near it is Àirigh Smuddaidh, built new by the Mathesons of 6 Ardroil. If time permits we may take in Àirigh Scoddaidh, used by John Maciver 5 Ardroil. All welcome; [ » read more ]

  New photos from Mairi Peigi Maclennan at Cliff.  Àirigh an Fhorsa (NB118227, behind Coduinn) was used by Valtos and Cliff, including for just two seasons after WW2.  In the pictures are William Maclennan 36 Cliff, Ann Matheson (Anna a’Bheiceir) and her brother Calum 39 Cliff and Chirsty Smith 21 Valtos.  

CE Uig walked out to the shielings at Gearraidh an Uisge and Gearraidh Thodail, both used turn-about by Kneep until just before the war.  At Gearraidh an Uisge (NB106272)  there are the two substantial structures (the later built by Baxter in the 1930s), at least one older one nearby and the scant remains of two bothans on lower ground near the burn. Gearraidh Thodail (NB 095290) is in a beautifully secluded glen and also consists of two substantial remains and some older huts.  Between the two [ » read more ]