Uig, Lewis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other places named "Uig", see Uig.

Uig is a 'bay backed machair and hills' on the western coast of the island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The name derives from the Norse word Vik meaning 'a bay'.

Bhaltos (or Valtos) is the largest village in Uig and is home to about 35 people. Two smaller villages are Cliobh (Cliff), Cnip (Kneep). Since 1999 the land on the Bhaltos peninsula has been owned by the community.

In 1831, a shepherd discovered a buried hoard of chess pieces on Uig Beach, uncovered following a storm. Known as the Lewis chessmen, the pieces can be seen at the British Museum and the Scottish National Museum, Edinburgh. The chessmen are mostly carved from walrus tusks and probably came from Norway sometime in the 12th century.

Uig is reputed to be the birthplace of the Brahan Seer, a Nostradamus type figure of the 16th century.

The large beach at Uig has proven to be one of Scotland's leading kite-buggy locations, being large, flat, and frequently subject to suitable winds.

The presence of a well preserved wheelhouse at Cnip, and the two nearby brochs, make the area important archaeologically.

[edit] External links

• Lewis Chessmen at the British Museum.
• Brahan Seer Legend on BBC Website
• Archaeology in Uig