Ness, Western Isles

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Map sources for Ness, Western Isles at grid reference NB5261
Map sources for Ness, Western Isles at grid reference NB5261


Landsat image of the north of Lewis
Landsat image of the north of Lewis
Teampull Mholuaidh, 13th Century temple in the village of Eoropie
Teampull Mholuaidh, 13th Century temple in the village of Eoropie

Ness (Scottish Gaelic: Nis) is the northernmost part of the Isle of Lewis, a community consisting of about 16 villages, including Lionel, Habost, Swainbost, Cross, North and South Dell, Cross Skigersta, Skigersta, Eoradale, Adabrock, Port of Ness, Knockaird, Fivepenny and Eoropie. It is the most north-westerly community in the European Union. Its most northerly point is the Butt of Lewis.

Ness is part of the Galson Estate which is owned by Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn ( Galson Estate Trust ) which is managed by 10 local trustees elected by the community. The hand-over took place on 12th January 2007[1].

Ness is accessible via the A857 road and is about 25 miles (40 km) by road from Stornoway. You can also reach Ness by walking across the moor from North Tolsta in Back to Skigersta. It is about 10 miles (16 km) and takes 6 hours at a leisurely pace.

Gaelic is the language of the community with 75% being able to speak it. Peat cut from the moor, is used as a fuel for cooking and heating in many homes, but its use is on the decline. The 2001 Census results show a resident population of just under a 1,000. In 1831 Ness had a population of just over 3,000.

Landmarks include the 13th-century Teampull Mholuaidh in Eoropie and the small island of Dùn Èistean which is the ancestral home of the Lewis Morrisons, which is now bridged and archaeological excavations have been taking place there.

Each year 10 men from Ness go out to the island of Sula Sgeir in late August for two weeks to harvest around 2,000 young gannets known locally as Guga.

Ness is known for its Sgoth, a type of skiff used for line fishing until the early half of the twentieth century.[1]

There is a cultural exchange programme between Ness and Connemara[citation needed].


[edit] References

  1. ^ Islanders in huge estate buy-out BBC News Online

[edit] Books

  • Nis Aosmhor: The photographs of Dan Morrison, edited by Finlay Macleod, October 1997, Acair Ltd, ISBN 0861521137

[edit] External links

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