Back, Outer Hebrides
Encyclopedia
Back is a district and a village on the Isle of Lewis on the coast of Broadbay
, in the Outer Hebrides
, Scotland
. The road through Back commences at a road junction in Newmarket, north of Stornoway. It is a little touristed part of the Hebrides despite having some of the best beaches in Lewis, but remain popular with surfers, windsurfers
and kite surfers
. Also along the Back road, is the Coll Pottery (Fear an Eich) - open to the public and also the cairn at Gress.
, Upper Coll, Coll, Inner Coll, Vatisker, Back and Gress
. It is thought by some that Tong and Tolsta are parts of the district, but Tong has a Stornoway telephone dialing code, and Tolsta is located in a different district.
Sgoil a’ Bhac is a true community school, the school is used for community events every other week, and the school enjoys a strong relationship with the local Free Church of Scotland
. The school has a rich history of sport, particularly that of Football
and Badminton
, this can be seen in the many local tournaments the school sides have won.
The school was recently refurbished, among these are a brand new ICT room, flood lit ball court and a new technical room.
. There are many joinery, plumbing, electrician and plant hire firms.
The famous Coll Potter (or Fear an Eich) is in Back, as well as a caravan site at Coll beach.
and the minister for the past 13 years has been the Rev. I. D. Campbell. Each service is put across either in English, or Scottish Gaelic. There have been seven ministers in total to serve the congregation, the first being Rev. Donald MacMaster.
Back F.C. have won many trophies since they began, including the highly sought after Eilean Fhraoich Cup on 17 occasions. Only those who live in the district or have close family are eligible to play in the cup, which gives the players a sense of pride.
Back won the 'big one' in 2004 when they won the Highland Amateur Cup
. Clubs from all over the Highlands and Islands compete in this knock-out cup and it is what all the clubs in the region dream of winning.
Since winning the Highland Amateur Cup
, the club has struggled at senior level to reach these heights again, but on the junior front they have dominated, with the under 18 side winning the treble in an undefeated season.
Andy Gray, who went on to play for the national side, Scotland
, as well as Rangers F.C.
, Wolves F.C. , Aston Villa F.C.
and Everton F.C.
, where he won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
, played for the club as a youth.
Broadbay
Broad Bay is a bay which is situated on the coast of Isle of Lewis, and separates Back and Point....
, in the Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The road through Back commences at a road junction in Newmarket, north of Stornoway. It is a little touristed part of the Hebrides despite having some of the best beaches in Lewis, but remain popular with surfers, windsurfers
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
and kite surfers
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding is an adventure surface water sport that has been described as combining wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, and gymnastics into one extreme sport. Kitesurfing harnesses the power of the wind to propel a rider across the water on a small surfboard or a...
. Also along the Back road, is the Coll Pottery (Fear an Eich) - open to the public and also the cairn at Gress.
Internal Villages
There are many villages within the district of Back, all which are on the coast of BroadbayBroadbay
Broad Bay is a bay which is situated on the coast of Isle of Lewis, and separates Back and Point....
, Upper Coll, Coll, Inner Coll, Vatisker, Back and Gress
Gress
Gress is a thriving hamlet on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. Gress is adjacent to the larger village of Back.Between 1919 and 1921, Gress along with nearby Coll, Lewis and Tong was the scene of several land raids.- External links :...
. It is thought by some that Tong and Tolsta are parts of the district, but Tong has a Stornoway telephone dialing code, and Tolsta is located in a different district.
The school
Sgoil a’ Bhac, caters for pupils aged 5 to 14 and as such has a Primary department and a Secondary department and has an enrollment of 197. Almost half the pupils in the Primary department are enrolled in the Gaelic medium unit, where they receive their education in Scottish Gaelic. The school promotes Gaelic in all classes, including mainstream classes, and it is seen as the most important part of the school.Sgoil a’ Bhac is a true community school, the school is used for community events every other week, and the school enjoys a strong relationship with the local Free Church of Scotland
Free Church of Scotland (post 1900)
Free Church of Scotland is that part of the original Free Church of Scotland that remained outside of the union with the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1900...
. The school has a rich history of sport, particularly that of Football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and Badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
, this can be seen in the many local tournaments the school sides have won.
The school was recently refurbished, among these are a brand new ICT room, flood lit ball court and a new technical room.
Industries
Back has one local shop known as "Gordon Diesels" or simply "Gordons", which has been running a few decades. There is a Hairdresser next to the shop which has changed hands a lot in recent years, there's a Garage, "Beatons" next to the shop, and a well-respected pharmacy. Donald Campbell Motors is a car dealership, who specialise in RenaultRenault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
. There are many joinery, plumbing, electrician and plant hire firms.
The famous Coll Potter (or Fear an Eich) is in Back, as well as a caravan site at Coll beach.
Religion
The community puts a massive emphasis on religion. The local church is a Free Church of ScotlandFree Church of Scotland (post 1900)
Free Church of Scotland is that part of the original Free Church of Scotland that remained outside of the union with the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1900...
and the minister for the past 13 years has been the Rev. I. D. Campbell. Each service is put across either in English, or Scottish Gaelic. There have been seven ministers in total to serve the congregation, the first being Rev. Donald MacMaster.
Sport
Football is the most popular sport in Back, with some community members attending games. Back F.C. was formed in 1933 and play beside the beach at Upper Coll. The facilities, known as the Coll Centre, boast some of the best facilities in the North of Scotland. There is a big hall, the size of 5 badminton courts, an astro turf pitch and a grass football pitch, as well as the beach across the road. They are named after the district Back and have a large pull from the internal villages. Others have played for the blues, including people from the island, neighbouring islands and incomers. It is the youth that make up the side, this is down to a development club where children from as young as eight attend two training sessions a week.Back F.C. have won many trophies since they began, including the highly sought after Eilean Fhraoich Cup on 17 occasions. Only those who live in the district or have close family are eligible to play in the cup, which gives the players a sense of pride.
Back won the 'big one' in 2004 when they won the Highland Amateur Cup
Highland Amateur Cup
The Highland Amateur Cup is an annual football cup competition run by the Highland Executive branch of the Scottish Amateur Football Association. All teams affiliated to Highland Associations are eligible to enter the competition and therefore this competition covers one of the biggest...
. Clubs from all over the Highlands and Islands compete in this knock-out cup and it is what all the clubs in the region dream of winning.
Since winning the Highland Amateur Cup
Highland Amateur Cup
The Highland Amateur Cup is an annual football cup competition run by the Highland Executive branch of the Scottish Amateur Football Association. All teams affiliated to Highland Associations are eligible to enter the competition and therefore this competition covers one of the biggest...
, the club has struggled at senior level to reach these heights again, but on the junior front they have dominated, with the under 18 side winning the treble in an undefeated season.
Andy Gray, who went on to play for the national side, Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, as well as Rangers F.C.
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, Wolves F.C. , Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and Everton F.C.
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, where he won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
, played for the club as a youth.