Brenish
Encyclopedia
Brenish is a small village situated on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, which is part of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland
. It is in the district of Uig, Lewis
. The name of the village is sometimes spelt Breanish (which is generally the spelling used locally), however maps normally refer to Brenish.
It is commonly regarded as one of the more scenic areas on the island, although its remote location at the end of the winding and decaying C39 makes it one of the less visited. The village itself runs parallel to the Atlantic coastline and is overlooked by Mealisval, the tallest mountain on the island. It is located next to the village of Mealista
which is an uninhabited village known best for its selection of virginal sandy beaches. Mealista
is where the road ends, making Brenish the last populated village on the C39.
or Tarbert, Harris
, then turning on to the A858 towards Garynahine
, then the B8011, which then becomes the C39. The journey takes between 60 and 90 minutes from Stornoway
and 90 to 120 minutes from Tarbert (depending on driving experience on the Lewis roads).
and will have been heavily modernised and extended throughout the years. Generally the houses are built beside the road, at the top of a croft
which itself leads down to the sea. However there have been several new houses built since the late 1990s which are changing the face of the village.
has itself been in rapid decline since the 1980s. However, since the late 1990s the village has experienced a relative population boom. Over 50% of the population have migrated to Brenish from the UK mainland which has brought with it a feeling of revival.
. This is a deep hole in the ground which is roughly 20 metres inland. It has a sea cave which funnels sea water into the hole, sometimes with such ferocity that the sea water blows out the top of the hole. The hole is situated to the north of the village and although it is large it can easily be missed because it is situated in a dip in the ground. There is no fencing around the hole making it a hazard to the unsuspecting walker.
, which is still used by many in the village as a fuel source for heating and cooking. The land between Brenish and Islivig is peat cutting land which has supplied the village with fuel for decades. Due to the wild, damp, salty climate only hardy vegetation is able to survive.
There are still a large number of sheep roaming freely and there is an increasing number of deer
which can be seen coming into villagers gardens in the evening. Other natives include rabbit, hare, rat, and feral cat. There have also been sightings of frogs in recent years which is a new addition to the area. There are regular sightings of seal fishing for salmon and sea trout in the Brenish bay.
Lewis provides a good stop off point for migrating birds which can be seen along with the hardy native sea birds. Golden Eagles have also been known to make an occasional visit to the village.
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...
. It is in the district of Uig, Lewis
Uig, Lewis
Uig , also known as Sgìr' Ùig, is a civil parish and community on the western coast of the island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It consists of scattered settlements around the bay of Camas Uig and the Bhaltos peninsula...
. The name of the village is sometimes spelt Breanish (which is generally the spelling used locally), however maps normally refer to Brenish.
It is commonly regarded as one of the more scenic areas on the island, although its remote location at the end of the winding and decaying C39 makes it one of the less visited. The village itself runs parallel to the Atlantic coastline and is overlooked by Mealisval, the tallest mountain on the island. It is located next to the village of Mealista
Mealista
Mealista or Mealasta is a township in the west of the Isle of Lewis. It is currently largely uninhabited due to the Highland Clearances, which occurred there in 1838....
which is an uninhabited village known best for its selection of virginal sandy beaches. Mealista
Mealista
Mealista or Mealasta is a township in the west of the Isle of Lewis. It is currently largely uninhabited due to the Highland Clearances, which occurred there in 1838....
is where the road ends, making Brenish the last populated village on the C39.
Directions
Brenish can be reached by taking the A859 from StornowayStornoway
Stornoway is a burgh on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.The town's population is around 9,000, making it the largest settlement in the Western Isles and the third largest town in the Scottish Highlands after Inverness and Fort William...
or Tarbert, Harris
Tarbert, Harris
Tarbert is the main community on Harris in the Western Isles of Scotland. It is also a car ferry terminal to Uig on Skye. Its name means "isthmus".-1990 RAF air crash:...
, then turning on to the A858 towards Garynahine
Garynahine
Garynahine lies at a T-junction where roads from Stornoway, Uig and the West Side of Lewis all meet....
, then the B8011, which then becomes the C39. The journey takes between 60 and 90 minutes from Stornoway
Stornoway
Stornoway is a burgh on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.The town's population is around 9,000, making it the largest settlement in the Western Isles and the third largest town in the Scottish Highlands after Inverness and Fort William...
and 90 to 120 minutes from Tarbert (depending on driving experience on the Lewis roads).
Architecture
The architecture in the area is fairly typical for the island. Most houses would have originally been a Black HouseBlack House
Black House is a Stoker Award winning novel by horror writers Stephen King and Peter Straub. Published in 2001, this is the sequel to The Talisman....
and will have been heavily modernised and extended throughout the years. Generally the houses are built beside the road, at the top of a croft
Croft (land)
A croft is a fenced or enclosed area of land, usually small and arable with a crofter's dwelling thereon. A crofter is one who has tenure and use of the land, typically as a tenant farmer.- Etymology :...
which itself leads down to the sea. However there have been several new houses built since the late 1990s which are changing the face of the village.
Population
Brenish was once a highly populated village but has suffered a drastic decline in its numbers during the 1900s, brought about by a combination of the younger generation opting to move to the mainland and the demise of the ageing residents. There is very little employment in the local area and the traditional occupation of croftingCrofting
Crofting is a form of land tenure and small-scale food production unique to the Scottish Highlands, the Islands of Scotland, and formerly on the Isle of Man....
has itself been in rapid decline since the 1980s. However, since the late 1990s the village has experienced a relative population boom. Over 50% of the population have migrated to Brenish from the UK mainland which has brought with it a feeling of revival.
Religion
Brenish, like all parts of the Hebridies, has a strong religious (Presbyterian) population. To this end there is normally very little activity in the village on Sunday. Until relatively recent years even the act of watching television on Sunday would have been frowned upon.Geology
One of the more interesting features of Brenish is the BlowholeBlowhole
Blowhole may refer to:*Blowhole , the hole at the top of a whale's or other cetacean's head*Blowhole , a hole at the inland end of a sea cave*Blowhole Diversion Tunnel in Victoria, Australia...
. This is a deep hole in the ground which is roughly 20 metres inland. It has a sea cave which funnels sea water into the hole, sometimes with such ferocity that the sea water blows out the top of the hole. The hole is situated to the north of the village and although it is large it can easily be missed because it is situated in a dip in the ground. There is no fencing around the hole making it a hazard to the unsuspecting walker.
Flora and fauna
The terrain is mainly heather covered moorland which is peppered with lochs of varying size, which are kept full by the plentiful supply of rain. This land contains high quantities of peatPeat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
, which is still used by many in the village as a fuel source for heating and cooking. The land between Brenish and Islivig is peat cutting land which has supplied the village with fuel for decades. Due to the wild, damp, salty climate only hardy vegetation is able to survive.
There are still a large number of sheep roaming freely and there is an increasing number of deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
which can be seen coming into villagers gardens in the evening. Other natives include rabbit, hare, rat, and feral cat. There have also been sightings of frogs in recent years which is a new addition to the area. There are regular sightings of seal fishing for salmon and sea trout in the Brenish bay.
Lewis provides a good stop off point for migrating birds which can be seen along with the hardy native sea birds. Golden Eagles have also been known to make an occasional visit to the village.