Uist
Encyclopedia
Uist or The Uists ( ˈiviʃtʲ) are the central group of islands in the Outer Hebrides
of Scotland
.
North Uist
and South Uist
are linked by causeway
s running via Benbecula
and Grimsay
, and the entire group is sometimes known as the Uists.
From south to north, the inhabited islands in the Uist group are Èirisgeigh (Eriskay
), Uibhist a Deas (South Uist), Grimsay (South)
, Beinn nam Faoghla (Benbecula
), Eilean Fhlodaigh (Flodaigh
), Griomasaigh (Grimsay (North)
), Fraoch-eilean
, Uibhist a Tuath (North Uist), Am Baile Sear (Baleshare
) and Beàrnaraigh (Berneray
).
, High Dean of the Isles stated of "Ywst" that it was a fertile country full of high hills and forests on the east coast with five parish kirks. He also noted that in the north of "Ywst ther is sundrie covis and holes in the earth, coverit with heddir above, quhilk fosters maney rebellis in the countrey".
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...
of 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...
.
North Uist
North Uist
North Uist is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-Geography:North Uist is the tenth largest Scottish island and the thirteenth largest island surrounding Great Britain. It has an area of , slightly smaller than South Uist. North Uist is connected by causeways to Benbecula...
and South Uist
South Uist
South Uist is an island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,818. There is a nature reserve and a number of sites of archaeological interest, including the only location in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found. The...
are linked by causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
s running via Benbecula
Benbecula
Benbecula is an island of the Outer Hebrides in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,249, with a sizable percentage of Roman Catholics. It forms part of the area administered by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar or the Western...
and Grimsay
Grimsay
Grimsay is a tidal island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.Grimsay is the largest of the low-lying stepping-stones which convey the Oitir Mhòr causeway, a five mile arc of single track road linking North Uist and Benbecula via the western tip of Grimsay...
, and the entire group is sometimes known as the Uists.
From south to north, the inhabited islands in the Uist group are Èirisgeigh (Eriskay
Eriskay
Eriskay , from the Old Norse for "Eric's Isle", is an island and community council area of the Outer Hebrides in northern Scotland. It lies between South Uist and Barra and is connected to South Uist by a causeway which was opened in 2001. In the same year Eriskay became the ferry terminal for...
), Uibhist a Deas (South Uist), Grimsay (South)
Grimsay, South East Benbecula
Grimsay, south east of Benbecula is a tidal island of the Outer Hebrides. It is connected to Benbecula by a causeway which carries the B891. In the 2001 census, Grimsay had a population of 19....
, Beinn nam Faoghla (Benbecula
Benbecula
Benbecula is an island of the Outer Hebrides in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,249, with a sizable percentage of Roman Catholics. It forms part of the area administered by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar or the Western...
), Eilean Fhlodaigh (Flodaigh
Flodaigh
Flodaigh is a tidal island lying to the north of Benbecula and south of Grimsay in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It is connected to Benbecula by a causeway....
), Griomasaigh (Grimsay (North)
Grimsay
Grimsay is a tidal island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.Grimsay is the largest of the low-lying stepping-stones which convey the Oitir Mhòr causeway, a five mile arc of single track road linking North Uist and Benbecula via the western tip of Grimsay...
), Fraoch-eilean
Fraoch-Eilean
Fraoch-eilean is a small island north of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It is about in extent and the highest point is . Its name derives from the Gaelic for "heather island"....
, Uibhist a Tuath (North Uist), Am Baile Sear (Baleshare
Baleshare
Baleshare is a flat tidal island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.Baleshare lies to the south-west of North Uist. Its economics and community were boosted by the building of a causeway in 1962. The 350m causeway was built by William Tawse Ltd. The island is extremely flat by Hebridean standards,...
) and Beàrnaraigh (Berneray
Berneray, North Uist
Berneray is an island and community in the Sound of Harris, Scotland. It is one of fifteen inhabited islands in the Outer Hebrides. It is famed for its rich and colourful history which has attracted much tourism....
).
Major Settlements
The main settlements in the Uists are:South Uist
- Dalabrog (DaliburghDaliburghDaliburgh is a crofting township in Scotland situated one and a half miles west from Lochboisdale and has the second largest population of any township in South Uist.Like Lochboisdale, Daliburgh has undergone major changes in recent years....
) - Loch Baghasdail (LochboisdaleLochboisdaleLochboisdale is a community and the main population centre on the island of South Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland.The town profited from the herring boom in the 19th century, and a steamer pier was built in 1880...
) - Snaoishabhal(Snishvale)
- Iochdar (Eochar)
Benbecula
- Baile a' Mhanaich (BalivanichBalivanichBalivanich is a village on the island of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. It is the main centre for Benbecula and the adjacent islands of North Uist, South Uist and several smaller islands...
) - Creag Ghoraidh (Creagorry)
- Lioniclate (Liniclate)
North Uist
- Càirinis (CarinishCarinishCarinish , in North Uist, in the Western Isles of Scotland, is known for the Carinish Stone Circle and the Trinity Temple.-Carinish Stone Circle:Carinish Stone Circle is not in a good condition - it has a main road running almost through the middle of it...
) - Ceann a' Bhàigh (Bayhead)
- Solas (SollasSollasSollas is a small crofting township on the northern coast of the island of North Uist, Scotland.From Sollas, the road that heads towards Bayhead is known as the Committee Road. It is called this as it was organised by a committee charged with providing famine relief in the 1840s...
) - Loch nam Madadh (LochmaddyLochmaddyLochmaddy is the administrative centre of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland...
)
Geography
Writing in 1549, Sir Donald MonroDonald Monro (Dean)
Donald Monro was a Scottish clergyman, who wrote an early and historically valuable description of the Hebrides and other Scottish islands and enjoyed the honorific title of “Dean of the Isles”.-Origins:...
, High Dean of the Isles stated of "Ywst" that it was a fertile country full of high hills and forests on the east coast with five parish kirks. He also noted that in the north of "Ywst ther is sundrie covis and holes in the earth, coverit with heddir above, quhilk fosters maney rebellis in the countrey".
Fishing
Monro referred to the "infinite number of fresh water loches", including Loch Bì, which is South Uist's largest loch and at 8 kilometres (5 mi) long it all but cuts the island in two. Monro stated that "the sea has gotten enteries to this fresche water loche" and described the "thicke dyke of rough staines" that had been created to prevent salt water ingress. This apparently resulted in numerous fish being caught in the stones, including "fluikes, podloches, skatts, and herings" and he described another "kynd of fishe, the quhantitie and shape of ane salmont, but it has na skaills at all; the under haffe, narrest his vombe is quhite, and the upmaist haffe narrest his back is als black as jett".Land tenure
Monro's description was:This countrey is bruiked by sundrey captains; to witt, the south southwest end of it, callit Bayhastill, be M’Neill of Barray, the rest of the ile, namit Peiter’s parochin, the parochin of Howes, and the mayne land of the mid countrey callit Mackermeanache, perteins to Clanronald, halding of the Clandonald. At the end heirof the sea enters, and cuts the countrey be ebbing and flowing through it: and in the north syde of this there is ane parochin callit Buchagla, perteining to the said Clandonald. At the north end thereof the sea cuts the countrey againe, and that cutting of the sea is called Careynesse, and benorth this countrey is called Kenehnache of Ywst, that is in Englishe, the north head of Ywst, whilk term is twa paroche kirks, and is mair of profit than the rest of haill of Ywst, perteining to Donald Gormesone.
External links
- Panoramas of Uist (QuickTime required)
- Archaeology of Uist - kite aerial photography
- Local Site Dedicated to Uist
See also
- List of Outer Hebrides
- Còmhla-bhigeinCòmhla-bhigeinThe Còmhla-bhigein was a trap for small birds in the Uist, Scotland in former times. It consisted of a riddle resting on the ground, with one end held up by a stick...
- Force-fireForce-fireThe force-fire , or a fire produced by friction, was used in folk magic practice in the Scottish Highlands up until the 19th century. Believers considered it an antidote against bewitching, as well as the plague, murrain and all infectious diseases among cattle...