The Isle of Lewis or simply Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. The two parts are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands. The total area of Lewis is 683 square miles (1,770 km2).
Stornoway is the main town of the Western Isles and the capital of Lewis and Harris in Scotland.
Leverburgh is the second largest village, after Tarbert, in Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Leverburgh is within the parish of Harris. In 1971 it had a population of 223.
Balivanich 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. Balivanich is within the parish of South Uist.
Point, also known as the Eye Peninsula, is a peninsula some 11 km long in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The majority of Point is connected to the rest of the Isle of Lewis by a narrow isthmus, one mile in length and at one point barely 100 metres wide. The peninsula is just 6 km east of the regional capital of Stornoway, however the district of Point actually starts at the Parkend estate on Stornoway's outskirts. Point is home to around 2,600 people and is one of the few districts of the Western Isles where the population is increasing. There are about 17 villages and hamlets in Point: Melbost (Mealabost), Branahuie, Aignish (Aiginis), Knock, Swordale (Suardail), Garrabost, Lower Bayble, Eagleton, Upper Bayble, Shulishader, Sheshader (Seisiader), Flesherin (Fleisirin), Cnoc Amhlaigh, Portnaguran, Aird, Broker (Brocair), and Portvoller.
Portnaguran is a settlement situated within Point, on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Portnaguran is the township at the north-easternmost point of the peninsula. It lies 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of Tiumpan Head and just south of the headland called Geòdha 'ic Sheòrais or sometimes Small Head amongst locals. Portnaguran is situated at the north-eastern end of the A866, within the parish of Stornoway.
Barvas is a settlement, community and civil parish on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. It developed around a road junction. The A857 and A858 meet at the southern end of Barvas. North is the road to Ness; west takes the traveller to Carloway and the West Side; south runs the road to Stornoway. According to the 2011 Census it still has the highest concentration of Scottish Gaelic speakers in Scotland with 2,037.
Aird is a village in the Scottish council area of Eileanan Siar. It is located on the Eye Peninsula on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis. Aird is within the parish of Stornoway, and is situated on the A866 near the northern end of the road.
Carloway is a crofting township and a district on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The district has a population of around 500. Carloway township is within the parish of Uig, and is situated on the A858.
Portvoller is a small village on the north tip of the Eye Peninsula, on the Isle of Lewis in northwestern Scotland. It is 9 miles on the A866 from the Outer Hebrides' only town, Stornoway. Portvoller is within the parish of Stornoway.
Bayble is a large village in Point, on the Isle of Lewis, 6 miles east of Stornoway. Bayble is also within the parish of Stornoway.
Shulishader is a small village with a population of around 120 people in Point, Outer Hebrides on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. Located on the north-western side of the Eye Peninsula, it overlooks Broad Bay. Most of the village is over 60m above sea level, affording excellent views across the bay and northern Lewis, though the land falls gently towards the sea before ending in small cliffs. There are several small, difficult to access, sandy beaches, and a small cove on the coastline. The cove is accessible via 88 dilapidated steps, and contains a pebble peach, some natural caves and a concrete structure once used for boat moorings above the high tide line.
Leurbost is a village on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It is approximately 6 miles south of Stornoway on the road to Harris. It is the main settlement in the area of the island known as North Lochs. Leurbost is within the parish of Lochs.
Garrabost is a village in the Point peninsula isthmus on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The village is one of the largest in Point, comprising Upper and Lower Garrabost, and Claypark. Garrabost is within the civil parish of Stornoway. The church parish for Point is called Knock, and both Knock Church of Scotland and Knock Free Church of Scotland are located in Garrabost. Garrabost is situated on the A866, between Stornoway and Portnaguran.
The Hebrides were settled early on in the settlement of the British Isles, perhaps as early as the Mesolithic era, around 8500–8250 BC, after the climatic conditions improved enough to sustain human settlement. There are examples of structures possibly dating from up to 3000 BC, the finest example being the standing stones at Callanish, but some archaeologists date the site as Bronze Age. Little is known of the people who settled in the Hebrides but they were likely of the same Celtic stock that had settled in the rest of Scotland. Settlements at Northton, Harris, have both Beaker & Neolithic dwelling houses, the oldest in the Western Isles, attesting to the settlement.
Branahuie is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Branahuie is within the parish of Stornoway, and is situated on the A866. It is also close to Stornoway, Stornoway Airport and Melbost.
Salen is a settlement on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. It is on the east coast of the island, on the Sound of Mull, approximately halfway between Craignure and Tobermory. The full name of the settlement is 'Sàilean Dubh Chaluim Chille'. In 1991 it had a population of 500.
Cross is a township on the Isle of Lewis in the community of Ness, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Cross is within the parish of Barvas. Cross is also situated on the A857, between Stornoway and Port of Ness.
Aird Uig is a village on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Aird Uig is within the parish of Uig, and is situated on the C40 minor road which joins to the B8011 at Timsgarry. The township includes 700 hectares of common grazings to the east and west of the village.
Marybank is a settlement on the outskirts of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It is also within the parish of Stornoway. Marybank is situated at the junction of the A858 and A859. Lews Castle and Stornoway Golf Club are to the east of Marybank.
