Port of Ness

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Port of Ness
Port of Ness.png
Port of Ness, the beach and the harbour basin
Outer Hebrides UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Port of Ness
Location within the Outer Hebrides
Language Scottish Gaelic
English
OS grid reference NB537638
Civil parish
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town ISLE OF LEWIS
Postcode district HS2
Dialling code 01851 810
Police Scotland
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
58°29′35″N6°13′37″W / 58.493°N 6.227°W / 58.493; -6.227

Port of Ness (Scottish Gaelic : Port Nis) is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the community of Ness, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Port of Ness is within the parish of Barvas. [1] Port of Ness is situated at the end of the A857, which runs from Stornoway. [2] In 2014, the Ness Fishery Memorial was erected to celebrate the fishing heritage in the area and to commemorate the 96 people who lost their lives in the industry between 1835 and 1900. [3]

Contents

Harbour

The harbour was constructed in the early 19th century. [4] An enlargement was built in 1893, with a breakwater added the following year. [4] Each year men from Ness district sail from the port to Sula Sgeir in the Atlantic Ocean in order to collect young gannet for food. [5] The event, which was first recorded in the 16th century, [6] is now licensed by the Scottish government. [7]

Heritage Sites

The Clach Stein standing stones are situated just to the north of the settlement. [8] [9] To the south is Dun Eòradail a settlement on top of a sea stack/island. Nothing is known about Dun Eòradail other than it contains the ruins of several structures. It is thought to date from the medieval period because of its similarity to other medieval settlements but no archaeological excavations have been conducted on it to confirm that. [10]

In Literature

The boathouse at the harbour features in the Peter May novels, The Blackhouse and The Lewis Man . [11]

Images

References

  1. Historic Environment Scotland. "Lewis, Port of Ness (Site no. NB56SW 26)" . Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  2. "A857". Sabre. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  3. "Port of Ness | Galson Estate Trust". galsontrust. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  4. 1 2 Historic Environment Scotland. "Lewis, Port of Ness, Harbour (Site no. NB56SW 16)" . Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  5. "The Guga Hunters of Ness: creating the programme". BBC . Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  6. Holloway, Simon (31 January 2010). The Historical Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 1875-1900. ISBN   9781408128664 . Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  7. "Cliffhanger for a bloody tradition as last of Scotland's gannet hunters set sail". The Guardian . Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  8. "Clach Stein - Standing Stones in Scotland in Isle of Lewis". The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  9. Historic Environment Scotland. "Lewis, Ness, Clach Stein (Site no. NB56SW 12)" . Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  10. "Vol 36 (2009): STAC: The Severe Terrain Archaeological Campaign - investigation of stack sites of the Isle of Lewis 2003-2005 | Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports". journals.socantscot.org. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  11. "Peter May Trilogy - Port of Ness Harbour". Visit Outer Hebrides. Retrieved 20 December 2014.