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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isle of Lewis</span> Region of Lewis and Harris island, Scotland

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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodel</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Rodel is a village on the south-eastern coast of Harris, an island in the Scottish Outer Hebrides. Rodel is situated in the parish of Harris. It was historically the capital of Harris, and the main port, before Tarbert took the title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ness, Lewis</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Ness is the northernmost part of the Isle of Lewis, a community consisting of about 16 villages, including Lionel, Habost, Swainbost, Cross, North and South Dell, Cross Skigersta, Skigersta, Eorodale, Adabroc, Port of Ness, Knockaird, Fivepenny and Eoropie. It was the most north-westerly community in the European Union, when the United Kingdom was a member. Its most northerly point is the Butt of Lewis. The name Ness derives from the old Norse for headland and many of the other place names in the area also have a Norse origin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portnaguran</span> Human settlement in Scotland

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bragar</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Bragar is a village on the west side of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, 14 miles from the island's only town, Stornoway. Bragar is within the parish of Barvas, and is situated on the A858 between Carloway and Barvas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carloway</span> Human settlement in Scotland

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skigersta</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Skigersta is a village to the south east of Ness on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It is the easternmost settlement in the Ness district and is 5km (3miles) southeast of the Butt of Lewis. Skigersta is situated within the parish of Barvas. There is a quay built in 1901 and a shingle beach. The area of Skigersta near the shore is called 'Lathamor'. To the south of Skigersta the moor begins and the road turns into a peat track; there are sheilings on the moor at Cuisiadar and if you follow the moor further south you reach the road at New Tolsta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breasclete</span> Village in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland

Breasclete is a village and community on the west side of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Breasclete is within the parish of Uig, and is situated adjacent to the A858.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dùn Èistean</span>

Dùn Èistean is a multi-period archaeological site on an inter-tidal sea stack on the north east coast of the Isle of Lewis, near the village of Knockaird in the area of Nis (Ness) in the Western Isles of Scotland. It is accorded the status of traditional stronghold of Clan Morrison, once a highly powerful family within the Lordship of the Isles, in local oral tradition. The ruins of two large buildings and groups of interconnecting cellular structures can be seen amongst the grassy tussocks on the top of the island, as well as an artificial pond and a low turf wall enclosing the site. The most prominent feature of the site is a large circular mound of rubble situated on the highest point of the stack, on the north east side of the site. The topographical survey of the site shows these buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Outer Hebrides</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baile an Truiseil</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Ballantrushal is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the West Side district, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Ballantrushal is within the parish of Barvas, and is situated on the A857. The standing stone Clach an Trushal is beside the village. and was the site of the last battle between the Lewis Macaulays and Morrison clans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Tolsta</span> Human settlement in Scotland

North Tolsta is a village in the Scottish Outer Hebrides, on the east side of the Isle of Lewis. North Tolsta is within the parish of Stornoway. Tolsta is notable for its long sandy beach Traigh Mhor At the end of Tolsta's long sandy beach there are five caves, only visitable during low tide. They are known locally as "The Caves of Life." The village of Bail' Ùr Tholastaidh is to the north. The village has a two churches and a post office and community shop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Dell</span> Human settlement in Scotland

South Dell is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the community of Ness, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. South Dell is within the parish of Barvas, and is situated alongside the A857. The Dell River separates South and North Dell. The artists David Greenall and Ruth O'Dell live in South Dell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Dell</span> Human settlement in Scotland

North Dell is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the community of Ness, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. North Dell is within the parish of Barvas. It lies 5 km south of the Butt of Lewis, between the settlements of South Dell and Cross and comprises 22 crofts. North Dell is reputed to be the best village for the growing of potatoes in Lewis – along with Garrabost in Point!

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cross, Lewis</span> Human settlement in Scotland

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swainbost</span> Village in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland

Swainbost is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the district of Ness, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The name Swainbost meaning Sweins steading is of Viking derivation. The settlement is situated in the parish of Barvas. According to Ronald Black, Swainbost was re-settled during the Highland Clearances in 1842. The island's Anglo-Scottish landlord had expected the crofters evicted from Uig to emigrate and only reluctantly granted them land at Swainbost to avert the threat of violence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eoropie</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Eoropie is the most northerly village on the Isle of Lewis in the parish of Ness, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Eoropie is within the parish of Barvas. The Teampull Mholuaidh is to be found here. Eoropie is situated at the end of the B8013 and B8014 roads, from Lionel and Port of Ness, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knockaird</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Knockaird is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the parish of Ness, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It is the highest point in Port of Ness and is home to Dùn Èistean an ancient ruined fort on a small island that is joined by a bridge. Dùn Èistean is traditionally known as a stronghold of the Clan Morrison of Lewis. Knockaird is within the parish of Barvas. The B8014 travels through the settlement, between Port of Ness and Eoropie. The Clach Stein standing stones are situated between Knockaird and Port of Ness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timsgarry</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Timsgarry is a village on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Timsgarry is home to the Baile na Cille Church and the Uig Museum, noted for its giant Chessmen, discovered in the sands in 1831.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newmarket, Lewis</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Newmarket is a village in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, on the Isle of Lewis near Stornoway. It is part of the Leodsoch countryside and a peat site is not far away. Its nearest town is Stornoway and the nearest council headquarters is Na h-Eileanan Siar in Stornoway. Newmarket is within the parish of Stornoway. Newmarket is situated on the A857 at the junction with the B895. The remains of a stone circle exist to the west of the villages in a croft.

References

  1. "Lewis, Port of Ness". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland . Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  2. "A857". Sabre. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  3. "Port of Ness | Galson Estate Trust". galsontrust. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Lewis, Port of Ness, Harbour". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland . Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  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. "Lewis, Ness, Clach Stein". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland . Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  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.