Uig (lewis)

Overview

Uig is a remote region of Lewis, lying some 20-odd miles from Stornoway on the island's rugged Atlantic coast.

The landscape here is hillier, and more dramatic than elsewhere on Lewis with its combination of myriad islets, wild cliff scenery and patches of pristine golden sand. At the crossroads to Miabhaig (Miavaig), you have a choice of either heading straight for the Uig Sands, or heading along a dramatic little road northeast to Cliobh (Cliff). The Atlantic breakers that roll onto the beach below the village are often spectacular, but make it unsafe for swimmers, who should continue another mile to Cnìp (Kneep), to the southeast of which is Tràigh na Beirghe, a glorious strand of shell sand, backed by dunes and machair.

The other route choice from Miabhaig is to continue along the main road through the narrow canyon of Glen Valtos (Glèann Bhaltois) to Timsgearraidh (Timsgarry), which overlooks Uig Sands (Tràigh Uuige), the largest and most prized of all the golden strands on Lewis. It was in the nearby village of Eadar dha Fhadhail (Ardroil) in 1831 that the Lewis Chessmen were discovered. These remarkable 12th-century Viking chesspieces carved from walrus ivory now reside in Edinburgh's National Museum of Scotland and the British Museum in London. You can see replicas of them in the Uig Heritage Centre housed in Uig School in Timsgearraidh.