The Outer Hebrides has a rich, ancient history and culture.
The landscape was shaped by the last ice age, and since neolithic times people have lived in Uig - Picts, Celts, Norse, and Gaels. This is an area rich in archaeological sites dating from around 6,500 years ago, including standing stones, hill forts, ancient churches, burial grounds and more.
Gaelic is ever present in Uig and the Outer Hebrides - you’ll hear it spoken in the shops, cafes and restaurants, and if you want to discover more about the language then you could visit Taigh Ceilidh in Stornoway - a cafe and arts venue (and if you order in Gaelic you get a 10% discount!).
Many artists have based themselves in the Uig and the Outer Hebrides, inspired by the environment, nature, colours and history of the place.
An Suileachan and Malkie Maclean - Gaelic artist and one of the co-founders of An Lanntair arts centre in Stornoway
History and culture
Uig and the Isle of Lewis has a distinctive history going back thousands of years. On a visit to the islands, there are a range of places to visit to explore the history and culture of this extraordinary place.
The Uig Museum - run by the local Comunn Eachdraidh Uig (historical society) - is in the community centre at the top of the village of Timsgearraidh. It is a brilliant museum that tells the story of the place in chronological order going back to Neolithic times, and includes hands on exhibits that kids will love - dress up as a norseman, or sit in an old croft kitchen. It is open during the warmer months from Tuesday to Saturday 12 - 4pm, and adults are £3.
Comunn Eachdraidh Uig’s website is a great resource for many of the key historical icons - the Brahan Seer and Domhnall Cam, the 17th century Clan Macaulay chief to name but two.
A Fifteen minute drive takes you over to Riof in Valtos, to visit An Suileachan (Gaelic for ‘the lesson’). This is a hilltop monument by Scottish artist Will Maclean (there is a painting by him in Hebrides House’s living room), and was constructed to commemorate the Riof land raids that took place in 1913.
Driving on over to Bernera, where at Bostadh Beach is an Iron Age House. Open during the warmer months, it is well worth a visit to see how people lived thousands of years ago with hosted talks by hugely knowledgeable experts. Check opening times and the cost to enter here.
Bostadh beach itself is beautiful, and a great place for a relatively sheltered swim.
A trip to the Outer Hebrides has to include a visit to the Calanais Stones, which were built around 5,000 years ago (some 2,000 years before Stonehenge) and were used as important site for around 2,000 years. The visitor centre is closed as it is being rebuild, due to reopen in 2025. The stones themselves remain accessible during this project, however parking is limited.
Nearby is the Carloway Broch, which was built around 200BC and acted as a stronghold for many generations until the 1500s.
If you have an interest in the sea and woodwork, then keep your eyes peeled when driving past Stornoway Harbour and you might see an Sgoth Niseach - a wooden skifff sailing boat.
In the early 90s Sam asked Hebridean boat builder, John Murdo Macleod if he'd build a Sgoth Mor (Big Boat) for a documentary he wanted to make for the BBC. John Murdo was the last in a long line of builders of these amazing traditional sailing crafts - his grandfather built the last 'Sgoth Mor' in 1918. It seemed such a tragedy to let all the cumulative knowledge held in John Murdo's hands and head go unrecorded on film.
John Murdo spent a year with apprentice Angus Smith building ‘An Sulaire’. Sam filmed the pair as they cut down the trees in January and launched this amazing thirty three foot craft the following December.
The community in the Hebrides really came together around the project. After the launch, An Sulaire became the focus of a revival in traditional sailing in the Hebrides and there are now several boats plus a team of volunteers and a charity called Falmadair. It is possible to go out on the boats, but you need to take out a day membership. Check out Falmadair’s Facebook page for any day trips coming up.
Att the end of the project, Sam asked John Murdo to make him a memento of the project - thinking it might be a coffee table. The result now hangs in the annexe of Hebrides House: a three dimensional wooden sculpture of An Sgoth Niseach.
Artists and studios
Uig and the Isles of Lewis and Harris are home to many artists, inspired by the beauty, history and culture of the Outer Hebrides.
Open Studios Hebrides’ website is a great resource for discovering artists and their studios throughout the islands. They also run weekends several times a year, where the artists across the islands who don’t usually host visitors open their studios.
Of the artists that do welcome visitors to their studios from around April to October, we’d recommend the following in Uig (although do check with each one on their specific opening times).
Reothart nan Ealain - visual arts, a shop and community events in Loch Croistean
Cliff Studios - painting and ceramics by Margaret Uttley and David Knight at Cliff beach in Valtos
Noisy Cat Ceramics - ceramics, pottery and and tiles in Enaclete
Nicola Stevenson - landscape painter working from her studio which is an old byre in Aird Uig.
Outside of Uig, there are many artists, studios and to be discovered:
Borgh Pottery - gorgeous ceramics in the most lovely studio and gardens
An Lanntair - the art centre in Stornoway, Sam was one of the three founders
The Mission House Studio - Photographer Beka and ceramist Nickolai Globe’s beautiful studio in Harris
Island Darkroom - photography, textiles and exhibitions in Achmore, on the road to Uig from Stornoway
Anthony Barber - paintings and prints in the Port of Ness
Blue Pig Studios - artist and print making in Carloway
Grinneabhat - fantastic community centre with an art gallery, cafe, historical exhibitions in Bragar
Beach House Gallery - paintings and prints in Dalbeg.
