Aird Uig
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aird Uig
| |
|---|---|
 Buildings at Aird Uig | |
  Aird Uig Location within the Outer Hebrides | |
| Language | Scottish Gaelic English |
| OS grid reference | NB048379 |
| Civil parish | |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ISLE OF LEWIS |
| Postcode district | HS2 |
| Dialling code | 01851 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Aird Uig (Scottish Gaelic: Àird Ùig) is a village on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Aird Uig is within the parish of Uig,[1] and is situated on the C40 minor road which joins to the B8011 at Timsgarry.[2] The township includes 700 hectares (1,700 acres) of common grazings to the east and west of the village.[3]
Aird Uig is a village of two distinctive characters. The south end is composed of a traditional crofting community whilst the north end is a composite of army barracks and buildings many of which have been converted into homes.[4] The Headquarters and NAAFI shop building are now the Gallan Head Hotel & Restaurant.[5]
Aird Uig was first settled in 1825 by crofters evicted from a nearby township of Carnish. Aird was chosen because of its remoteness and it was very difficult land to work, therefore of no interest to landowners.[4]
Between 1954 and 2010, the Royal Air Force (and latterly, NATO), operated a RADAR site at Gallan Head called RAF Aird Uig. The community is now trying to open the former base to the public as an observatory, gallery and whale listening post.[6]
