Bayhead in the Hebrides
Bayhead in the Hebrides
The west coast of the northernmost of the Uists contrasts sharply with that of the east. Whereby the east is a heavily-fjorded coastline of sea lochs and inlets, the west is nearly just one long sandy beach.
It is an area of quiet beauty with views out to the nearby Monach Islands of Shillay, Heisker and Ceann Ear. Also just off the west coast lies the island of Baleshare. Its Gaelic name, Baile Sear, simply means Eastern Township. An 'Eastern Township' on the west coast isn't as curious as it sounds. There once was a 'Western Township' which was swept away in an exceptionally high tide which at the same time isolated the Monach Islands and widened the Sound of Pabbay.
To the south stand the ruin of Teampull na Trionaid, a medieval monastery and college thought to have been founded by Beathag, daughter of Somerled in the early thirteenth century. There are many other interesting and worthwhile sites nearby, including a stone circle the road to Benbecula passes right through the middle of.
From the village of Bayhead there is a road that heads towards Sollas known as the Committee Road. It is called this as it was organised by a committee charged with providing famine relief in the 1840s. This part of the Hebrides, now a quiet backwater of few people, like other similar areas throughout the islands hides an extraordinary history; Baleshare south of Bayhead saw the introduction of the kelp industry; Carinish in the extreme south west was the site of a monastery and college; now deserted Pabbay was once the granary of the Hebrides alongside which whisky was distilled - now there's nothing but sheep.
The people are almost entirely Protestant. The Sunday tradition of quiet worship and nothing open is however somewhat more relaxed than the Sabbaths of Lewis and Harris.
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