Ness
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|---|---|
 Landsat image of the north of Lewis | |
  Ness Location within the Outer Hebrides | |
| Population | 1,300 |
| Language | Scottish Gaelic English |
| OS grid reference | NB5261 |
| Civil parish |
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| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | STORNOWAY |
| Postcode district | HS2 |
| Dialling code | 01851 810 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Ness (Scottish Gaelic: Nis) 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. [1]
Ness is part of the Galson Estate, which is owned by Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn (Galson Estate Trust) which is managed by 10 local trustees elected by the community. The hand-over took place on 12 January 2007.[2]
Ness is accessible via the A857 road[3] and is about 25 mi (40 km) by road from Stornoway. Ness can also be reached by walking across the moor from North Tolsta in Back to Skigersta. It is about 10 mi (16 km) and takes 6 hours at a leisurely pace.
Scottish Gaelic is the language of the community with 75% being able to speak it.[citation needed] Peat cut from the moor, is used as a fuel for cooking and heating in many homes, but its use is on the decline. The 2001 Census results show a resident population of just under 1,000. In 1831 Ness had a population of just over 3,000.
Landmarks include the 13th-century Teampull Mholuaidh in Eoropie and the small island of Dùn Èistean which is the ancestral home of the Lewis Morrisons of the Clan Morrison. There is a road sign to the bridge across to Dùn Èistean, and archaeological excavations have been taking place there. Morrisons of Harris and Lewis can traditionally be found around Nis, and in the north-west Highlands in the county of Sutherland around the town of Durness (Scottish Gaelic: Diùranais).
Each year 10 men from Ness go out to the island of Sula Sgeir in late August for a fortnight to harvest around 2,000 young gannets known locally as Guga.[4] The Guga hunt is a Ness tradition and the bird considered a delicacy.
A Ness boat builder called John F. Macleod from Port saved 40 lives following the sinking of H.M.Y. Iolaire by managing to take a line to shore.[5]
Ness is known for its Sgoth, a type of clinker built skiff with a dipping lug sail. The boats were used for line fishing until the early half of the twentieth century.[6] There are several still in active use owned by community trusts which maintain them.[7][8]
- ^ Entry "nes", on page 312 in: Geir T. Zoëga (1910). "A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic" - archive.org
- ^ "Islanders in huge estate buy-out". BBC News Online. 12 January 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2007.
- ^ "A857". Sabre. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "The Guga Hunters of Ness: creating the programme". BBC. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "The Iolaire Disaster". Ness Historical Society. Archived from the original on 22 January 2003. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
- ^ "Jubilee - Last of the sgoth Niseach". Ness Historical Society. Archived from the original on 29 May 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2006.
- ^ "An Sulaire Trust Ltd". An Sulaire Trust Ltd. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
- ^ "Falmadair". North Lewis Maritime Society. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2008.