Gearraidh nan Annsgotan

The dyke is shown on the OS 1st edition six inch map published in 1852 and still appears on current (at the time of uploading) OS maps with a scale of 1:25,000 or larger.

The OS Name Book of 1848-1852 describes the Abhainn Lacasaidh as, "a large and rapid river which issues from Loch Threalabhall. After a long course passing through Loch Bhaltois it empties itself into Loch Erisort".

Shielings were moorland summer grazings for cattle. Shieling huts (often also referred to as shielings) were dwellings located within the shieling. They were usually occupied from May until the “flitting” in September. In early May the men of a village would go onto the moor to check and repair the shieling huts. They would be joined by the women and children for one night before the men returned to the village to tend to crops or to travel away for summer work such as fishing. The women and children would spend the summer at the shielings tending the cattle and making cheese and butter, some of which was for immediate use but most was salted to preserve it for the winter. Peat cutting for fuel would also be done. Evenings would be spent making music and story telling. Visits were made between the shielings of different villages. The shieling huts were made from materials available in the immediate vicinity. They usually had walls made of stone or turf, turf roofs and compacted earth or clay floors. In coastal areas and on the islands rafters would be made from locally collected driftwood. Usually there would be a single doorway, facing away from the prevailing wind (although some shieling huts have two doors opposite each other), and often no windows. Furniture built into shieling huts included stone or turf beds covered with heather, turf seats and cupboards and niches built into the stone wall, often one above the door. Other furniture would be carried out onto the moor for the season. In places where the practice of using shielings continued into the 20th century, shieling huts can be found which are constructed making more extensive use of timber than in the traditional type, along with other materials such as tin and bitumen. There are also examples of buses and caravans used as shieling huts. The Clearances and ongoing changes in agricultural methods meant that the shieling tradition had generally ended by the close of the nineteenth century. In places it continued for longer and, particularly on Lewis, some shieling huts are still used today during the peat cutting season and as summer retreats. The remains of shieling huts can be seen as changes in vegetation: ND1340 : Shieling site by the Allt a' Cheracher ; shieling mounds where successive shieling huts have been built on the same site: NB5059 : Shieling mounds by the Abhainn Dhail, Isle of Lewis ; footings: NB5357 : Shieling footings beside the Feadan Mòr, Isle of Lewis ; and more substantial remains: NB3040 : Shieling above Gleann Leitir, Isle of Lewis . Examples of modern shielings are shown at: NB5458 : Shieling, Airigh A' Bhealaich, Isle of Lewis and NB5458 : Disused shieling, Airigh A' Bhealaich, Isle of Lewis .

A stone dyke used to cross the isthmus, the remains of which can be seen on the shore of Loch nan Annsgotan to the left.

Unfortunately, from my point of view, the causeway has a gap in the middle which requires wading through water approximately three feet deep to cross it.

Looking towards Ceannmhuir Mhòr.

Trealabhal Hill at 121m lies close to this small loch whilst Roineabhal Hill at 281m can be seen to the left of the frame. Some locals call it "Calum's Loch"

This fresh water loch is the head of the Laxay River. The hill from which this image was taken carries the same name. Some of the Islands in it are particularly lush with vegetation on account of them being inaccessible to sheep.

Image shows Northern End of Loch Trealabhal looking over to the Pairc Hills- some refer to this range of hills as "the sleeping beauty" when viewed from this angle.

Probably the biggest and certainly the greenest Island in this large loch which is the head waters of the Lacsaidh River. Pairc hills in distance.

The eastern end of the loch.