Slèteachal Mhòr

The true summit of Slèiteachal Mhòr summit is at least 1.5m higher than west summit 520m WSW at NB 20830 18651 but we had to walk across just to make sure with Jim Bloomer, Mat Webster and Jonathan de Ferranti.

Access from A859 with Jonathan de Ferranti, Jim Bloomer and Mat Webster. Summit cairn to SW is lower than boulder on long rock, visited both with Jim's Abney level. Name: Slèiteachal Mhòr Hill number: 1580 Height: 248m / 814ft Area: 24A: Lewis and Nearby Islands Class: Ma Grid ref: NB 21332 18784 Summit feature: boulder on long rock Drop: 163m Col: 85m NB200173

Looking towards Slèiteachal Mhòr.

The outflow is the source of the Allt Loch Moglabhat which flows into Loch Langabhat approximately 800m to the north.

Shortly to the south of this point, the Allt Gil Oscaro and the Allt Gleann Oscaro merge to form the combined burn which flows into the loch.

Although the map shows Tairead Thioram to be an island, it is possible to walk across to it when the level of the loch is low.

The boat is pulled up well away from the shore and hasn't been used for some time.

According to the OS Name Book of 1848-1852, Tom na Bèidig Bhig means Hillock of the Little Dirk.

Looking towards Beinn a' Charnain.

According to the OS Name Book of 1848-1852, Airighean a' Mheoig means Whey Shealings (sic).

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 .

The unnamed lochan below lies within the grid square.

Looking towards Loch Langabhat.

The loch, Lòn Heastabhal, lies within the grid square.

The OS Name Book of 1848-1852 describes Gèarraidh Oscaro (then called Gearraidh Oscaroth) as, "A number of shealings (sic) which are built of peat sods and stones, some of which are in ruins. There is a portion of arable or green pasture attached to these shealings".

Looking towards Loch Moglabhat, a small part of which lies within the grid square.

This image was taken on the side of Sleitashal Mor, and shows Tob Kintaravay and Loch Seaforth and the village of Aribruach.

Taken on the side of Sleiteachal Mhor this image shows Loch Tiorsdam on the right behind that is the Aline forest and in the background are the hills of Park.