Uig Bay

Beside A87

The 99m 5,506 tonne MV Hebrides is the third vessel of that name in the CalMac fleet and carries the bell of the first Hebrides an 1898 steamer. The second vessel was MacBrayne's first car ferry in 1964 also sailing from Uig. Launched by the Queen on 2nd August 2000 MV Hebrides III's maiden voyage was on 21st March 2001 with the ability to carry about 98 cars and 600 passengers. Sailing mostly from Uig she also carried out relief duties in winter 2012/3 and is set for relief duties in early 2016.

Here we have three interesting subjects. In the bay is the 99m 5,506 tonne MV Hebrides the third vessel of that name in the CalMac fleet and carrying the bell of the first Hebrides an 1898 steamer. The second vessel was MacBrayne's first car ferry in 1964 also sailing from Uig. Launched by the Queen on 2nd August 2000 MV Hebrides III's maiden voyage was on 21st March 2001 with the ability to carry about 98 cars and 600 passengers. Almost out of shot is the Category B Listed Round Tower or Fraser's Folly built about 1860 by Captain Fraser of Kilmuir. It could have been a place were the local crofters paid their rents to his factor. His house, Uig Lodge, was washed away in the great flood of 13th October 1877. It is claimed that the tower was occupied as a house until the 1950s. The main subject however is the Category C Listed Alexander Ross and William Joass designed Uig Free Church built 1860-61. The Ross and Joass Architectural Practice was short lived starting in 1859 and then dissolved in 1865. It appears that the tower was a late 19th century addition. A number of references to the church claim it to have been built in 1847 but the Historic Scotland Listing and Dictionary of Scottish Architects are clear that it was 1860-61. The Inverness Advertiser Friday, October 4, 1861 reports on 'Uig, Skye - Opening of new church' having previously reported in July 1860 of the laying of a foundation stone.

The journey has taken almost three hours longer than usual today as an intermediate stop was carried out at Loch Maddy. Anyway what's the hurry?

The Isle of Arran is one of two boats standing in for the MV Hebrides during the winter of 2015/16 on the Uig/Lochmaddy/Tarbert crossings. The other is the Hebridean Isles, seen in NG3863 : MV Hebridean Isles in Uig Bay The Isle of Arran was launched in 1983 and was CalMac's first roll-on, roll-off ferry.

The Hebridean Isles is one of two boats standing in for the MV Hebrides during the winter of 2015/16 on the Uig/Lochmaddy/Tarbert crossings. The other is the Isle of Arran, seen in NG3863 : MV Isle of Arran on King Edward Pier The Hebridean Isles was the permanent boat on this route from 1986 until 2000, so it's something of a return home.

Car ferries leave from here to Lochmaddy (North Uist) and Tarbert (Harris).

Recently arrived from Lochmaddy, North Uist. Looking across Uig Bay from South Cuil.

Looking across Uig Bay from South Cuil.

The pasture was still home to a corncrake or two in the early 1980s.