Bragar

The arch dates from 1920. It was made from the jawbone of a dead blue whale which was washed ashore in a nearby inlet Geodha nam Muc and has since become a tourist attraction. It is Category B-listed by Historic Environment Scotland (LB5767 Link ). More information Link (Britain Express).

Bragar (Bràgar) is a village situated on the A858 between Carloway and Barvas on the west side of the Isle of Lewis, 14 miles from the island's only town, Stornoway

This type of stile is used throughout the coastal walk from Bragar to Siabost. It's an object lesson in how not to make a stile. Firstly the single step is much too high, as demonstrated by my able assistant. It risks pulled muscles, climbing up or jumping down. Secondly, as everyone has to pull on the top bar to climb up, the bar soon breaks off. Half the stiles on this part of the walk had lost the bar. Once the bar comes off, the rest of the stile becomes unstable because the legs are long and there is no cross bracing. Next, the mortice joint attaching the step to the back legs is too shallow. After we climbed over one stile, we found that the joint had come unscrewed and only a 1cm edge of wood on the wonky stile stopped it from collapsing. Finally, to add damage to injury, the barbed wire of the fence is uncovered, so it catches rucsacks as you jump off.

This footbridge gives access to the coastal walk west from the car park at Bragar.

There are several war graves in the cemetery. Sadly, half of them bear the date 1st January 1919. 205 men returning to Lewis were drowned in the Iolaire disaster close to Stornoway. The grave in the foreground has an even later date, 26 October 1919. Donald Morrison served on HMS Pontefract, a minesweeper, and died in an accident.

Sometimes it is possible to cross the short causeway to the Broch. On this occasion the loch was high with recent rain, and waves were breaking over the stepping stones.

The village Postmaster and general merchant, Murdo Morrison decided the lower mandible of the 82 foot long blue whale that drifted into Geodha nam Muc in 1920 would make an ideal arch over his gateway. The death dealing harpoon was also brought out to serve as a centrepiece. The jaws measure 25 feet each and weight about 4 tons. The height at the apex of the Arch is approximately 20 feet. The arch was Category B listed by Historic Scotland in 1978. Refurbishment was carried out in 2000 by Long Island Thermal Insulation Co in Newmarket near Stornoway where they were encased in 12mm of fibreglass protective coating and the damaged areas build up to the original shape using isopon filler. The harpoon was also shot blasted, repaired and coated but the steelwork holding the sections together at the apex was too badly corroded and had to be replaced.

This archway looks artificial but is a genuine whale jawbone which became weathered after standing here in Bragar for 80 years and was in 2000 given a protective coating of glass-fibre reinforced resin. The object dangling from the apex is a typical example of the harpoons used by whalers.

Couldn't see the authorities allowing such a construction today....