where the hum has been affecting residents Credit: iStockResidents of the Outer Hebrides have reportedly been plagued by a mysterious low-frequency hum which they say has caused people to suffer from headaches and dizziness was set up to support residents of the Isle of Lewis who have been affected by the noise Islanders have taken it upon themselves to investigate the cause of the constant hum which residents say can be heard day and night a senior educator at NHS Scotland Academy who set up the support page which has been "intermittent" since February 2025 "The sound has been measured at 50 Hertz using a spectrograph This frequency falls below the hearing range of many people but is known to be man-made in origin and can be extremely disturbing for those who are sensitive to it," Ms Kirtley wrote on Facebook "This noise is not just a background hum from appliances - it’s a persistent environmental tone that can be heard indoors and outdoors in multiple areas." Residents have made spectrograph recordings at various locations across the island where the hum has been reported They detected much weaker signals in the island’s interior suggesting the sound is not originating from the centre of the island the group has also contacted multiple organisations for advice and investigation support including the local council for the Isle of Lewis Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) The local council for the Isle of Lewis told ITV News: "Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has received several reports relating to low frequency sounds from members of the public "As with any other reports of this nature Comhairle’s Environmental Health Team is investigating and will liaise with those who have reported issues "Due to the geographical separation of the reports Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is currently considering them unrelated." With the source of the noise still unknown residents of the Isle of Lewis have taken matters into their own hands sharing a mix of theories in an effort to solve the mystery who has been using amateur radio techniques to trace the source of the noise originally moved his family to the island for its peace and quiet he’s part of the growing effort to solve the mystery of the hum He initially suspected a local power plant but ruled out SSEN’s Battery Point Power Station in Stornoway after some testing “It’s just trying to narrow it down and hoping nobody loses their mind completely over it,” he told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland one group member floated the theory that the sound might be linked to whales - and even said that residents could be “undergoing a transformation into sea creatures.” "Whales are known to employ humming and clicking sounds as a means of communication; perhaps we ourselves are undergoing a transformation into sea creatures," they wrote "Submarines are equipped with sonar jammers that emit loud humming noises; perhaps they are endeavouring to conceal something far more sinister from our knowledge…?" said she has been hearing the "Hum" for around 15 years and has recently come to the conclusion that the sound came from a local sewage plant I thought I was hearing a plane circling overhead It almost sounds like you're hearing the earth turning as ridiculous as that sounds," she said ITV News has contacted the local council for the Isle of Lewis Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know little appears to have changed in the 30 years that bestselling author Peter May has been visiting the Isle of Lewis But tourism has had a big impact – from Sunday opening hours to a deep water port for cruise ships There was a joke doing the rounds when I was first visiting the Outer Hebrides more than three decades ago the pilot makes an announcement: “We will shortly be arriving on the Isle of Lewis Don’t forget to turn your watches back two … hundred years.” as you arrived on the islands for the first time a sense of stepping back in time – to a place and a culture that had changed little in perhaps centuries My first impression of the Outer Hebrides is imprinted indelibly on my memory I drove north through a stark and treeless landscape to a tiny village at the extreme northern tip of the Isle of Lewis There was a sense of stepping back in time – to a place and a culture that had changed little in perhaps centuriesThere small fishing vessels nudged each other playfully and strained at ropes in the tiny harbour at Port of Ness an arc of deserted golden sand stretched away to an outcrop of black gneiss and I was there to research and develop a television soap opera in the Gaelic language and I spent much of the next five years producing that subtitled drama for Scottish Television Adroil beach Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The GuardianThat first encounter was to develop into a passionate love affair though there was a period in the dark days of the Covid pandemic that made me think I might never return I went back to the islands to research my new book and found that enforced absence had somehow provided me with a new perspective Which translates roughly as the more things change In a superficial sense very little has changed in the past 30-odd years The same timeless Atlantic waves crash upon the black cliffs and golden sands of the west coast The same wind scours the same bogs scarred by generations of peat digging The east coast port of Stornoway has altered little on the surface Lines of Sunday worshippers clutching Bibles lean into the wind one hand on their hats as coats fly out in their wake this is a society that has undergone a transformation and faces a future that could very possibly blight its once unspoiled landscape I recall hungrily wandering the streets of Stornoway looking for lunch on the sabbath It was impossible to buy petrol for my car and I feared I would not make it back to my rental cottage Stornoway where 30 years ago nothing was open on Sundays Photograph: Peter MayPublic toilets were locked swings in the playground were chained and padlocked clothes lines all over the island fibrillated emptily in the wind It was forbidden to hang out washing on a Sunday Neither could you buy a Sunday paper – they did not arrive until Monday morning as there were no flights or ferries Urban myth has it that the only cinema on Lewis was forced to close its doors after showing a film of which the church disapproved but the screening of Fanny Hill in 1967 certainly caused an outcry And it was claimed that the Reverend William Maclean of the Free Presbyterian Church in Ness cast a curse on the cinema manager after Jesus Christ Superstar was shown in 1976 the islands have always spawned tall stories island life then was indeed controlled by the Protestant church – several denominations of which agreed on only one thing: the Lewis Sabbath was inviolable The faithful had even been known to prostrate themselves on harbour ramps to prevent attempts by the ferry company to start a Sunday service Ferries sail into the major harbours (when they have not broken down or been taken out of service) While there is still a reluctance in rural areas to hang out laundry on a Sunday it is not uncommon to see washing lines in Stornoway flapping in the wind and The Chessmen – a little over a decade ago and location tours that take visitors to sites mentioned in the books Free weekly newsletterThe only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns A new deep water port has been built opposite the harbour in Stornoway close to the former oil platform construction yard at Arnish (which now specialises in wind turbines) It can accommodate huge commercial cruise ships debouching up to 5,000 visitors at a time to flood the streets of Stornoway and the few remaining single-track roads on the island Some concerns have been expressed about whether the island infrastructure can cope with this has described it as “a gamechanger for the islands” The rise in tourism over the past 30 years has seen a corresponding fall in Stornoway’s once-vital fishing industry the inner harbour at Stornoway bristled with fishing vessels tied up at the weekend Now only a handful of fishing boats remain and it is recreational vessels that are berthed along the new pontoons attached to the harbour walls Food trucks and honesty shops have sprung up all over many of them serving traditional local fare The plan to install 66 more wind turbines will have a dramatic visual impact on a landscape unchanged in millenniaYet as I drive west now from Stornoway across the Barvas moor wind-battered villages along the coast road appear just as they did when our caravan of trucks trekked through stormy weather to filming locations I could almost believe that I had never been away All the unspoiled beauty of these islands remains The peat moor of Barvas Photograph: Murdo Macleod/The GuardianA rise in the road reveals the lazy turning of half a dozen wind turbines towering over the peat bog to install 66 wind turbines three miles off the west coast of the island they will have a dramatic visual impact on a landscape unchanged in millennia everything seems just as it was three decades ago The wind scours the land and very little grows above waist height Taking the road from Harris up the east coast I could almost believe that a time machine had returned me to that bitter cold February in 1991 when I first drove my car off the ferry at Tarbert and headed north to Ness and my appointment with destiny The Black Loch by Peter May is published by Riverrun (£22). To support the Guardian and the Observer buy a copy at guardianbookshop.com Emergency services were called to North Tolsta on the Isle of Lewis. Emergency services were called to North Tolsta on the Isle of Lewis following the death of a 32-year-old man at around 1.35pm. Officers believe there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident. A report is due to be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 1.35pm on Friday, 18 April, 2025, we were made aware of the death of a 32-year-old man at North Tolsta, Isle of Lewis. “A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.” STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" Senior News ReporterSaturday April 26 2025 The Sunday TimesLauren-Grace Kirtley finally fulfilled her lifelong dream of moving to the Outer Hebrides two years ago her vision of living in idyllic tranquillity off the west coast of Scotland now lies in ruins but I figured it was probably a helicopter and didn’t think any more about it,” said the doctor and university lecturer Lauren-Grace Kirtley says the humming sound on the Isle of Lewis is “driving me absolutely crazy”LAUREN-GRACE KIRTLEYThen “This time it was so loud that it woke me up,” she said I haven’t been able to sleep through a single night since.” who lives in the sparsely populated township of Aignish on the Isle of Lewis A man has been found dead on the Isle of Lewis Police were made aware of the death of a 32-year-old man at North Tolsta around 1.35pm on Friday Police said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death Emergency service vehicles including police fire and ambulance were seen at houses on School Road on Friday afternoon A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 1.35pm on Friday, 18 April, 2025, we were made aware of the death of a 32-year-old man at North Tolsta, Isle of Lewis “A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.” Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments A well-preserved knitted bonnet and personal belongings of a young man who was buried in a peatbog on the Isle of Lewis in the 1700s are to be displayed in a new exhibition the body of a young man was discovered on Arnish Moor Forensic analysis at the time revealed that he was around 20 to 25 years old and identified a fracture on the back of his head that indicates he may have been murdered but his clothing and personal belongings provide a rare insight into life in the Outer Hebrides in the early 1700s Although the young man’s remains were not discovered until the 1960s stories of a murder on the moor have been passed down through generations becoming part of the lore and identity of the local community Knitted bonnet and personal belongings discovered on Arnish Moor The knitted bonnet is now a brownish green colour but analysis has revealed traces of indigo typical of the traditional blue bonnets worn in the Scottish Highlands and Islands in the 18th century It is displayed alongside other personal items that were found with him These suggest he was educated and was perhaps a scholar or an apprentice clerk including a stylish but well-worn jacket covered in intricate hand-stitched repairs but the quality of his clothes and possessions paints a portrait of a learned young man who cared about how he looked despite being of limited means,’ Dr Anna Groundwater ‘We do know that his life was cut tragically short.’ are going on display for the first time in a generation at Kinloch Historical Society ‘The story of the Arnish Moor Man is one that appears regularly in our local Folk Lore ‘What happened to this young man is a mystery we hope members of the public will be inspired to revisit the tales they grew up with and seek the answers of this 18th century murder ‘The Kinloch Historical society are very proud of the relationship we are building with National Museums Scotland ‘They have been a great source of support and it is a privilege to be displaying these items that have never been shown locally before,’ Anna MacKenzie Heritage Manager at Kinloch Historical Society Read more News stories here Subscribe to read the latest issue of Scottish Field IPSO is an independent body which deals with complaints from the public about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Contact us on 01851 705743 oremail info@welovestornoway.com Subscribe to our favourite national magazine here MV Isle of Lewis was a welcome sight in Castlebay last night (Saturday March 29) as the ferry finally returned from its annual overhaul in Aberdeen Depart Castlebay – 06:55Arrive Oban – 11:40 Depart Oban – 12:40Arrive Castlebay - 17:25 Read our favouritelocal magazine on-line Residents of the Scottish Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides are claiming to hear a strange humming noise No one knows where it’s coming from—or if it’s even real some hum-hearers claim it’s severely disrupting their lives In a Facebook post, Kirtley wrote that the group has made spectrograph recordings—graphs that show sound frequency over time—at each location where people reported hearing the strange humming sounds recordable 50 Hz signal of variable strength present in all locations,” indicating that the hum isn’t being produced from the center of the island they ruled out all known potential on-island sources The group is now exploring offshore origins The group says it has reached out to various organizations for support but there’s still no widespread agreement on the possible cause Pamela Weaver Larson, a member of the 546-person Facebook group, suggested in a post that the phenomenon might be caused by otoacoustic emissions—low-intensity sounds produced in the cochlea hum-hearers might be hearing noises created by their own ears “But then why wouldn’t I hear the hum wherever I go?” Larson mused in the post explaining that she didn’t hear the hum in Florida or upper Michigan The recent reports join a host of other mysterious hums that have been reported around the world for decades. There’s even the World Hum Map and Database Project a former University of British Columbia lecturer which documents and maps self-reported data on what is frequently called the “Worldwide Hum.” the hum is typically compared to a “car or truck engine idling outside your home or down the block,” or as “a low rumbling or droning sound It’s often perceived louder at night than during the day and louder indoors than outdoors.” The description also claims that sufferers hear it wherever they are—which isn’t consistent with Larson’s experience confirmed receiving reports from some islanders about low frequency sounds and said that the environmental health team is investigating the situation That said, Kirtley, in conversation with The Times said they’re “now pretty certain that whatever is causing this has a marine source,” and is likely impacting marine wildlife “It makes it even more important that the source is traced and the hum is silenced for good.” It remains to be seen whether the group will actually hone in on the source of the reported hum—and what experts will have to say about it ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " One islander said they are 'seriously considering' leaving if the noise does not stop. The noise, which is said to be in the low-frequency range, is being heard at all hours across the Isle of Lewis. Despite best efforts, locals have been unable to locate where the sound is coming from. Previous theories that it was being made by Stornoway power station have been debunked after the station was shut down over the weekend, but the hum has continued. Lauren-Grace Kirtley set up a Facebook group for people affected by the sound, described as “incredibly pervasive, irritating and very, very hard to block out”. “The hum is like a very low, droning, constant humming sound which changes just enough every now and then,” she said. “It’s not background noise, this is very different, very distinct”. After setting up the group, Ms Kirtley was able to connect other islanders who had been suffering due to the hum, with many realising for the first time that they were not the only ones who could hear it. She went on to say: “The sort of frequencies we are talking about are incredibly pervasive, so it’s almost like somebody poking you constantly to get your attention 24/7 and for the last couple of weeks, this noise has been constant. “It affects your sleep. It’ll affect people’s ability to concentrate, work properly, and enjoy things. “It’s got to the point where if we can’t find what is causing this and stop it, I’m seriously going to have to consider leaving the island.” Marcus-Hazel McGowan is an amateur radio operator who recently moved to Lewis. He started investigating the hum after the sound caused him to become very anxious. “It’s like somebody constantly tapping you on the shoulder. It’s sort of like somebody waiting to jump out and surprise you, and you know they’re always there,” he said. “There isn’t a place you can hide, it’s that constant.” The pair both agree that the source of the noise must be something manmade. “It’s definitely manmade”, Mr McGowan said. “It’s definitely big. It’s not somebody’s fridge freezer or a drill or something like that or an aquarium somewhere. “It’s not likely to be the ferry because it’s constant. It’s day and night and persistent wherever you go, the island reflects it.” Ms Kirtley added: “We’re not talking about a heat pump or an electrical appliance in someone’s home, we’re talking about large infrastructure in terms of what’s making the noise. She said that one issue in locating the source was due to the nature of low-frequency sound being able to travel a long way. “Depending on the shape of the land, what the thing creating it is sitting upon, and things like that, it can travel miles; it’s actually very difficult to pin down where it’s coming from. Reports of a mysterious humming noise have arisen in locations across the world, dating back to the 1970s. The ‘Taos Hum’ was the first widely reported case, a study in 1995 found that around 2% of the New Mexican town’s population could hear the noise. Windsor, Ontario, residents reported hearing a hum starting in 2011, with one evening the following year seeing over 22,000 reports to local authorities. Closer to home, in 2023, residents of Omagh in Northern Ireland reported a humming noise causing a “significant degree of discomfort.” Speculation of causes for the noise have varied between heavy machinery and the jet stream, to inner ear conditions and, in one case in California, the mating call of a fish. The TimesIslanders being tormented by a mystery hum should learn to live with it and consider seeking out therapy have been left unable to sleep and have suffered from dizziness due to an unexplained low frequency noise which has persisted for several weeks More than 300 people have joined a support group established for those affected by the “Hebridean Hum” • What is the mystery noise keeping Lewis awake? a noise and vibration expert who has studied similar incidents for more than half a century has advised people affected by the phenomena to relax and try to accept it “I believe people when they tell me they can CalMac has confirmed a further delay in repairs to MV Isle of Lewis which will further disrupt ferry services over the Easter holidays the ferry operator proved local fears correct that the Barra ferry would be in Aberdeen past its expected return tomorrow The further delay in getting the key ferry back in play has forced CalMac into yet another reshuffling of its ageing fleet With MV Isles of Lewis requiring further steelwork replacement the MV Isle of Mull will soldier on with its reduced capacity service supported by the venerable MV Lord of the Isles the Barra Transport Committee stated: “What we feared has now come true Please send complaints to: This email address is being protected from spambots The shake-up begins today with LoTI departing Lochboisdale half an hour earlier than previously scheduled as follows: Depart Lochboisdale - 06:30Arrive Castlebay - 08:05 Depart Castlebay - 08:25Arrive Oban - 14:05 MV Isle of Mull will operate the following sailing to Castlebay: Depart Oban – 16:10 (Delayed 13:20)Arrive Castlebay – 21:45 the MV Isle of Mull will resume a combined timetable as follows: Depart Castlebay - 07:15Arrive Oban - 12:50 Depart Oban - 13:20Arrive Lochboisdale - 18:55 The combined ferry service then continues from Monday but reservations have now been closed to allow Port Teams to contact impacted bookings over the weekend Once impacted customers have been contacted the ferry operator says any remaining available space will be re-opened for reservations Lewis Macdonald appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court on Tuesday charged with attempted murder and assault. Lewis Macdonald made no plea to a single charge during a petition hearing at Inverness Sheriff Court on Tuesday. The 23-year-old is accused of allegedly carrying out an assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement, impairment, and danger of life. The Crown allegation adds that Macdonald attempted to murder a person. Macdonald, whose general address was given as the Western Isles, appeared via video link to Inverness Sheriff Court. Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald instructed that Macdonald be committed for further examination and remanded him in custody pending a further court appearance at a later date. His court appearance comes two days after police were called to an incident in India Street in a residential part of the town of Stornoway. Police Scotland later said officers in Stornoway had “arrested and charged a 23-year-old man in connection with a serious assault. “It follows the assault of a 26-year-old man at a property in India Street on Sunday, 24 November, 2024.” A 46-year-old man has been reported for dangerous driving after he was caught speeding at 124mph on the Isle of Lewis Road policing officers stopped the motorcyclist in the South Lochs area on the A859 near Arivruaich while conducting safety patrols across several island roads The A859 is the main route connecting Stornoway on Lewis with Leverburgh on Harris The patrol was part of Police Scotland’s ‘Get Ready for Winter’ campaign. During the operation officers also arrested an individual for drug driving and another for drug possession and supply Additional offences included violations related to insurance and “construction and use” regulations Police say they will continue to carry out patrols across the Western Isles urging motorists to avoid making “reckless decisions” on the roads Inspector Donnie Mackinnon from the Highland and Islands road policing unit said: “These patrols and detections demonstrate our commitment to road safety across the Highlands and Islands “It’s disappointing to see there are some road users who continue to make poor choices take risks and put themselves and others in danger “This type of driver behaviour substantially increases the risk of being involved in a collision the consequences of which can be long-lasting so I’m urging road users to think very carefully about the choices they make “We have road safety patrols plans in place for the coming months and will continue to take robust enforcement action against those who fail to comply with road traffic legislation.” The body was first discovered in 1964, with forensic analysis at the time revealing he was around 20 to 25 years old. The objects including an “exceptionally” well-persevered knitted bonnet from a mysterious 250-year-old burial on Arnish Moor have been loaned out from National Museums Scotland to the Kinloch Historical Society. A fracture on the back of his head was discovered which indicated he may have been murdered. The young man’s identity remains unknown, but his clothing and personal belongings provide a rare insight into life in the Outer Hebrides in the early 1700s. The knitted bonnet is now a brownish green colour, but analysis revealed traces of indigo typical of the traditional blue bonnets worn in the Scottish Highlands and Islands in the 18th century. It is displayed alongside other personal items that were found with him, including a wooden comb and quills. Experts said these objects suggest the man was educated and was perhaps a scholar or an apprentice clerk. The young man’s clothing included a well-worn jacket covered in intricate hand-stitched repairs, which is too fragile to be displayed. Although the young man’s remains were not discovered until the 1960s, stories of a murder on the moor have been passed down through generations, becoming part of the lore and identity of the local community. Dr Anna Groundwater, principal curator of Renaissance and Early Modern History at National Museums Scotland, said the possessions paint a portrait of a young man who “cared about how he looked, despite being of limited means”. “We do know that his life was cut tragically short,” she added. “It has been a privilege to work with colleagues at the Kinloch Historical Society and with the local community in Lewis to bring his story to life and learn more about the historical context and oral traditions that surround the mystery of the Arnish Moor Man.” CalMac is set to announce a fresh ferry service shake-up after significant rust was found during the annual refit of the ageing MV Isle of Lewis The ferry company has confirmed that the vessel which normally plies between Oban and Barra MV Isle of Lewis was due to have her annual refit in Aberdeen completed by this Friday (February 28) In a letter to the Barra Transport Committee the ferry operator stated: “With regards to MV Isle of Lewis we’ve identified the need for additional steel repairs on MV Isle of Lewis We are waiting on a finalised timeline for these works and anticipate a delay to her return to service “She was initially due to complete overhaul on 28 February I am aware you have received rumours that the vessel will not return until April but the information available to us indicates this is not the case  “We will provide a revised schedule for her return next week (week beginning 24 February) and advise of service amendments to cover this extension of her overhaul Any delay may have an impact on other routes and we will keep any affected communities informed of changes.” There were hints last week that there was trouble ahead with the refit when CalMac announced additional sailings across the Sound of Barra The additional sailings are scheduled until 9 pm on Tuesday CalMac has cancelled all of the combined MV Isle of Mull sailings from Oban today due to the prevailing weather conditions An update is expected shortly this morning regarding the possibility of a service resuming tomorrow An earth sciences student has gone viral after playing a prank on the Google Maps camera car on the Isle of Lewis Gideon Futerman and his friend were staying at the far north of the island in September when they spotted the vehicle that captures images for Google’s street view technology And now the 21-year-old has told the Press and Journal he’s been laughing at the picture ever since he saw it online The duo acted out a “hammer attack” just as the car passed them leading to the image being used on the global platform had “never in his life” seen a Google Maps street view car were surprised to catch it on a rural island road Google Maps street view is a technology used in 85 countries around the planet It was capturing images on the Isle of Lewis when the eagle-eyed students saw it pass them Google Maps had last captured images on the island in 2009 The first time the men saw the car they simply waved the Google Maps street view car picks up an image of the two men laughing Gideon was surprised to see it had been captured and used Gideon checked on Google Maps this week and was delighted with the pair’s antics He said he “burst out laughing” so loud he possibly woke up his neighbours Sharing a screenshot of the moment in a post on X, Gideon said: “Over the summer, I went to the very north of the Isle of Lewis on a field trip to map the geology there with a close friend of mine “The Google street view car went past Hundreds of people have liked and shared the image Gideon told The Press and Journal: “We went up to the island for around 17 days in September “It was strange to see the Google car with its 360-degree camera on top “I think you can see in the Google images that we were hatching the plan and we even gave the thumbs up to the driver “I have been checking periodically and then the other night at midnight I saw it and I laughed and laughed Gideon said that due to the length of time it takes to get to the island it might be a long time until the image on Google Maps changes He said: “So my friend will be attacking me for a long time on the street view.” Aleksandr Benga was last seen at around 8.45am on Monday near the water wheel on the grounds of Lews Castle. Aleksandr Benga was last seen at around 8.45am on Monday, November 18, near the water wheel on the grounds of Lews Castle. The 16-year-old is described by police as 6ft2 tall and of slim build with short brown hair. He was last seen wearing a beige jumper and black jeans, and police say he “may have a red jacket and yellow beanie hat.” Specialist search officers from Aberdeen and Inverness travelled to the island to assist with the ongoing extensive searches, and partner agencies are providing support. Police are urging anyone with information on the teen’s whereabouts to come forward. Inspector David Hall said: “We are extremely concerned for Aleksandr, especially given the cold weather conditions lately. “Since Aleksandr was reported missing almost one week ago, we have been carrying out extensive searches and enquiries in and around the Stornoway area. “Officers, led by specialist search advisors, have been assisted by police dogs and a police mountain rescue team. “Our partner agencies are also helping with searches. Despite these efforts and previous appeals, we have yet to trace him. His family and friends are extremely upset and concerned by his disappearance. “We have reviewed CCTV and footage provided by the public, however we have been unable to establish the exact route he travelled after leaving the water wheel on the morning of Monday, November 18. “To help us establish this, we would ask any drivers with dashcams who were either travelling on the A859 between Willowglen Road, Stornoway and Cameron Terrace, Lochs or on Pentland Road between 8.45am and 12pm on Monday, November 18, to please contact us. “If you have any information on Aleksandr’s whereabouts, contact Police Scotland via 101 as soon as possible, quoting incident 0803 of November 18, 2024.” The windy capital on the Isle of Lewis is the heart of Scotland's Biblebelt "The Gospel came late and therefore leaves late." Everything is closed except for a petrol station the northernmost island of the Outer Hebrides One of the biggest upheavals was the first Sunday flight at Stornoway Airport in 2002 then pastor of the Free Church (Continuing) ferries have also operated there on the Sabbath and the few trees in the otherwise empty moorland are bent towards the northeast notwithstanding centuries of headwinds from the Atlantic The spiritual revivals on the Scottish island of Lewis can hardly be counted there was a remarkable revival: schoolchildren suddenly started attending prayer meetings Western Isles Properties sells houses on the island The estate agent on Cromwell Street in Stornoway advertises a bungalow on Church Street in Borve on the north-west coast of Lewis: the property 'benefits' not only from 'a hedge and trees' that break the wind but also from 'churches' nearby you can go somewhere for a church service or "prayer meeting" with psalmody and a sermon The gravel stone building of the Free Presbyterian Church on Matheson Road shrouds itself in various shades of grey Only a bright blue poster of the Trinitarian Bible Society brings some colour And an important message: "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many." 13 people sit in brown wooden pews on a Thursday evening in June Ten men and three women; the latter with heads covered There is no organ or other musical instrument Elder Finley Campbell is the precentor of service thou for thine own the earth dost also; The world interrupted only by four male members of the congregation offering prayers Reading a sermon no longer works very well for elder William Mackay He drank the cup of God's wrath to the last drop "The worst sin is to despise the blood of Jesus Christ," Mackay says just past the house where English preacher Arthur W the grey church building of the Free Church has stood since the mid-nineteenth century James Maciver (70) is making final preparations for a church member's funeral the next day he delivers his last sermon as pastor of the congregation the largest within the denomination created in 1843 where 80 children and young people aged 8 to 15 will attend Sunday school in a few days' time this language is spoken less and less on the island." "But I did manage 286 funerals in the eight years I was pastor here," he says where dozens of chairs are arranged around tables in a square "We have 33 elders and 24 deacons," says the pastor Maciver sees the rather isolated Isle of Lewis which was relatively late –from about 1820– in becoming orthodox which he says is not free of LGBT propaganda "That would never have been the case a few years ago," he says Yet far from all parents send their children to the only Christian school in Stornoway the unsubsidised Providence Christian School "Most church members want to maintain the influence of Christians in the state schools," says the minister Sunday peace remains "reasonably intact" "Sometimes there is an attempt to open the sports hall or swimming pool on Sundays the local government has never changed its position." the Seven Seas Splendors lays in the dark waters of Stornoway's outer harbour and hundreds of tourists are in the belly of the cruise ship "We made enquiries with the port authority last year," says Maciver "We asked what their policy was regarding ships coming in on Sunday Their answer was that they tell the big cruise lines that almost everything here is closed on Sundays it takes almost three hours of sailing to reach the island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides Yet 'worldliness' is taking hold there too a retired doctor and elder at Free Presbyterian Church (FPC) in Stornoway Dickie delved into the history of the Scottish Church in Rotterdam wrote about six converted Jewish pastors of the Free Church of Scotland in the nineteenth century and debunked the 'popular theory' that Scottish pastor Robert Murray McCheyne was engaged twice In the Scottish Reformation Society Historical Journal he published an article on the failed attempts in the 1930s to merge the Dutch Reformed Congregations (Gereformeerde Gemeenten) with the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland The differences proved too great: the Scottish church gives women the right to vote in the congregation (a legacy of the famous preacher Ebenezer Erskine rejects musical accompaniment in the church service and does not celebrate Christmas and Easter this was a step too far for the Synod of the Dutch Reformed Congregations About 45 of them attend the Sunday services along with many other Scottish preachers," he says the Western Isles are the most Christian part of Scotland with 63.6 per cent of the population calling themselves Christian Do you see secularisation on the Isle of Lewis conservative religion did not come to the Western Isles until the nineteenth century "The Gospel came to Lewis late and therefore leaves late." Yet there have been many changes in Scotland's religious character in recent decades Church attendance is falling in many parts of the island and fewer and fewer young people are attending church and interest in the Reformation and solid Reformed literature is also declining These changes can also be seen in the way some people dress when they attend church relatively few children and young people attend Sunday school The Isle of Lewis was known for strict Sunday observance Secularisation and the reduced role of the church in society have led to changed attitudes people more readily accepted that the church could set the rules for society there are many who openly challenge the church's authority "Every man did that which was right in his own eyes...” Opposition to the authority of the church and scriptural teaching comes partly from people who came to live here from other parts of the UK – and from other countries But also from people born and raised on the island who spent their younger years in conservative churches but later left them It is a great blessing to have the peace of a Sabbath day Although there is less respect for Sunday these days there is still a remarkable difference between a Sabbath day on the island and on the mainland." This article was translated by CNE.news and published by the Dutch daily Reformatorisch Dagblad on June 27 More than 1,100 people sign petition urging retailer not to begin Sunday trading at its Stornoway branch. The island store has remained shut on a Sunday since it opened in 2008 to reflect local religious sentiment. But Tesco bosses now want to ditch its uniqueness of being the only store in its UK chain not to operate every day of the week. Lewis, with a population of about 20,000, has a long tradition of observing the Sabbath day, meaning that some shops – including both supermarkets – currently keep their doors closed on a Sunday. More than 1,100 residents have now signed a petition calling on Tesco not to start Sunday trading at its Stornoway branch on the island. Alasdair Macleod, who started the petition, said: “Many of us hold cherished memories of island Sundays as a guaranteed day of rest, relaxation and no work – a precious day of family time and worship. “However, this simple yet profound day is at risk due to the concept of seven-day trading creeping into our culture. “When stores and businesses open their doors on Sunday, it may seem like a convenience at first, but the resulting ripple effect leaves workers with less time to rest, less time for family, less time for church worship and invariably, a lower quality of life. “Often we don’t realise the value of what we have until it’s gone. We are the envy of many people living in mainland Scotland with our peaceful, work-free Sundays so why swap them for their hectic, stressful, work-filled, busy Sundays? “Tesco is and has been a highly valued and respected, local employer and retailer, repeatedly giving generously to local charities and causes and always respecting our local Sunday tradition of rest. We hope this mutual respect of community and retailer will long continue. “If Tesco Stornoway, one of the largest shops in the Western Isles, opens on a Sunday then other businesses and organisations will be more likely to open on a Sunday too. They will sadly feel pressured too.” The Tesco store in Stornoway is currently closed on a Sunday, although some staff work to restock shelves. Bosses believe Sunday trading will smooth trade across the week and help to reduce food waste. Christian Davies, store director for Tesco in the Highlands and Islands, said: “We will be listening carefully to customers and colleagues about our proposals to open our Stornoway store on a Sunday. “We are confident we can carefully balance the demand for a seven-day opening while remaining respectful to local traditions and culture. “While shopping on a Sunday is not for everyone, a store that is open seven days a week would significantly improve the shopping experience for all customers, by offering choice to those who do want to shop on a Sunday and reducing congestion during other days of the week, especially on a Saturday.” Sports activities, museums and swimming pools are closed in Lewis on Sundays, but petrol stations and some restaurants remain open. News | Environment The belongings of an 18th-century suspected murder victim found in a peat bank have gone on show in a new exhibition The body of the young man, thought to be aged between 20 and 25, was discovered on Arnish Moor on Lewis in 1964 – around 250 years after his death Forensic analysis at the time found a fracture on the back of his head which experts said indicates he may have been murdered The man’s knitted bonnet has now gone on show at Kinloch Historical Society on Lewis along with personal items that were found with him They are on loan from National Museums Scotland principal curator of renaissance and early modern history at National Museums Scotland “We do know that his life was cut tragically short “It has been a privilege to work with colleagues at the Kinloch Historical Society and with the local community in Lewis to bring his story to life and learn more about the historical context and oral traditions that surround the mystery of the Arnish Moor Man.” While the man’s identity is not known, researchers said the clothes and items he was found with provide a “rare insight” into life in the Outer Hebrides in the 1700s Experts said the items found with the man suggest he was educated and may have been a scholar or an apprentice clerk The knitted bonnet is now a brownish green colour but analysis has revealed traces of indigo typical of the traditional blue bonnets worn in the Highlands and islands of Scotland in the 18th century Stories of a murder on the moor have been passed down through generations on Lewis although the body was not discovered until the 1960s Edinburgh Festival highlights to include theatre premiere starring Brian Cox Edinburgh Festival to focus on reconciling ‘complexities of truth’ – Benedetti Scottish Government acts to tackle Euro 2028 ticket touts Prioritise education with excellent schools and opportunities heritage manager at Kinloch Historical Society said: “The story of the Arnish Moor Man is one that appears regularly in our local folklore What happened to this young man is a mystery we hope members of the public will be inspired to revisit the tales they grew up with and seek the answers of this 18th-century murder “The Kinloch Historical society are very proud of the relationship we are building with National Museums Scotland “They have been a great source of support and it is a privilege to be displaying these items that have never been shown locally before.” The Arnish Moor Man exhibition runs until March 2026 at the Kinloch Historical Society in Balallan on Lewis VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade David Beckham extends olive branch to son Brooklyn amid 'family feud' Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from her hospital bed after surgery Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from hospital Lewis was richly blessed with spiritual revivals in the past And still the island in the Outer Hebrides forms the heart of Scotland's Biblebelt although the 'last stronghold' is now also showing some cracks The British broadcaster BBC broadcast the series "The Last Stronghold of the Pure Gospel" in the late 1970s It is true: the island off Scotland's west coast is home to proportionately many conservative Christians a member of the Free Presbyterian Church in Stornoway is a commentator with the Scottish Daily Mail and son of Prof Donald Macleod former rector of Free Church College in Edinburgh He knows his stuff: 2008 saw the publication of his book “Banner in the West” a spiritual history of the Isles of Lewis and Harris from the hesitant arrival of Christianity in –likely– the sixth century to a remarkable spiritual revival among schoolchildren 12- and 13-year-olds also started attending weekday' prayer meetings' these were attended only by Christians who were 'assured' of their faith and participated in the Holy Communion dressed in black and grey striped trousers with a matching waistcoat this Friday in June orders Scottish 'black pudding' (a kind of blood sausage) and says that the Isle of Lewis only belatedly acquired a conservative Christian character "The Scottish Reformation was in 1560 but it was not until the early nineteenth century that evangelical preachers came to Lewis," he says "The islanders spoke Gaelic and did not get a Bible in their own language until 1811 Education and literacy were important in spreading the Gospel a small museum tells the history of the area of farmers and fishermen who fought for a living a basket to transport caught cod and halibut and a loom for the wool of the Harris tweed A stone cross from the 10th or 11th century –no one knows exactly– shows that Christianity is by no means a novelty on the windswept island are metal plates bearing a Bible text: 'Do this to My remembrance.' Those wishing to partake of Holy Communion receive one on Saturday evening and hand it in to the serving elder just before communion on Sunday a series of meetings on Thursday to Monday around the celebration of Holy Communion Modern people no longer have time for so much self-examination and thanksgiving Although some churches still convene meetings for preparation (on Saturdays) and post-consecration (on Mondays) On one wall of the museum hangs a black board with gold lettering on which the Church of Scotland announces its services Two in Gaelic every Sunday and an English one twice a month more than eight in ten residents still spoke Gaelic that percentage has now shrunk to around 40 per cent while people from 'outside' are coming to live on the island on the west coast of Scotland bringing a secular and often very anti-Christian message into homes day and night," he says I know it's controversial: working women also contribute to secularisation because they are less likely to be home for the children." Although fewer people attend church in Stornoway than in the past most still regard the Lord's Day as a day of rest "A campaign to open a cinema at the local arts centre on Sundays did not get local support People are not so likely to go out on the streets on the Lord's Day anyway." "One of the great things about the Psalms is that they touch a whole range of emotions depressed Christians – there is a psalm for each of them Several revivals took place on Lewis in the past there was a culture of high church attendance and wide respect for the Gospel This article was translated by CNE.news and published by the Dutch daily Reformatorisch Dagblad on June 27, 2024 Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Scots pop legend Lulu will headline this year’s Hebridean Celtic Festival in what she has said will be her final year of touring The Glasgow-raised singer first achieved UK chart success in 1964 with her single Shout which she followed up with hits including the Eurovision-winning Boom Bang-A-Bang and the theme to James Bond film The Man With The Golden Gun The 76-year-old is one of a number of acts announced by the organisers of the festival – known as HebCelt – which takes place in and around Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis from July 16 to 19 Lulu said: “I’m looking forward to visiting the Outer Hebrides and performing at HebCelt in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis – see you in July.” Other big-name acts announced on Friday include Celtic rockers Skerryvore – now in their 20th year – as well as Mountain Music star Nina Nesbitt and Brit Award winner Eddi Reader Skerryvore accordionist and founding member Daniel Gillespie said: “This is a special year for the band as we celebrate 20 years of Skerryvore “To headline the Saturday night at HebCelt means the world to us as we remember playing McNeils Bar all those years ago and dreaming of playing the main stage of the festival “We can’t wait to see everyone on the island in July and have a very special show planned to celebrate 20 years.” The 2025 festival also includes Tide Lines said: “This year’s festival truly celebrates music across generations from trailblazers like Lulu and Eddi Reader to the next generation of stars including NATI. “Our Celtic roots are proudly represented with Skerryvore marking their 20th year and consistently one of our most requested acts by fans “We’re also thrilled to spotlight talents like LUSA and Elias Alexander “There’s truly something for everyone at HebCelt including cult Gaelic star Donnie Dotaman who lit up so many childhoods and the talented young musicians from Feis who once again are opening the Island Stage on Saturday afternoon “This year’s festival also has the strongest line-up of female performers any of us can remember Nina and Eddi to the likes of Madison Violet who have just announced this will be one of their last shows plus new and exciting talent such as Laura Silverstone “We simply can’t wait to welcome music lovers of all tastes to what promises to be one of the most eclectic The organisers pointed out 70% of the acts set to perform at this year’s HebCelt festival are female or have female members and that it has had at least a 50:50 gender balance every year since 2014 This year’s festival will also feature a special celebration of An Lanntair as it marks 40 years as a cultural beacon for the islands Last year some 17,800 people attended HebCelt generating about £4.1 million for the local economy The organisers said the festival is expected to have generated more than £40 million in economic benefits locally by the time it marks its 30th anniversary edition in 2027 Further details about this year’s festival can be found at www.hebceltfest.com. MV Loch Seaforth will operate an additional sailing tomorrow (Sunday With MV Isle of Lewis now operating the freight service Depart Stornoway – 09:00Depart Ullapool – 12:30 With the departure of the MV Hebridean Isles on the freight run the MV Isle of Lewis will now prioritise freight vehicles tomorrow departing Stornoway at 14:00 and Ullapool at 17:45 Customers wishing to travel with non-commercial vehicles or as foot passengers on MV Isle of Lewis’ freight service are asked to contact the port directly on 01854 330304 (Ullapool) or 01851 307470 (Stornoway) More than £50,000 has been raised for the family of a “beautiful mum” who died after being hit by a van on the Isle of Lewis was involved in the crash on the A858 at North Shawbost at around 4.45pm on Friday She was taken to Western Isles Hospital where she died a short time later. A fundraiser has now been launched online to support her family More than 1,000 donations have been made since it was launched with the goal of £50,000 reached by Monday Organiser Laura Stewart wrote on the page: “In the event of (Friday’s) tragic event we would all like to show the family our support “While the family try to process the loss of a beautiful mum we can show our support by covering any financial costs and help them get through this difficult time.” Laura posted: “There is no words for the generosity of this island “Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart “Dina and family will be so grateful A police investigation into the cause of the crash is continuing Sergeant Neil Macdonald said: “We are keen to speak to anyone driving on the road around the time of the crash to get in touch “Please also check your dash-cams and if you have any footage that could help with our investigation then make contact with officers.” Anyone who can assist is asked to call Police Scotland on 101 A main road on the Isle of Lewis has reopened in both directions following a crash The road traffic collision happened at around 4.45pm this afternoon at North Shawbost which is located on the west of the island Police road traffic officers from the mainland were sent the Western Isles to assist One fire appliance was sent to the scene from Shawbost at 4.54pm to “make the scene safe” The road was closed for around 12 hours and reopened about 4am on Saturday A Police Scotland Facebook post reads: “Police Scotland can confirm the main road at North Shawbost on the Isle of Lewis has now reopened “Police Scotland would like to thank members of the public for their patience.” Have you signed up for our Oban and Hebrides newsletter? Every week our Oban-based reporter curates the best news in the area. Sign up here for local news straight to your inbox the number of annual visitors to the Outer Hebridean island of Lewis outstripped residents by more than five to one The new cruise port near Stornoway is behind the significant boost to tourism and the boatloads include an ever-increasing number of Americans eager to soak up the island’s heritage a pilgrimage to the former home of the Scottish mother of the current US president which lies just four miles northeast of the island capital at home in StornowayCATHY BRETT/MIRRORPIX/GETTY IMAGESIt seems not Both Joe Biden and Bill Clinton — previous occupants of the Oval Office — were met with cheering crowds when they explored their Irish roots Biden called it “like coming home” and the Irish tourist board A renowned genealogist on the Isle of Lewis says the number of people contacting him about Donald Trump to find out if they are a distant relative has plummeted That’s in stark contrast to the last time the US president-elect was in power between 2017 and 2021 – when he was inundated with a “flurry” of requests The genealogy resource at Hebrides People, known as ‘Cò Leis Thu?’ is based on over 60 years of research by Bill Lawson One of the most requested searches he has been asked to do is to find out if Donald Trump was a distant relative Known on the islands as Dòmhnall Iain or Donald John Mary Anne Smith MacLeod could trace her ancestors back to the 1700s It would have gone back further – but there are fewer written records before that time Mary Anne was born on May 10 1912 and was alive at the time of the Iolaire disaster. Generations of people went from the Western Isles to America like the then Miss MacLeod and almost all of her nine siblings Mr Lawson explained: “At the last US election when Donald Trump won we were flooded with people from all over the world wanting to know if they were related to Trump if not as a first cousin then as a distant cousin “There was so much unpleasant interest in the family “But people are not so interested this time We have not been asked very much at all.” like Mary Anne Macleod because “The sheer assumption was that if you stayed at home you were some sort of failure “That has changed so much with technology you can stay at home on the islands and you can still do what you want It is easy to run a business and be successful.” in 1930 and became a naturalized citizen in March 1942 The couple were multi-millionaires and very much the centre of New York society Mr Lawson said that people often contacted him looking for some sort of “scandal” about Mr Trump and his family on the islands Mary Anne and her daughter Maryanne Trump Barry visited the islands countless times to see family He said: “They are the real heroes here and people will be forever grateful to them for that “Mary Anne and her daughter are the people that we want to celebrate They are the people that islanders know.” He continued: “She and her daughter were pretty well-liked for the help she gave and then for a “90-second photo shoot” in 2008 and as well as fishing and farming ran a small Post Office from the kitchen of their croft The village is some nine miles from Stornoway where Mary Anne would have gone to secondary school Mr Lawson said: “There were ordinary crofter people a large family living off the land of seven acres “Almost all of the 10 children went to America.” “We can see from records that there were plenty of men and then a generation of men missing after the first war.” Mr Lawson continued: “So for Mary Anne and her sisters there was a dearth of possible husbands “There wasn’t poverty there when you think of the life they led in comparison to others on the islands “There was an expected domestic life that was the norm.” Mr Lawson said: “It must have been a monumental change going from the croft to New York Asked if Mr Trump would have survived on the islands Mr Lawson said: “I think on the island you were kept in your place They would have laughed at some of his ideas.” Mary Anne MacLeod Trump died aged 88 in 2000 When she died The Stornoway Gazette published a family notice It read: “Peacefully in New York on 7th August Daughter of the late Malcolm and Mary MacLeod Jodie Mitchell, from South Bragar, was transported to Western Isles Hospital, Stornoway, where she died a short time later. Emergency services were called to the A858 at North Shawbost, Isle of Lewis, following reports of a collision involving a pedestrian and a grey Renault Master panel van at around 4.45pm. The road was closed for crash investigation work and re-opened around 3.10am on Saturday. Sergeant Neil Macdonald said: “Our thoughts are with Jodie’s family and they have asked for privacy at this difficult time. “Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and we are keen to speak to anyone driving on the road around the time of the crash to get in touch. “Please also check your dash-cams and if you have any footage that could help with our investigation then make contact with officers.” Anyone who can assist is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2602 of Friday, February 7, 2025. The Hebridean island’s shops have remained firmly closed on the Sabbath for decades – but now the supermarket giant has bucked the trend In the town of Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides Overlooking the local Sea Angling Club and hefty circular storage tanks belonging to the town’s fuel depot its blue and red logo is one of the first sights to greet visitors and residents alighting from the ferry In October, however, the town’s Tesco announced that it was considering opening its doors on a Sunday for the first time More than 2,000 people signed a petition against the idea and Stornoway community council wrote to the retailer asking it to reconsider in light of the opposition and in November the supermarket giant became the first major shop in the island’s history to open on a Sunday a small group of protesters congregated in the car park locals on both sides of the debate express frustration that the row has been seen by outsiders largely as a conflict between religion and modernisation when they are keen to tell a more nuanced story Less than 200 yards from Tesco’s front door a PVC banner nailed to a wall reads “Tesco Stornoway: profit before community values” sitting in his front room surrounded by certificates and awards for his community work his opposition to the move is not about faith this is about greed and money over community It’s a multi­national rolling over the will of the local neighbourhood without any engagement or consultation,” he says noting that his street has been busier with cars and pedestrians on Sundays since the opening – something he fears will extend to the rest of the island when Tesco begins home deliveries in March “It’s become similar to any day of the week now ‘It’s about greed and money’: Charlie Nicolson Photograph: Katherine Anne Rose/the Observer“The Sabbath is about peace and quiet and tranquillity a time for family and rest,” says Nicolson who has since boycotted Tesco completely in protest “It’s a shame we don’t have it in other areas of Britain and in other nations because with the pressures on young people and all the challenges of the world a Tesco spokesperson said a consultation had been undertaken and the retailer was “confident the decision … will allow us to balance the demand for a seven-day opening while remaining respectful to local traditions and culture” The supermarket said it had received posi­tive feedback locally and would only open from noon until 8pm and that no staff would be forced to work on Sundays if they didn’t want to it had to apply for permission from the licensing board as alcohol sales on the Sabbath were prohibited and it was originally only allowed to serve drinks with food “Lewis is sometimes painted as an old-fashioned but things are changing and we’re balancing tradition with moving with the times,” says Emma Mackenzie who was among one of the first to shop at Tesco on a Sunday represents a diminishing demographic on the island which has seen an increasing outward migration of young people According to a report by NHS Western Isles in 2023 the number of women aged 25-44 on the group of islands had fallen by 15% since 2007 Many young people move to the mainland for university education and often end up staying Photograph: Katherine Anne Rose/the Observer“Everyone talks about how young people just up and leave and we don’t have enough left to fill jobs or care for the older people – but it’s no wonder when they can’t get any work on a Sunday let alone go and do anything except drink in a pub,” Mackenzie says “I understand people are protective of their rest and their family time but they can still have that – nobody’s marching you to Tesco if you don’t want to go.” who works in healthcare between Lewis and the mainland says he hopes the decision by Tesco will start a “domino effect” of other facilities opening “I have huge concerns about the mental health of young people here and the drinking culture we have on Sundays because there’s nothing else for them to do,” Hillis says “There’s a real cultural stagnation and status-quo bias where mostly older people argue they don’t want things to change But this is the reality of ­modern living.” on a lunch break last week from her job at a local shop “Regardless of whether you’re very religious or not you should have one day a week where you can just chill out relax and not feel obliged to go anywhere,” she says it’s nice to know that at the end of every week you’re going to have that one day off that’s a ‘you’ day.” It is hard to predict whether other retailers will follow suit because local sentiment remains so divided Even within families there isn’t consensus: her sister Tesco said it had welcomed “hundreds” of shoppers on Sundays since November and, anecdotally, residents say it has been busy. is a taxi driver and independent councillor primarily by campaigning for golf courses to open on Sundays – although he probably wouldn’t partake in a round if they were open despite enjoying golf on Sundays when visiting the mainland And he still would not mow his lawn or wash his car on a Sunday out of respect for his neighbours Tesco has beaten him to it – he never has managed to get golf courses open on the Sabbath And the supermarket’s actions have made him rethink the issue “I was radically for everything being open on a Sunday all my adult life – but then this Tesco thing happened and I found myself surprised that it changed my mind,” he says “It’s almost like I considered it a bridge too far and there have been movements for things like golf and swimming But nobody has ever said to me: ‘Tesco must open on a Sunday.’ but now I’m seeing the bigger picture: when the rug is completely pulled we won’t have the things that made us quirky and special We’ll look around and realise we’re just the same as everywhere else.” This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Emergency services were called to the A858 at North Shawbost following reports of a collision involving a pedestrian and a grey Renault Master panel van at around 4.45pm A GoFundMe organised in memory of the “beautiful mum” has so far raised £33,930 The fundraiser reads: “We would all like to show the family our support “Jody was taken away too soon while the family try to process the loss of a beautiful mum cousin and friend we can show our support by covering any financial costs and help them get through this difficult time.” The road was closed for crash investigation work and re-opened around 3.10am on Saturday Sergeant Neil Macdonald said: “Our thoughts are with Jodie’s family and they have asked for privacy at this difficult time “Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and we are keen to speak to anyone driving on the road around the time of the crash to get in touch Anyone who can assist is asked to call Police Scotland on 101 To visit the fundraiser click here. A woman has died after being hit by a van on the Isle of Lewis was struck by the van on the A858 at North Shawbost at around 4.45pm on Friday Jodie was taken to Western Isles Hospital where she died a short time later The driver of the grey Renault Master panel van was not injured The road was closed for crash investigation work and reopened in the early hours of Saturday Sergeant Neil Macdonald said: “Our thoughts are with Jodie’s family and they have asked for privacy at this difficult time “Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and we are keen to speak to anyone driving on the road around the time of the crash to get in touch Anyone who can assist is asked to call Police Scotland on 101 The MP for the Western Isles reflected on his shared Lewis roots with Donald Trump while wishing he’d “woken today in the Isle of Harris” Torcuil Crichton’s quip drew on island rivalry on the day Trump claimed victory in the US presidential election Mr Crichton had hoped Kamala Harris would beat the comeback politician who frequently draws on his mother’s Lewis birthplace though I’ve never wished more to have woken today in the Isle of Harris,” the MP wrote on social media It followed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s own congratulations to the returning president. First Minister John Swinney also quickly appeared to change his tone in a warm message this morning The SNP leader had been embroiled in a row with Trump’s Aberdeenshire golf course bosses for endorsing Kamala Harris just last week He said it wasn’t just because Mr Trump opposed Scottish independence Mr Swinney added: “Scotland and the USA share many social we will stand fast in support of our values of fairness democracy and equality – ideals that America was built upon.” Commenters under the message on social media were not happy One reminded him that Trump International Scotland vice president Sarah Malone had claimed Mr Swinney had “insulted” Trump who she said employs around 600 people in Scotland Read more: 5 times Donald Trump locked horns with SNP leaders, from Aberdeenshire golf to ‘blasphemy’ Official magazine of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Do you remember what meals your granny cooked you as a child?’ asks Allan MacRitchie even though MacRitchie is a chef and we’re speaking in his pop-up restaurant in a former village school MacRitchie continues: ‘I remember cycling to my grandmother’s croft and she’d just pull a clootie dumpling [a Scottish pudding made with suet and raisins] out of the oven How can I take that memory and put it into a clootie It is the story behind a specific dish that must be served along with it I can’t just throw a dumpling on the plate I want the golden syrup my grandmother used cooking means embedding the culture and landscape of his island home right at the top of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides He throws another rhetorical question at me ‘I can make a damned good chilli if someone wants it – a Michelin-star-quality one – but how do you judge whether one dish is better than another A lot of people here say the best cup of tea they ever drink is while they are out cutting peat or the heather blossom or the drowned midge in the tea that makes it great?’ Known as the Niseach Chef (a Niseach is anyone from the Ness area) MacRitchie describes his pop-up menus as offering ‘street food’ though his streets are most definitely roads less travelled and more likely to be peat tracks that fizzle out in moors or coastal sea meadows I try his locally caught lobster and Scotch egg ‘so it was as if you were walking on the machair [grasslands] with different taste sensations and aromas’ any self-respecting gourmand would halt their Highlands and Islands foodie tour in Skye on the east side of the Minch from the Outer Hebrides if they wish to taste the best food in the region they are going to have to hop on a ferry across the ever-playful waters of the northeast Atlantic Long gone are the days when the islanders of the Outer Hebrides were patronised for catching seabirds and boiling them up for soup A trend for fine dining is emerging on the Outer Hebrides that draws upon the coastal waters wild moors and crofts of the islands.  When the Michelin inspectors finally waddle off a ferry in Tarbet a short uphill stroll will sharpen the appetite for their first dining experience Based in what a casual glance suggests is a hipster shipping container a rectangle of exposed steel with floor-to-ceiling windows chef of Flavour is preparing an eight-course fine-dining tasting menu in which everything is drawn from the islands believes every dish tells a story – tales he shares with guests as they scoff courses of Lewis squid ceviche with cuckoo flower or creel-caught langoustines with seaweed caramel how it fits into the island landscape and culture.’ Loye has spent years developing relationships with fishermen to source lobsters and build up his understanding of the landscape ‘You come to learn where different seaweeds grow we get venison from the island estates and you cannot beat the freshness of the fish I can pick something off the boat at 5pm and it’s on a plate at 7.30 that night Even one day of that fish being transported or hanging around will affect the quality.’ Chris and his partner Nicola collect seaweed and forage for flowers and chanterelle mushrooms on the moors ‘Many flowers from the machair are edible and they’re a beautiful colour – they jump off the plate,’ he says flowers from willowherb add a pink colour to tea while the bitterness of silverweed adds a contrast to sun-dried tomatoes to make antipasto independent food producers are sprinkled across the islands including Brian and Melinda Whitington of Hebridean Charcuterie in Stornoway The innovative range of flavours includes piquant spice mixes concocted by Syrian refugees who have made their home on Lewis which are added to meat in a former garage on their croft converted during lockdown into a production and drying unit.  sustainable food production – we are a crofting community and many crofters keep a rare-breed pig as standard,’ says Brian so there is no traumatic journey for them.’ Another source for the charcuterie is greylag geese Climate change has made winters mild enough for the birds to remain in the Outer Hebrides all year round rather than migrating south and numbers are thought to be 20 times higher than is sustainable for the landscape prompting the authorities to license their culling Using venison has helped pay for an apprentice gamekeeper to be taken on in the community-run estate Stòras Uibhist in South Uist made from corn starch and eucalyptus leaves because ‘we get enough plastic blown across our beaches At least if this ends up there it will break down quickly.’ Emblazoned on the packets is the image of a Lewis chessman a respectful nod to the discovery of a 12th-century Norse chess set on the island’s west coast ‘The Norse would never have made it across the North Sea if they hadn’t filled their boats with dried meats so we’re echoing that heritage,’ he says with a wink I follow a track through a ravine before emerging in the small but scattered township of Àird Uig interspersed with shallow lochans inlaid with black sand represent a desolate hangover from an old RAF base The view is a blur of headlands and the bony geodesic silhouettes of the Uig hills Andrew and Sarah Taylor-Gerloch serve up incredible three-course meals ranging from venison sausages hot smoked in their croft kitchen using a mixture of local black peat and oak wood sawdust to root vegetables from their polycrub The Dexter cows on their croft (stumpy legged which is handy for navigating the predominating steep-sided hills) produce delicately flavoured beef ‘Some people come to us for the food; others come here for the scenery and they are stunned by the food,’ says Andrew who describes himself as a self-taught cook (‘I’m not a chef,’ he says self-deprecatingly ‘I just messed around at the cooker until I got something I liked.’) ‘Our driving passion is to use the local economy Our lobsters are from local boats that operate along the Uig coast they check their pots daily and land their catch quickly at Miavaig Our lamb producers only keep half a dozen sheep.’   The ingenuity of the islands’ food producers invites the question of whether there is something in the Outer Hebridean air you’ve had to be tough and resilient on these islands Even though any such risk is mitigated nowadays by two supermarkets in Stornoway Loye agrees that island life and the unique landscapes of Harris and Lewis are drivers of ingenuity but you still have 20 people coming for dinner You don’t have five minutes to yourself in summer but when it quietens down you can get out walk and get ideas.’ Although Loye is a trained chef he reckons another driver is that people who’ve never cooked before give it a go and turn out to be quite good at it ‘The islands are a bit of a blank canvas for all of us ‘The temperament on the island is very understated All the innovation you could want is here but you’d be forgiven for not knowing about it They need a megaphone to tell the world there is more here than black pudding.’ CallanishThese standing stones on the west coast of Lewis date back 5,000 years and provide a haunting spectacle that arguably surpasses that of Stonehenge The central monolith and surrounding 13 stones were hewn from gneiss the ancient rock that characterises much of the islands although it’s thought they may be linked to a periodic path of the full moon across the nearby Uig hills the Harris distillery produced its first malt tucked away in a valley at Carnish in Uig on Lewis produced the islands’ first single malt since 1929 bringing to an end centuries of illegal stills Abhainn Dearg looks just how you would imagine a bootleg rig operating under the radar should: a handful of secluded outbuildings overlooking a sprawling river that clatters over glacial boulders on its way to the sea The mush from the production process is spread far and wide among the island B&Bs to feed the hens that lay the breakfast eggs Other whiskies are being laid down in Benbecula South Uist and Barra; in the meantime gin keeps the distillery coffers ticking while they wait for the malt Brewing is enjoying a revival with two new excellent breweries on Harris the Loomshed and Isle of Harris; in both cases these family-run breweries make a feature of the soft water of Harris If you don’t see a white-tailed or golden eagle while visiting the Outer Hebrides you can consider yourself unlucky while you may even spot minke whales and orcas Look out for machair potatoes – eat these floury gems and you’ll wonder why they don’t have the same cachet as Jersey Royals Cycling is a fantastic way to explore the quiet lanes off the main spinal roads that cut through the Outer Hebrides visit an ancient church or take in limitless sea views The Hebridean Way is a dedicated route running from Vatersay in the south to the Butt of Ness in the far north and involves two ferries and several causeways the route is more hardcore than its tourist-friendly marketing suggests.  Lewis has world-class surfing and crystal clear waters to explore. Surf Lewis offers lessons for individuals, families and groups with local, highly experienced, qualified instructors. Also paddleboarding and snorkelling classes. Private, tailored sessions are available across Lewis and Harris. Equipment hire available for the experienced. www.surflewis.com A stunning place to stay or visit on a day trip, it features historic thatched  blackhouse crofts overlooking a glorious bay, close to the Callanish Standing Stones. The museum offers vintage weaving demonstrations and fresh home-baking is availabe at the café. On the Hebribean Way cycle route. www.gearrannan.com Personalised island-hopping holidays organised by local experts who create bespoke itineraries. Packages including return flights from Glasgow, inter-island ferries, accommodation and car rental from £899 per person. Car-touring holidays, including return ferry trips from mainland Scotland, inter-island ferries and accommodation from £299 per person. www.hebrideanhopscotch.com The local tourist board website (visitouterhebrides.co.uk) is full of useful information on activities and places to stay. The website’s section Eat Drink Hebrides is a comprehensive source of food producers, restaurants and cafes. Calmac Ferries (calmac.co.uk) sails to five ports across the islands. Loganair (loganair.co.uk) flies to Stornoway Benbecula and Barra from the Scottish mainland Filed Under: Briefing Tagged With: , Click Here for SUBSCRIPTION details Want to access Geographical on your tablet or smartphone Android or PC/Mac image below to download the app for your device Copyright © 2025 · Site by Syon Media