Park, Outer Hebrides
Encyclopedia
Park also known as South Lochs, is a huge area of land connected to the rest of Lewis
only by a narrow neck between Loch Seaforth
and Loch Erisort
. This had a wall called Gàrradh an Tighearna ("The Laird's Dyke") built across it by the Earl of Seaforth
in the early 17th century, the outline of which can still be seen.
Only the north of Park is now inhabited: settlements in the south were cleared by Sir James Matheson in the nineteenth century. A famous deer raid took place here in 1887 as a demonstration by starving people, commemorated by a broch resembling a cairn at the Eishken junction. Much of this area is still used for deer stalking.
with a combined population of nearly 400. In 2011 the Pairc Community Trust
received approval from Roseanna Cunningham
, the Environment Minister, for a bid to buy the estate under the crofting "Right to Buy" provisions of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003
. Pairc Trust chairman Angus McDowall, said: "This is an historic step forward for our community, and sends an unambiguous message to the landlord that the economic and social development of Pairc in the interests of the whole community should be ranked above private financial gain. It is a complete vindication of the persistence which we and the whole community have shown over so many years in trying to exercise our rights under the Act in order to plan a better future for local crofters and residents."
Lewis
Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is ....
only by a narrow neck between Loch Seaforth
Loch Seaforth
Loch Seaforth is sea loch in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It forms the boundary between Lewis and Harris and formerly was the boundary between the traditional counties of Ross and Cromarty and Inverness-shire....
and Loch Erisort
Loch Erisort
Loch Erisort is an 8-mile-long narrow sea inlet on the east coast of the island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland.Its name is a relic of the Viking period and came from Old Norse Eiríksfjorðr = "Eric's fjord"....
. This had a wall called Gàrradh an Tighearna ("The Laird's Dyke") built across it by the Earl of Seaforth
Earl of Seaforth
Earl of Seaforth was a title in the Peerage of Scotland and Peerage of Great Britain. It was held by the family of Mackenzie from 1623 to 1716, and again from 1771 to 1781....
in the early 17th century, the outline of which can still be seen.
Only the north of Park is now inhabited: settlements in the south were cleared by Sir James Matheson in the nineteenth century. A famous deer raid took place here in 1887 as a demonstration by starving people, commemorated by a broch resembling a cairn at the Eishken junction. Much of this area is still used for deer stalking.
Proposed community purchase
The Pairc Estate extends to 10845 hectares (26,798.6 acre) and includes 11 crofting townshipsCroft (land)
A croft is a fenced or enclosed area of land, usually small and arable with a crofter's dwelling thereon. A crofter is one who has tenure and use of the land, typically as a tenant farmer.- Etymology :...
with a combined population of nearly 400. In 2011 the Pairc Community Trust
Development trust
Development Trusts are organisations which operate in the United Kingdom that are:*community based, owned and led*engaged in the economic, environmental and social regeneration of a defined area or community...
received approval from Roseanna Cunningham
Roseanna Cunningham
Roseanna Cunningham is the Scottish Government's Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs and Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, having previously represented Perth.-Early life:Raised in Australia, she returned to Scotland and...
, the Environment Minister, for a bid to buy the estate under the crofting "Right to Buy" provisions of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003
Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003
The Land Reform Act 2003 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament. It created a framework for responsible access to land and inland water, formalising the tradition in Scotland of unhindered access to open countryside, provided that care was taken not to cause damage or interfere with activities...
. Pairc Trust chairman Angus McDowall, said: "This is an historic step forward for our community, and sends an unambiguous message to the landlord that the economic and social development of Pairc in the interests of the whole community should be ranked above private financial gain. It is a complete vindication of the persistence which we and the whole community have shown over so many years in trying to exercise our rights under the Act in order to plan a better future for local crofters and residents."
Crofting townships in Park
- Orinsay
- Lemreway
- GravirGravirGravir , is a village on the shore of Loch Odhairn in the Park district of the Isle of Lewis. There is a church, a school and a voluntary fire station in the village. There is also a pier. Most of the plots of land used to be used for crofting, but this has declined in the last 50 years...
- Garyvard
- Kershader
- HabostHabostHabost is the name of two crofting townships on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.One is in the Ness area at the northern tip of the island at and is home to an arts and music centre....
- Caversta
- Marvig
- CalbostCalbostCalbost is a village on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland....
- Eishken
- Shiltenish
- Torastay
- CromoreCromoreCromore is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the parish of Pairc, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Cromore is about 27 miles away from Stornoway, the nearest town....