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Aird Uig
Àird Uig - geograph.org.uk - 1347790.jpg
Buildings at Aird Uig
Aird Uig is located in Outer Hebrides
Aird Uig
Aird Uig
Language Scottish Gaelic
English
OS grid reference NB048379
Civil parish
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town ISLE OF LEWIS
Postcode district HS2
Dialling code 01851
Police Northern
Fire Highlands and Islands
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament
  • Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Scottish Parliament
  • Na h-Eileanan an Iar
List of places
UK
Scotland
58°13′52″N 7°01′44″W / 58.231°N 7.029°W / 58.231; -7.029

Aird Uig (which in Gaelic is Àird Ùig) is a small village. It is found on the Isle of Lewis. This island is part of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. Aird Uig is located within the area called Uig. You can reach it by taking the C40 minor road. This road connects to the B8011 at Timsgarry. The village also includes a large area of shared land. This land is used for grazing animals.

Aird Uig has two different parts. The south end is a traditional crofting community. A croft is a small farm, often with shared land. The north end has old army buildings. Many of these have been turned into homes. The main building and shop for soldiers are now the Gallan Head Hotel & Restaurant.

History of Aird Uig

People first settled in Aird Uig in 1825. These were crofters who had to leave their homes. They came from a nearby place called Carnish. Aird Uig was chosen because it was very remote. The land was also hard to farm. This meant landowners were not interested in it.

Between 1954 and 2010, the Royal Air Force (RAF) used a special site here. Later, NATO also used it. This site at Gallan Head was a RADAR station. It was called RAF Aird Uig. Now, the local community wants to open the old base to the public. They hope to make it an observatory. It could also be a gallery and a place to listen for whales.

Cool Places to See

Taigh a’ Bheannaich

Taigh a’ Bheannaich means "House of Blessings". It is the ruins of an old church. You can find it on a small piece of land. This land is called Druim Bheannaich. It is located to the west of Loch a’ Bheannaich.

RAF Aird Uig Radar Station

Royal Air Force Aird Uig was a radar station. A radar station uses radio waves to detect objects. This station was built as part of the ROTOR programme. This was a plan to protect Britain from air attacks. The RAF operated it from 1954 to 1974. After ROTOR, the RAF still used the site. It was a communications and radar site until 2000. Its duties then moved to RAF Buchan. This base is near Peterhead in Aberdeenshire.

After the RAF left, NATO took over the site. It became a communications hub for them. The military completely left the site in 2010.

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