Ardroil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ardroil
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 On the right is the road which leads from Uig to Mealista past the houses at Ardroil |
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 Ardroil
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| Language | Scottish Gaelic English |
| OS grid reference | NB045321 |
| 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 |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Ardroil (Scottish Gaelic: Eadar Dhà Fhadhail) is a small village. You can find it on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It's part of the wider area called Uig.
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Where is Ardroil?
Ardroil is a special area of fertile land. It sits by the wide Uig Bay. This land is called machair. Machair is a low-lying, grassy plain found on the coast of Scotland and Ireland. It's made very fertile by wind-blown shell sand. This sand has helped the dark earth grow crops for hundreds of years. Two rivers, the Forsa River and the Red River, flow nearby.
A Look Back in Time: Ardroil's History
The Ardroil we see today is a group of small farms, called crofts. These crofts were set up after people had to move from five older villages. This happened in the 1830s. At that time, the landowner, the Earl of Seaforth, decided that the best land should be used for sheep farming. This meant that many families living in villages like Capadale, Penny Donald, Balgowan, Balgreasach, and Erista had to leave their homes.
These families were relocated to other parts of Lewis, such as Swainbost and Ness. Some even moved as far away as Canada. This period is known as the Highland Clearances. It was a big change for many communities in Scotland.
The Famous Lewis Chessmen
In 1830, something amazing was found in Ardroil. A man named Calum an Sprot discovered the famous Lewis Chessmen in a sand dune in Penny Donald. These chess pieces are very old and were made from walrus ivory and whale teeth. They are some of the most important treasures ever found in Scotland. You can see them in museums today, like the British Museum and the National Museum of Scotland.
What Happens in Ardroil Today?
Ardroil is home to the Abhainn Dearg distillery. A distillery is a place where special drinks are made. This distillery is known for making whisky. It's an important part of the local economy.
