Shawbost facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shawbost
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 The Norse mill and kiln at Shawbost |
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 Shawbost
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| Population | 500 |
| OS grid reference | NB259467 |
| Civil parish | |
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| 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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Shawbost (Scottish Gaelic: Siabost) is a big village located on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. It is part of the West Side area. About 500 people live in Shawbost. The village is around 20 miles (32 km) west of Stornoway, which is the main town on Lewis. Shawbost is also part of the Barvas parish.
The village is divided into three parts: North Shawbost (Siabost bho Thuath), South Shawbost (Siabost bho Dheas), and New Shawbost (Pàirc Shiaboist). Shawbost is well-known on the Isle of Lewis because it has a school, a community center, a beautiful beach, and a special mill that makes Harris Tweed. You can also find a small museum here, which shows what life was like in the past. There is even a small stone circle nearby. A hill called Beinn Bhragair, which is 261 meters high, looks over the village.
In 2001, a survey showed that 72% of the people living in Shawbost could speak Scottish Gaelic.
Shawbost School: Learning and Fun
Shawbost School is a local school that teaches both younger children (primary) and older students (secondary). It has about 86 students, usually between 5 and 14 years old. Children from nearby villages like Carloway, Bragar, Arnol, Bru, and Barvas can also choose to come to Shawbost School. Another option for older students is to go to the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway.
The current school building opened in 1992. It offers many great facilities for the village and surrounding areas. These include a community library, a large games hall, a swimming pool, and an outdoor football field. There is also a place for shinty, which is a traditional Scottish sport. All these facilities can be used by the public. The school also has a kitchen and meeting rooms.
The school has teachers who work there all the time, as well as visiting teachers. These visiting teachers also teach at other local schools. This helps students get the best education in subjects like art and music. Since 2011, Shawbost School has been the main place for shinty on Lewis. It is the home field for the Lewis Camanachd team.
Ionad Na Seann Sgoil: Your Community Hub
Ionad Na Seann Sgoil means "Old School Centre" in Gaelic. This building is Shawbost's community center. It used to be the village's first school before the new one was built. After that, it was a nursery school for a short time. Then, the building became old and was left empty for many years.
However, it was completely rebuilt and opened in September 2005. The renovation cost almost £1 million! The main goal of the community center is to help everyone in the local area, both young and old. It also serves the wider island community.
The center has many new and exciting facilities. There is an auditorium that can seat about 75 people. This room can also be cleared for dances and other events. Inside the building, you will find a museum. It shows local historical items and has many books about the area's history and people. The archives of the West Side Historical Society are also kept here.
There is a community kitchen that becomes a café in the summer. Visitors to the museum and tourists passing through the village can enjoy a snack here. The center also has a conference room and a fitness suite. Plus, there is a croileagan, which is a nursery where children are taught in Gaelic. Outside the center, there is a community garden that has grown over several years.
Finally, the community center has a youth café. It is filled with modern equipment to keep young people entertained. This includes computers, game consoles with high-definition TVs, and various musical instruments.
Shawbost Beach: A Quiet Coastal Escape
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Shawbost beach is one of the many beautiful beaches you can find on the Isle of Lewis. You can reach it by taking one of two single-track roads. These roads split off from the main road and lead to different sides of the beach. The beach is about 200 meters (656 feet) long. It has a slipway on the left side, which is a ramp for boats.
On both sides of the beach, you will see rocky areas called crags and tall cliffs. There is also a coastal path that goes from Dail Beag to Bragar. Even during the summer, Shawbost beach is usually very peaceful and quiet.
