Location
Loch Beag Bed and Breakfast is located in the village of Fivepenny, Ness on the northern tip of the Isle of Lewis. Our area is rich in history, culture, plant and wildlife. Within walking distance of our front door you can discover the following -
- Teampull Mholuidh – St Moluag’s Chapel. This is a restored mediaeval chapel. St Moluag’s Chapel (Gaelic: Teampall Mholuaidh or Teampull Mholuidh) most likely dates from the 12th – 14th centuries. The first building on this site was thought to have been erected by the Vikings and it is here an ancient cult once celebrated the sea-god Shony by offering ale on All Saints Day. The chapel was restored 1911-12 to provide a place of worship for the Scottish Episcopalian Church. Although it was rarely used for many years, regular services were revived in 1994. However a lack of heating and lighting makes worship here impossible during the winter months.
- Dun Eistean (Dun Eistein). This is a small islet surrounded by rocky slopes lying a quarter-mile northeast of the adjoining village of Knockaird. It is the ancient stronghold of the Morrisons of Ness. First occupied in mediaeval or perhaps prehistoric times, it was here the Morrisons made their last stand against the MacLeods in the 16th century. A bridge to the island was opened in 2002 to improve access. The island is owned by the Clan Morrison Society.
- The Butt of Lewis Lighthouse. The Lighthouse was built in 1862 by David Stevenson, who was at the time Engineer to the Northern Lighthouse Board. Little is known of the Station’s early days, though the first light displayed was probably fixed rather than flashing, but this is not certain. A plaque in the Lightroom indicates that the present equipment was installed in 1905, when the characteristics of the light was one flash every twenty seconds. In 1869, paraffin is known to have replaced the vegetable or fish oil previously used as the light source, and indeed continued in use until 1976, when it in turn was replaced by electricity. The station became the radio link for the keepers on the isolated Flannan Islands in the early 1930’s, and continued to function as such until 1971, when the Flannans was de-manned, and the light made automatic. Today, the Butt of Lewis acts as the monitoring station for the automatic light on the Flannans, North Rona and Sula Sgeir and is the radio control station for the North Minch area.The Butt of Lewis was manned by three Keepers who lived at the Station with their families. The fog signal at the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse was discontinued in 31 March 1995.
- Traigh Sands. This beautiful sandy beach is literally a few minutes walk away (see gallery and site head). It is fast becoming one of the most popular on the island for surfing.
- Machair walks. Botanists will enjoy the Machair walks in our area (Machair is a Gaelic word describing an extensive low-lying fertile plain or sandy dune pasture). You will find an abundance of wild orchid and other native plants. Ornithologists will also enjoy the habits of our seabirds. Machair land is home to rare carpet flowers, such as Irish Lady’s Tresses, Orchids, and Yellow Rattle. It is also the last stronghold of the Corncrake. Twite, Dunlin, Redshank and Ringed Plover also thrive on the Machair lands. Almost half of all Scottish Machair occurs in the Outer Hebrides and it is one of the rarest habitat types in Europe.