The cottage was originally the croft-house for one of the scattered small-holdings that make up the crofting township of Askernish (orAisgernis in Gaelic). The government-assisted resettlement programme of the late 19th and early 20th centuries restored to the people the land which had been taken from them during the infamous ‘clearances’ of the previous century and a half.

In the mid-1980s, the quarter-acre plot on which this cottage stands was de-crofted, Croft 8 itself being transferred to the tenancy of another crofter, who still keeps sheep there.

Askernish township extends west from the lower slopes of hills that line the east side of Uist, across the tallabh dubh (‘black earth’ - peaty soils, improved with lime-rich, wind-blown shell sand, seaweed, and grazing) to the machair (grassy plains of wind-blown sand, abundant with wild flowers in May and June especially). Finally, there are the high marram-grass dunes and the vast stretches of dazzling white sands along the Atlantic shore.

8 Askernish stands on a low rocky rise, with wonderful views across the tallabh dubh towards the hills and machair lands beyond, taking in scattered homesteads and, yes, the occasional concession to today’s world, including the TV transmitter!

Although there remains a number of working crofts, the township has in recent years - like most communities in the islands - become more diverse, with a variety of private houses, from Askernish House (a rather grand farmhouse built in 1830), through a variety of 20th century homes (including a modern-day convent!), to an eco-home built into the rock face above the shore of a loch.

One thing that hasn’t changed here much, though, is the pace of life. Nothing here is done in too much of a hurry.
 

Local specific sites:
the big garden
askernish golf club
south uist fishing
rothan cycle hire
western isles wildlife tours
polochar inn
ceolas
kildonan museum
multimap


 

Local Portal sites
Travel Information.
visit hebrides (tourist board)
hebridean web
undiscovered scotland
uist online
virtual hebrides
guide to scotland (uist)



 

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