Cuairt Shiabaigh/Siabaigh Walk
Siabaigh was an island in its own right until a huge sandstorm in 1697 filled the narrow caolas (kyle, or strait) and damaged the township. Another huge storm caused severe damage in 1760 and the area was subsequently cleared in 1853 when Borve was turned into a sheep farm.
In Siabaigh the ruins of over a dozen thatched houses, various stone-walled enclosures and a drying kiln can be found. The name of this settlement is of Norse origin, deriving from either sja-bygd (dwelling by the sea) or from sja (farm, household) and bu (having a household, cattle and sheep). In the summer of 2013 members of a walking group from North Uist assisted the project team by testing out the walks, and they very much enjoyed the experience, as you can see from the photos below. |