Shawbost
Shawbost (Scottish Gaelic: Siabost) is a large township in the West Side of the Isle of Lewis. The village of Shawbost has a population of around 500 and lies around 20 miles to the west of the island’s capital Stornoway. A recent development in the village was the renovation of the old school into the new community centre. The community is split into three sections: North Shawbost (Siabost bho Thuath), South Shawbost (Siabost bho Dheas)and New Shawbost (Pairc Shiaboist). There is a small museum of folk life and nearby is a small stone circle. The village is also over looked by a small hill named Beinn Bhragair, 261m high, and situated near to a beach.
Shawbost is one of the most well known of all the villages on the Island of Lewis. This could be for many reasons, some of which could be school, the community centre, the beach or the Harris Tweed Mill.
Shawbost School
The local school has both secondary and primary teaching units. Shawbost School has a roll of about 86 pupils from Primary One to Secondary Two. The school also acts as an optional Secondary school for children from the neighbouring villages of Carloway, Bragar, Arnol, Bru and Barvas. The children's other option is to transfer directly to the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway.
The School was opened in 1992 and provided the village, along with the neighbouring villages, with facilities such as a library, sports hall, indoor swimming pool, outdoor football all which can be used by the public in addition to a kitchen and meeting rooms.
The school has both permanently based teachers in addition to "travelling" teachers who teach at many other local schools in addition to Shawbost. This allows the children who attend the school to receive the best education possible when it comes to subjects such as Art and Music.
Ionad Na Seann Sgoil
Ionad Na Seann Sgoil (Old School Centre) is Shawbost's community centre. The community centre had previously been the village’s first school until the new school was built. The building was then used as a nursery school for a short while until the building came into disrepair. It was then left unused and abandoned for many years until it was decided that it should be rebuilt at a cost of nearly £1million and used as the village’s new community centre.
The purpose of the community centre was to not only serve the needs of the community, both young and old, but of the greater community, extending to not only the west side but the entire island. In order to be able to meet this, the centre became home to many new facilities. These included an auditorium able to seat around 75 people but that could be folded and stored away leaving the room free to act as a hall for dances and other events. A museum is contained in the building displaying local historical artefacts as well as much literature about the local history and people.
There is also a community kitchen which is used as a Cafe in the summer months for tourists wishing to visit the local museum and also for tourists who are passing through the village en route to another of Lewis's many historical sites. The centre also contains a conference room, fitness suite and croileagan. The croileagan is a nursery but one in which the children and taught in Gaelic. On the outside of the centre is a community garden which was created over a number of years.
Finally the community centre contains a Youth Cafe which comprises the most modern of equipment to keep the local youth entertained. Some examples of the facilities available include a PC suite, games consoles with High Definition Televisions and various musical equipment as well as many other facilities.
Shawbost Beach
Shawbost beach is one of many beautiful beaches on the island of Lewis. It is reached by one of two single track roads, one arriving at the beach from each side, which diverge from the main road. The beach itself is about 200 metres long and has a slipway one the left hand side. On either side of the beach are creags as well as cliffs which have a coastal walk along them which stretches from Dail Beag to Bragar.
The beach is usually very quiet even during the summer months and so is perfect for tourists who want the experience of a whole beach to themselves.
External links
- Panorama of Loch Shawbost (QuickTime required)
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