Ardroil

Ardroil (Scottish Gaelic: Eadar Dhà Fhadhail) is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Ardroil is within the parish of Uig.

Ardroil Scottish Gaelic: Eadar Dhà Fhadhail
On the right is the road which leads from Uig to Mealista past the houses at Ardroil
Ardroil Location within the Outer Hebrides
Language	Scottish Gaelic English
OS grid reference	NB045321
Civil parish	Uig
Council area	Na h-Eileanan Siar
Lieutenancy area	Western Isles
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ISLE OF LEWIS
Postcode district	HS2
Dialling code	01851
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Scottish Parliament	Na h-Eileanan an Iar

Geography

Ardroil is more accurately the name of a fertile machair district by the expanse of Uig Bay between two rivers: The Forsa River and the Red River. The land is made fertile from the wind blown shell sand which has fertilised the black earth for centuries.

History

What is today known as Ardroil is an elongated township of re-settled crofts from five previously cleared settlements. These clearances occurred in the 1830s as the landowner, the Earl of Seaforth, decided that the best land should be taken from tenant crofters and given to sheep farmers. This particular clearance evicted the tenants of the former healthily populated townships of Capadale (Capadal), Penny Donald (Peighinn Dhomhnaill), Balgowan (Baile Ghobhainn), Balgreasach (Baile Ghreusaich) and Erista (Earastadh). The inhabitants were forcibly sent to other parts of Lewis notably Swainbost, Ness but also to Canada.

The Lewis Chessmen were found in 1830 at a sand dune in Penny Donald by a man named Calum an Sprot and are among some of the greatest treasures found in Scotland.

Economy

Ardroil is home to the Abhainn Dearg distillery.

External links

• Canmore - Lewis, Ardoil site record
• Canmore - Lewis, Ardoil, Chess Pieces site record
• Canmore - Lewis, Ardoil, Hut Circle site record