Howmore
Encyclopedia
Howmore lies on the island of South Uist
to the southwest of Loch Druidibeg. The mountain of Haarsal rises to 139 m to the east and immediately south is the smaller settlement of Howbeg.
The area is largely flat but is dominated by the mountain Beinn Mhòr. A rewarding day's hillwalking can be had on Beinn Mhor and Hecla
(606m) - South Uist's highest hills. Loch Druidibeg Nature Reserve, 3 km to the north, is an important site for breeding Greylag geese
and a sanctuary for the corncrake, now, within Britain, almost unique to the Western Isles. The ruins of Flora MacDonald's birthplace can be found near Milton
, 11 km south of Howmore, marked with a commemorative cairn.
On the southern slopes of Beinn Mhor is the wooded area of Allt Volagir, one of the few areas of natural woodland left in the Hebrides - the islands were all wooded once until the arrival of the Viking
s who are traditionally blamed for clearing the trees (though this fact is disputed).
The village is perhaps best known for its remarkable collection of ruined churches and chapels. The most striking remains are of the Teampull Mor, the "Large Church" or St Mary's, of which only part of the east gable remains. This church probably dates back to the 13th century and it was used as the parish church. At the time of the Reformation
, Howmore turned to Protestantism
, though 95% of the population of South Uist remained Roman Catholic. Howmore Church, built in 1858, is therefore rather unusual; doubly so as it is one of the few churches in Scotland with a central Communion table. The church is white-harled and used as a landmark by fishermen off the west coast.
. Howmore is also home to one of Scotland's best collections of thatched buildings. The youth hostel is operated by Gatliff Hebridean Hostels Trust. It is located in a white-painted thatched building of remarkable charm: and with stunning views to the east across ruined churches towards the peak of Hecla.
South Uist
South Uist is an island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,818. There is a nature reserve and a number of sites of archaeological interest, including the only location in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found. The...
to the southwest of Loch Druidibeg. The mountain of Haarsal rises to 139 m to the east and immediately south is the smaller settlement of Howbeg.
The area is largely flat but is dominated by the mountain Beinn Mhòr. A rewarding day's hillwalking can be had on Beinn Mhor and Hecla
Hecla
Hecla may refer to:In places:* Fury and Hecla Strait, Nunavut, Canada* Hecla, Montana, USA* Hecla, South Dakota, USA* Hecla and Fury Islands, Nunavut, Canada* Hecla and Griper Bay, Nunavut and Northwest Territories, Canada...
(606m) - South Uist's highest hills. Loch Druidibeg Nature Reserve, 3 km to the north, is an important site for breeding Greylag geese
Greylag Goose
The Greylag Goose , Anser anser, is a bird with a wide range in the Old World. It is the type species of the genus Anser....
and a sanctuary for the corncrake, now, within Britain, almost unique to the Western Isles. The ruins of Flora MacDonald's birthplace can be found near Milton
Milton (Outer Hebrides)
Milton is the name of a tack or tenant farm on the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It was on this tack that Jacobite heroine Flora MacDonald was born and spent her childhood. A memorial dedicated to her stands at the remains of the township....
, 11 km south of Howmore, marked with a commemorative cairn.
On the southern slopes of Beinn Mhor is the wooded area of Allt Volagir, one of the few areas of natural woodland left in the Hebrides - the islands were all wooded once until the arrival of the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
s who are traditionally blamed for clearing the trees (though this fact is disputed).
The village is perhaps best known for its remarkable collection of ruined churches and chapels. The most striking remains are of the Teampull Mor, the "Large Church" or St Mary's, of which only part of the east gable remains. This church probably dates back to the 13th century and it was used as the parish church. At the time of the Reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
, Howmore turned to Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
, though 95% of the population of South Uist remained Roman Catholic. Howmore Church, built in 1858, is therefore rather unusual; doubly so as it is one of the few churches in Scotland with a central Communion table. The church is white-harled and used as a landmark by fishermen off the west coast.
. Howmore is also home to one of Scotland's best collections of thatched buildings. The youth hostel is operated by Gatliff Hebridean Hostels Trust. It is located in a white-painted thatched building of remarkable charm: and with stunning views to the east across ruined churches towards the peak of Hecla.