Fishing port in development
Uig is a small fishing harbor, departure point for ferries to the Outer Hebrides. It also offers mooring buoys, in a well-sheltered environment, for visiting boats. In 2022, the harbor was in the middle of an expansion project, which should change its physiognomy.
Boats can refuel with diesel at the end of the quay. On land, there is also a gas station where you can fill up jerry cans. A few stores, the island's brewery, a camping site and restaurants offer their services right next door.
The surroundings of Uig between past and present
Nevertheless, the stopover is more practical than pretty. However, in the vicinity of Uig, many anchorages are enchanting. Coming from the north, we can only recommend stopping at the foot of Duntulm Castle. From the ruins of the castle, the view is absolutely superb!
In Loch Snizort, in addition to the port of Uig, there are also the Ascrib islands. These islands are part of a special protection area, because of the porpoises and seals that breed there. A beautiful anchorage is located in front of South Ascrib, the largest of the islands of the small archipelago, bought in 1985 by Baron Palumbo. He had a traditional style house built there, in front of which a small jetty allows to moor a dinghy.
A little further south, on the other side of the Waternish Peninsula, Ardmore Bay offers a nice anchorage below the ruined church of Trumpan. This place witnessed a terrible tragedy in 1578, during a war between the MacLeod and MacDonald clans.
The story of the Trumpan massacre
No one knows exactly when the feud began. However, each clan had already committed atrocities. Some historians believe that the trigger for the Trumpan raid was the massacre of 395 men of the MacDonald clan by a group of MacLeods. The MacLeods smothered them with smoke from a fire in a cave on Eigg Island where they had taken refuge.
A group of MacDonalds planned a revenge. One Sunday in 1578, they landed near Ardmore Bay. They found a group of MacLeods praying in the small church. The MacLeods were unarmed and defenseless when the MacDonald clansmen trapped them inside and set them on fire.
It is said that a little girl managed to get out of a narrow window and ran to raise the alarm, only to succumb to her injuries. It is also said that a terrible battle ensued and that the MacLeods deployed the Fairy Flag the magic flag of the clan.
The MacDonalds tried to retrieve their boats to leave, but were blocked by the tide. It is said that they were all massacred, except for the crew of one of their canoes who brought the story of the massacre home.
