In the past 12 months two people have requested
that Life-on-Tiree feature two specific locations:
Vaul and Manal respectively.
In the coming months, time and weather permitting
we shall attempt to fulfil these specific requests
and to feature the various island townships.
The Isle of Tiree is the most fertile island in the Hebrides.
The official website states . . .
‘The land is split into thirty one crofting townships.’
‘Roughly speaking, Tiree has an outer ring of machair,
a middle section of dark, rich, cultivatable earth,
and a centre of wet, peaty ground called sliabh (pronounced slieve).
Most crofting townships are divided
so as to have a ‘slice’ of each type of ground.
The hill grazing and sliabh
which keep their moisture are for summer grazing,
the field land is cropped
and the machair provides grazing
at the wetter times of the year.’
With 31 townships to cover it will take some time.
We have been resident on the island over three years now.
However, there are still areas we have yet to visit and photograph.
Lying between Scarinish and Crossapol is the township of Baugh or Am Bàgh.
It is no surprise therefore that many simply drive through the township.
The Baptist Church’s premises are situated in Baugh
Thus frequently we have occasion to stop there.
The past week at times it has felt as if Spring is on the way.
So when one of us had reason to call into the Baptist Church building,
the other used the opportunity to explore the unexplored areas of Baugh.
For example to take the dead-end road that goes on beyond Tiree Pottery.
The good news is that remedial work is to be carried out on Dr Buchanan’s monument.
The monument has been damaged more than once during stormy weather.
It appears that it will not be fully restored – very expensive.
However, it will be weather-proofed.
The monument is a good viewpoint being slightly elevated.
Here there are views the length and breadth of the island.
Below the memorial is the site of a former quarry.
It was excavated during the Second World War.
Material from it was used in the construction of the Reef Road
It is suggested that the monument was cracked by this blasting.
Port a`Mhuilinn, Baugh is very attractive.
We are told that ‘Puffers’ would call in here in the past.
Now in the summer months small dinghies can be found moored here.
Tràigh a’ Bhàigh is one of our impressive beaches.
Nowadays Tràigh Bhàgh is more popularly known as Crossapol beach.
Crossapol has overtaken Baugh in population leading to the change in description.
There is good reason to explore Baugh and not just Tràigh Bhàgh .
Take the short climb to the monument and appreciate the view.
Or enjoy coffee, cake and craic at the Baptist Church’s Coffee Pot.
This is ‘Life on Tiree’ focusing on Baugh.
