Great Bernera is linked to the north coast of Lewis by a bridge of pre-stressed concrete, which was built in 1953 and is known as the Bridge over the Atlantic.
Great Bernera is approximately 5 miles from north to south by 3 miles from east to west. It is located in the sea loch Loch Roag and is sheltered by Lewis on the east, west and south sides. In 2011 the population of Bernera was 252, down from 384 in 1951. The main settlement on the island is Breaclete, which is located in the centre of the island. The other townships on the island are Tobson, Kirkibost, Hacklete and Croir.
Iron Age Village, Bostadh
The site of an Iron Age village was revealed at Bostadh on the north coast of Great Bernera after a storm in 1993. The site was excavated in 1996. It is the best preserved late Iron Age village found in Britain and originally consisted of 9 houses linked by tunnels. One of the houses has been reconstructed and is open to the public for a small fee.
There is also a restored Norse mill half a mile to the east of Breaclete, some standing stones near the Bridge over the Atlantic and several ruined duns (forts).
In the 1870s Murdo Morrison of Croir built a dam across the mouth of one of the arms of Loch Risay/Riosaigh to create a lobster pond. This meant that local fishermen could store the lobsters they had caught in the pond until the prices they were offered by buyers in London were high enough. The pond was used for this purpose until the 1950s.
Highland Cow at Bostadh
This chap ambled into the car park at the Iron Age Village and demanded that his photo be taken and then he ambled off again!
Bridge over the Atlantic
Bridge over the Atlantic
View from Great Bernera
Cairn commemorating the Bernera Riot of 1874
The plaque on the cairn, which is located at the Tobson Crossroads says:
"This cairn was erected by the people of Bernera and Tir Mor in 1992 to commemorate the participants in the Bernera Riot of 1874.
This event was the first successful confrontation with authority,
leading eventually to the passing of the Crofters Act, which gave
Security of Tenure to all crofters. Stone from every croft in Bernera and Tir Mor are incorporated in the Cairn. The coping stones are taken from the houses of the three men who stood trial."
Tir Mor is the area of Lewis adjacent to Great Bernera, which includes the villages of Earshader, Crulivig, Lundale and Linshader. Sir James Matheson purchased the Isle of Lewis, including Great Bernera in 1844. He appointed a factor called Donald Munro to oversee his estate. Donald Munro took away the area used for summer grazing by the Bernera Crofters, to create a private sporting estate. In 1874 he sent a Sheriff Officer to Great Bernera to serve 58 crofters with eviction notices. When the bailiffs and Sheriff Officer arrived at Tobson, they were pelted with clods of earth and the Sheriff Officer's coat was torn. He singled out three crofters and they were arrested. Hundreds of Bernera men then marched to Lews Castle in Stornoway and demanded to see Sir James Matheson. He disowned Donald Munro and dismissed him the following year. The three crofters were acquitted due to the brilliance of their solicitor, Charles Innes from Inverness. The case inspired many more crofters to revolt.
Bostadh Beach
Time and Tide Bell at Bostadh
A time and tide bell was installed at the high water mark on Bostadh Beach in 2010 by Marcus Vergette, as part of a nationwide project. Other similar bells are located at Appledore, Aberdyfi , Cemaes (Anglesey) and London. The rise of the water at high tide makes the clapper strike the bell.
Reconstructed Iron Age House at Bostadh
Community Centre and Cafe in Breaclete
War Memorial, Breaclete
Church of Scotland Church in Breaclete
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