Portvoller

Portvoller (Scottish Gaelic: Port Mholair) is a small village on the north tip of the Eye Peninsula (which along with Melbost and Parkend makes up Point), on the Isle of Lewis in northwestern Scotland. It is 9 miles (14 kilometres) on the A866 from the Outer Hebrides' only town, Stornoway.[1] Portvoller is within the parish of Stornoway.[2]

Portvoller
  • Scottish Gaelic: Port Mholair

Loch an t-Siumpain is in the centre of the picture, with the houses of Portvoller beyond
Portvoller
Location within the Outer Hebrides
LanguageScottish Gaelic
English
OS grid referenceNB561366
Civil parish
Council area
  • Na h-Eileanan Siar
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townISLE OF LEWIS
Postcode districtHS2
Dialling code01851
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

About the village

Portvoller's most prominent feature is the Tiumpan Head Lighthouse, which is located at the northernmost tip of the village.[3]

Portvoller is also near some of the Western Isles' best fishing waters, especially rock fishing or beach casting. The headlands that are most popular for these pursuits are known locally as Billy Mor (Bilidh Mhor)[4] and Foitelair (Foitealar).[4] These two fishing hotspots are found about five minutes' walk from the ruined Portvoller slipway—a walk that can be a treacherous clamber after a squall or downpour. The Portvoller slipway is also near to small and secluded Shinega (Sinigeadh)[5] beach.

Tiumpan Head lighthouse

Etymology

The village name probably originates from the Old Norse word voller (the plural of vollen, still used in some dialects of Norwegian, which denotes a hill that slants upwards gradually). Indeed, this is a quite appropriate description of the village of Portvoller.

In the period from the ninth to the twelfth century, Viking raids on the island would have been commonplace. When Norway occupied Lewis before the Treaty of Perth and the Battle of Largs, Portvoller would have been a principal landing place for arrivals from Norway.

Surrounding villages

The village has several others surrounding it, including Portnaguran, Aird, Broker and Flesherin, all of which are served by the one post office, off-licence and shop. All the aforenamed villages are served by the Western Isles Council in terms of public transport and other services.

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References
  1. "A866". Sabre. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  2. "Lewis, Portvoller". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  3. "Lewis, Tiumpan head Lighthouse". ScotlandsPlaces. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  4. "Canmore". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  5. "More Background Information". Point Online. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
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