As the name suggests, Broad Bay is a wide inlet at the top of The Minch straight, which is bordered by the Point peninsula (sometimes refered to as the Eye Peninsula) to the south and the east coast of the Isle of Lewis to the north.
Just a short hop from the island’s principal town of Stornoway, Broad Bay and Point offer a great selection of attractions that embody the area’s unique island identity – of irrepressible local spirit borne out of an untamed natural environment.
Take a walk along Garry Beach and explore the sea caves and stacks worn by centuries of surging tides and you may begin to understand the power the waters of the Atlantic exert over this island nation, and how the constant battle against the elements builds and strengthens island communities.
Visit the Gress Memorial to the Lewis land struggles, which arose when returning soldiers from the First World War were denied the land rights they had been promised, and you will learn of the power of the island spirit in action – with this imposing stone structure standing as a timeless testament to the strength of the islanders when faced with adversity.
Stop off at Lord Leverhulme’s Bridge to Nowhere near Tolsta for a reminder of how traditional crofting won out over grandiose plans for infrastructure and industry in this area or head to the ruins of St Columbus’s Church at Point for a glimpse of rich island history even now under threat of erosion from sea’s ongoing onslaught.
Take comfort in the shining beacon of the lighthouse at Tiumpan Head, which has been guiding shipping through the often obscured waters of The Minch since the turn of the 20th century, although on a clear day it is possible to spot the far off Sutherland shores as well as some stunning examples of Lewis bird life.
