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Peter May Trilogy - Whistler's House Ardroil

Ardroil, Uig, Isle Of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, HS2 9EU

Type:Literary Trail

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Photograph © David Wilson


The glorious bay at Uig, south west Lewis, has many of Fin’s locations around it. Whistler lives at Ardroil as does Minto and the ancient little graveyard at Baile na Cille must be one of the most scenic in Britain.

The Chessmen sees Fin in contact with his old friend Whistler. Whistler played in a band, whilst Fin was the roadie, through his teenage and university years. Whistler is a genius verging on madness and leads a bohemian lifestyle living in an old blackhouse. Peter May imagined his house to be at Ardroil.

Overlooking the bay are the mountains, including Mealaisbhal, where Fin and Whistler have several scrapes. 

"Whislter's croft sat up off the road, not far from the cemetery at Ardroil, a steep strip of land rising to a restored blackhouse with views over the dunes and the vast expanse of Uig beach and beyond. There were a handful of sheep grazing on the lower slope, and nearer the house itself old lazy beds had be reactivated to grow potatoes, rows of turned earth fertilized by layers of seaweed cut from the rocks and dragged up the hill."

Extract from The Chessmen by Peter May

A great trip to take is by boat with Seatrek at Miavaig, to the islands and literally into the caves where the fatal scene occurs in “Chessmen”.

The famous Lewis Chessmen were found here in 1831. The 78 piece set, made from walrus ivory, were from the 12th Century. Some are displayed at the British Museum in London and some at the Museum of Scotland, Edinurgh.

For the more adventurous, why not try a walk up Suaineabhal, for some spectacular views over Uig bay and over to the hills and lochs of UIg, where you can imagine Fin and Whistler finding the remains of a small plane. Click here for the route.

Abhain Dearg Distillery is nearby and not to be missed. You will get a tour of the distillery, with a dram or two .... just a taster!

Click here to return to the Peter May Trilogy home page.

 

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What's Nearby

  1. Short, low growing with spike of bright yellow flowers

    0.07 miles away
  2. Camas Uige or Uig Bay is in a national scenic area in the south west of Lewis.

    0.65 miles away
  3. You will find Mangurstadh Gallery, a  family run business, on a working croft in Uig,…

    1.7 miles away
  1. In the remote region of uig on the Isle of Lewis, you will find Uig Heritage Centre. …

    1.8 miles away
  2. Low growing white flower with 5 petals found in rocky crevices and shingle on coast

    2.05 miles away
  3. One of the largest fish seen in the waters around the Outer Hebrides.

    2.11 miles away
  4. Stac Dhomhnuill Chaim is situated near the village of Mangersta in Uig.

    2.22 miles away
  5. Traigh Mhangurstadh (Mangersta) is a beautiful beach in the parish of Uig in south west…

    3.05 miles away
  6. Ard Feinis is a rocky promontory just south of Mangurstadh in the south west of Lewis.

    3.32 miles away
  7. An open studio situated in an old byre overlooking the Atlantic in the crofting village…

    3.65 miles away
  8. Cliff Studio, located by Cliff Beach, Valtos, Uig, shows coastal landscape and abstract…

    3.71 miles away
  9. Camas na Clibhe (Cliff beach) is a quartz sand beach situated on the Valtos peninsular in…

    3.92 miles away
  10. Public Art structure by artists Marian Leven and Will Maclean that reflects local,…

    4.52 miles away
  11. Traigh na Beirghe (Reef Beach) is a very long, sweeping, white sand beach in Uig

    4.55 miles away
  12. A low growing plant with small white 2 lobed flowers. Found on improved agricultural land…

    4.73 miles away
  13. Tall, slim stems with pale blue flowers

    4.87 miles away
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