Isle of Bernera

Bernera has a population of about 300. It lies off the North-West coast of Lewis and is connected by a road bridge across the Atlantic, built in 1953. Not to be confused with Berneray which lies just to the north of Uist. It's one of the strongest cases made for causeways as it seems to have strengthened if not rejuvenated the local community, whilst others that didn't go down the causeway route have suffered de-population. Bernera measures nearly six miles from north to south and is about three miles east to west. At the north end of the island - at Bostadh - there are some spectacular beaches and the remains of an excavated iron age village exposed by a severe storm as recently as 1992. Bernera is seen by many as pivotal in the Crofting movement after the Bernera Riot of 1874, which is commemorated by a memorial cairn.

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