Timsgarry
title: "Timsgarry" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["villages-in-the-isle-of-lewis"] topic_path: "general/villages-in-the-isle-of-lewis" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timsgarry" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox UK place"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| official_name | Timsgarry |
| gaelic_name | Tuimisgearraidh |
| label_position | left |
| static_image_name | Timsgearraidh (Timsgarry) (geograph 2422500).jpg |
| language | Scottish Gaelic |
| language1 | English |
| coordinates | |
| country | Scotland |
| os_grid_reference | NB050338 |
| post_town | ISLE OF LEWIS |
| postcode_area | HS |
| postcode_district | HS2 |
| dial_code | 01851 |
| civil_parish | Uig |
| constituency_westminster | Na h-Eileanan an Iar |
| unitary_scotland | Na h-Eileanan Siar |
| lieutenancy_scotland | Western Isles |
| constituency_scottish_parliament | Na h-Eileanan an Iar |
| :: |
| official_name = Timsgarry | gaelic_name = Tuimisgearraidh | scots_name = | label_position = left | static_image_name = Timsgearraidh (Timsgarry) (geograph 2422500).jpg | static_image_caption = | language = Scottish Gaelic | language1 = English | coordinates = | country = Scotland | os_grid_reference = NB050338 | post_town = ISLE OF LEWIS | postcode_area = HS | postcode_district = HS2 | dial_code = 01851 | civil_parish = Uig | constituency_westminster = Na h-Eileanan an Iar | unitary_scotland = Na h-Eileanan Siar | lieutenancy_scotland = Western Isles | constituency_scottish_parliament = Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Timsgarry () is a village on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Timsgarry is home to the Baile na Cille Church and the Uig Museum, noted for its giant Chessmen, discovered in the sands in 1831.
Geography
Timsgarry lies on the western side of the Isle of Lewis on Uig Bay, 33+1/2 mi southwest of Stornoway on the B8011 road, to the north of Ardroil. The Erista River flows in the sea at Timsgarry. The coastline here is known as Uig Sands (Tràigh Uuige).
History
Fragments of Iron Age pottery were recovered from Dun Borranish, just to the south of the main settlement, in 1991.
Landmarks
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Church_at_Timsgearraidh_(geograph_3084965).jpg" caption="The church at Timsgarry"] ::
Timsgarry is home to the Baile na Cille Church, and is situated within the parish of Uig. Timsgarry used to have its own chapel, named Capail Mor, further to the west of the present church, which was built in 1724 near to the site of an earlier church, known as Capail Beag. The former manse is still present, with the churchyard.
The ruins of an even earlier church, Teampall Chrìosd (St Christopher's), is located to the west of Timsgarry. There is a legend that this burial ground was once a bare rock and a man called Eidheann brought the soil from a nearby hill, Cnoc Eidheann to build the knoll it resides on. Under the mound is said to be a pagan temple or dun. At one time the burial ground was supposed to be for the exclusive use of Clan Macaulay. It is now a scheduled monument.
The Uig Museum is located at Timsgarry, within the community centre, and displays local archaeology, such as replicas of the Uig Chessmen, discovered in the sands in 1831. These were identified as 12th century Viking chess pieces which were made from walrus ivory and whale teeth.
Uig Lodge Golf Course, to the southwest of the village overlooking Uig Sands Bay, was originally established in 1930 and recently restored. It is currently run by the Uig Lodge and used exclusively by hotel guests.
References
References
- {{Google maps. link
- (2017). "The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands & Islands". Rouggh Guides.
- "Lewis, Borranish A Muigh". [[Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland]].
- "Baile na Cille Church". Uig Church.
- "Lewis, Baile Na Cille, Capail Mor And Capail Beac". [[Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland]].
- "Church in Uig before 1824". Uig Church.
- (2020-02-17). "Chapel-sites on the Isle of Lewis: Results of the Lewis Coastal Chapel-sites Survey". Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports.
- "Cnoc Eothail, Baille na Cille, burial ground and site of chapel (SM5363)".
- "Uig Museum". Comann Eachdraidh Uig.
- "Uig Chessmen". Comann Eachdraidh Uig.
- "Facilities". Uig Community Centre Association.
- "Things To Do". uiglodge.co.uk.
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::