The Wildlife Map of the Hebrides

19. Ardhasaig and Bunavoneader

Bunavoneader has an old whaling station constructed by the Norwegians in 1904 and operated until the 1920s (latterly by Lord Leverhulme) with intermittent activity by more Norwegians until the 1950s. Whales were caught as far out as Rockall, including sperm whales and even blue whales. Only the ramp and one of the chimneys remain. Ardhasaig provides classic views of the mountains of North Harris. The landscape around Tarbert has a high proportion of bare Lewisian gneiss.

Above: The "Empire Unitas" at Bunabhainneadar alongside its biggest catch of 1952: a blue whale
Picture from SMT Magazine, May 1952