The Wildlife Map of the Hebrides

13. Bosta

This popular beach, with a much eroded machair, has good views of the cliff bound islands of Outer Loch Roag, notably Little Bernera, Flodday, Bearsay, the Old Hill and Campay. Campay is pierced by a natural tunnel about 120 metres long. Following a period of clan warfare and alleged treason in Lewis, James V1 sent a force to capture Nial Macleod and his followers, who established a strong base on the island of Bearsay in the early 17th century. They were forced to leave the island which they had held for three years, when the Mackenzies held their relatives hostage on a tidal rock. Niall surrendered to his kinsman Rory Macleod who handed him over to the King and was executed in 1613, and Lewis thus came into the possession of the Mackenzies.