Atha Ruaidh Northern shieling

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A recent trip to Lewis provided an opportunity to visit several shieling huts along and around Glen Bragar - each one boasts its own unique character with double-skinned walls and twin opposed doorways, often accompanied by niches built into their thick walls. Three significant bothain-airighe are found in the Atha Ruaidh group - this is the northernmost building and the most substantial structure. It underwent a major remodel during the latter part of the 19th Century, retaining its twin doors but featuring a lintelled fireplace and a basic flue for ventilation. The first chimneys began appearing in Western Isles vernacular homes in the mid-to-late 19th Century.