Back, Lewis

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Back Scottish Gaelic: Am Bac
Morning view from Broad Bay House, Back
Back Show map of Lewis Back Location within the Outer Hebrides Show map of Outer Hebrides
Language	Scottish Gaelic English
OS grid reference	NB484405
Civil parish	Stornoway
Council area	Na h-Eileanan Siar
Lieutenancy area	Western Isles
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ISLE OF LEWIS
Postcode district	HS2
Dialling code	01851
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Scottish Parliament	Na h-Eileanan an Iar
List of places UK Scotland 58°16′55″N 6°17′31″W / 58.282°N 6.292°W / 58.282; -6.292

Back (Scottish Gaelic: Am Bac) is a district and a village in the parish of Stornoway on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, situated on a coastal area known as Loch a'Tuath, or Broad Bay. The village/district utilises the motto "Tre Dhilseachd Buaidh" (Through Loyalty Success) as seen on the crest of Back FC.

District villages

The district of Back comprises a number of villages, all of which are on the coast of Broadbay. These are: Gearraidh Ghuirm, Upper Coll, Coll, Inner Coll, Vatisker, Back and Gress.

Transport

The district of Back is located approximately five miles from Stornoway by road, and is accessed by the B895 from its junction with the A857 north of Stornoway.

The District of Back is served by the W5 bus route (Mon-Saturday only).

Back school - Sgoil a'Bhac

Sgoil a'Bhac, is a primary and former secondary education school. However, secondary education was discontinued in the early 2010's with future secondary pupils being educated within the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway.

The school currently caters for pupils aged 5 to 11 years, with an enrollment of approx. 190-200 pupils. In addition, the school has a nursery department for pre-school children. The school is structured around two divisions - a 'mainstream' English language division, and a Gaelic medium division in which half the pupils in the school are enrolled, receiving their primary education almost exclusively in the (Scottish) Gaelic language.^{[citation needed]}

Sgoil a'Bhac is a true community school: the school is used for community events every other week. The school also maintains a relationship with the local Free Church of Scotland. The school has a background in Football and Badminton.

Local community facilities and groups

The Hut - Community Hall: a small community hall with a kitchen that provides hall and room hire to local groups and for local meetings and children's parties etc.

Gress Angling Association - are the lease holders and managers of the angling rights to the Gress River. The Angling Association manage and maintain the river and fishing records, and offer children's fishing events and activities. The river is a significant salmon, sea trout and brown trout river, that is tidal for approx. a mile of its course. The river can be fished from June–October (not on Sundays), and a fee is payable either as an annual membership, or as a day ticket. The river operates a catch and release. Information and tickets from: Sportsworld, 1 - 3 Francis Street, Stornoway.

Loch a Tuath News - is a community run monthly magazine that provides local district news, local features and history, and which covers the Tong district as well as Back. The magazine has a Facebook page, and copies can be obtained in local shops and supermarkets as well as by subscription.

Còisir Sgìre a' Bhac - a local traditional Gaelic choir that has enjoyed significant success at the annual Royal National Mod over many years.

The Coll Centre - sports groups, activities and facilities.

Tourism

Although not as well known or visited as some of the main tourism locations in the Outer Hebrides, the District of Back, and its neighbouring districts in Tong and Tolsta have some of the finest beaches in the islands. The District of Back has extensive sandy beaches at Coll, Vatisker and Gress. The District's beaches are being increasingly recognized as excellent surf and water sport locations, year round.

The District's rivers are good for salmon, sea trout and brown trout - there are two small fishable rivers in Coll (The Angus River and Coll River), and the main river at Gress. Permits are required to fish these rivers, but surrounding the district in the moorland areas are a number of lochs (mostly good for brown trout) that can be fished without angling association permits. See Gress Angling Association above for more details.

Due to over-fishing and trawling in the recent past, the District's coast and beaches have a very depleted white fish population.

Wildlife - the area is home to significant populations of coastal and estuary birdlife, raptors and moorland birds. The unique corncrake can also be heard in the district during summer months, as can the cuckoo - making quite a potent nighttime mixture of bird calls - which are added to by the sound of snipe drumming over the estuary and moorlands. Broad Bay has a significant population of seals and other sea mammals.

Tourist Accommodation:

There are a number of quality B&Bs and self-catering facilities in the district.

Religion

The local church is a Free Church of Scotland. Each service is delivered either in English, or Scottish Gaelic. Ministers serving the congregation have included Rev Donald MacMaster (the first incumbent) and Rev Iain D. Campbell. The Rev Calum Iain MacLeod is the current minister at Back Free Church.

Sport

Football is the most popular sport in Back, with some community members attending games.^{[citation needed]} Back F.C. was formed in 1933 and play beside the beach at Upper Coll.

The club have won many trophies since they began, including the highly sought after Eilean Fhraoich Cup on 17 occasions.^{[citation needed]} Only those who live in the district or have close family are eligible to play in the cup.

Andy Gray, who went on to play for the national side, Scotland, as well as Rangers F.C., Wolves F.C., Aston Villa F.C. and Everton F.C., where he won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, played for the club as a youth.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Back, Isle of Lewis.

• Back Free Church
• Sgoil a'Bhac
• Back FC