Lying to the south of Stornoway, Loch Erisort (Eireasort) and Loch Mariveg (Mharabhig) offer a selection of wild anchorages for those sailing the east coast of Lewis, as well as some great opportunities to explore what this island coast has to offer.
ANCHORAGE AND FACILITES AT LOCH ERISORT
About six miles south of Stornoway, Loch Erisort - based on the Norse name “Eric’s Fjord” - is a long, narrow sea loch with a wide entrance that runs westward.
The south side of the loch entrance has some sheltered anchorages that are easy to enter making them a good choice for Western Isles sailing crews. Within the loch itself there are numerous, charted islets, reefs and rocks. Loch Leurbost, a side arm Loch Erisort, is well sheltered from all directions.
The area surrounding Loch Erisort is sparsely inhabited, however Ravenspoint visitor centre at Kershader has a community owned hostel, shop, petrol station and cafe serving light meals and refreshments. In the same building the local history museum includes the Angus Macleod Archive. Across the loch near Keose is Eilean Oir Jewellery.
ANCHORAGE AT LOCH MARIVEG
Just south of Loch Erisort, the entrance to Loch Mariveg is enclosed by three islands, which means there is a network of bays with a variety of wild anchorages offering shelter to island explorers. The entrances, however, are narrow and could be dangerous in easterly winds. Careful attention needs to be made to the state of the tide when approaching, but once you are in, scenes that typify a Hebrides sailing break - breathtaking scenery, tranquil lagoons and abundant wildlife - await.
LEWIS LOCHS HABITATS AND HERITAGE
The wildlife you can see in the area of these two lochs includes otters, deer, golden and sea eagles, and common seals. Loch Cromore, a lochan near the mouth of Loch Erisort has a slight seawater content which is good for wildfowl including wintering whooper swans.
Balallan (Baile Ailein) - meaning "Allan's Town" - is the village at the head of Loch Erisort, just south of which is a memorial to the Deer Park Raiders of November 1887. Following a vote by local people in 2013, funding is being raised to purchase the local lands of the Pairc Estate from the existing landlord.
The area has strong connection with Hebrides sailing history and Loch Erisort was even the site of a dangerous programme of secret mini sub testing in 1942.
Close to Loch Cromore is the ruin of Dun Cromore with a wide staircase of 17 steps while Eilean Chaluim Chille, the largest islet in the loch, is connected at low tide to the mainland of Lewis by a causeway at Crobeag and once had a chapel dedicated to St Columba.
