Howmore

According the oral tradition, South Uist was heavily wooded once until the arrival of the Vikings who are traditionally blamed for clear clearing the forests (though this fact is disputed). The village is perhaps best known for its remarkable collection of ruined churches and chapels. The most striking remains are of the Teampull Mòr, the "Large Church" or St Mary's, of which only part of the east gable remains. This church probably dates back to the 13th century and it was used as the parish church. The ruins, which are supposed to have also housed a "College of Learning", are also important to the history of Scottish Gaelic literature. At least one of the ancestors of Scottish Gaelic…