The District of Uisken

The deserted township of Knocknafenaig and the shell-sand beaches of Ardalanish and Uisken on the south coast are major attractions of the area. An abundance of plant and bird life can be encountered over a wide range of habitats - from the acidic peat mosses to the fragile sandy machair. The District of Uisken lies at the edge of where the predominant rock (shist) meets the granite which continues west to Fionnphort. Geologically important, it is the subject of continuing research and Ardalanish Bay is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The land was intensively cultivated throughouth the 18th and 19th centuries, initially under the 'runrig' system and later under the crofting system. In 1851, the census for the area showed a population of 241 in the crofting townships of Knocknafenaig, Am Fan, Ardachy and Ardalanish. Today the resident population numbers 15.