A new path to the Iolaire monument at Holm has been constructed.
The works to the path are part of the ongoing planning for the 100th commemoration of the Iolaire tragedy and makes the memorial more accessible for people.
Prams and wheelchairs can now make it down to the site as the new track is tarred and wider than before.
Admiralty yacht HMY Iolaire perished off Holm with the loss of 201 lives in the early hours of New Year’s Day in 1919.
Onboard were navalmen returning from war who were looking forward to being reunited with loved ones when the ship hit rocks at the entrance to Stornoway harbour.
The tragedy is the worst peacetime maritime disaster in British waters.
The vast majority of the dead came from Lewis. Five belonged to Harris while two hailed from Berneray.
The rest were crew members from different parts of the UK. Only 80 people survived.
The old walkway was narrow, boggy and overgrown.
Works are still ongoing but the new track already allows vastly improved access to the monument. When complete, fencing will be erected to keep livestock away.
The £170,000 project being carried out by the Breedon Group includes a tarred and disability friendly route over farmland to the memorial site which overlooks the Beasts of Holm where the ship sank.
The new track allows a gentler walk than before -
Work has begun on constructing a new path to the Iolaire monument at Holm.
The old walkway is overgrown, and narrow, and boggy in places.
Works will take approximately eight weeks to complete.
The £170,000 project being carried out by the Breedon Group includes a fenced, tarred and disability friendly route over farmland to the memorial site which overlooks the Beasts of Holm where the ship sank.
The track will follow an gentler walk than at present -
The main element of work involves the excavation and building up of material to form a path that has a suitable gradient to ensure access for all who wish to visit this site, which has been challenging to achieve in this location.
Preparatory works for additional commemorative sculptures, commissioned by An Lanntair, is included within this phase of works.
Norman A Macdonald, chairman of the Iolaire working group, said: “The works to the path are part of the ongoing planning for the 100th commemoration of the Iolaire tragedy and will make the Iolaire Memorial more accessible for members of the public.
“We are very pleased to have reached this stage and look forward to the seeing the path works complete later in the summer.”
New improved path to Iolaire monument
1 September 2018
