A path 120 years in the making (Isle of Lewis)

“This project has brought two committees together. It is ironic that there was a path promised in Parliament over 100 years ago but never delivered. The funding from the IFPF has been essential and critical to delivering it now.”

Community resident

The crofting townships of Aird, Upper Aird and Sheshader on the Point Peninsula in the Isle of Lewis, were promised a path during a Parliamentary question in 1905. In January 2025, thanks to our support and £100,000 awarded through the Ian Findlay Path Fund, a new and improved path was delivered.

The former farming track was a danger for users. It was narrow, had become overgrown, and was prone to flooding. It had an uneven surface and a burn that needed to be crossed. It was a hard route to navigate and for those with mobility issues, families with children, and people using wheelchairs, an almost impossible task.

The ambitious project improved drainage, removed overgrown plants, installed a new bridge, and created a better surface for everyone. New Gaelic-English signs were installed to help users know where to go. People can now get to the community centre and cafe at the former Aird School, which forms a community hub for the Point Peninsula.

Now the communities are connected to each other, to wider path networks, and to local bus routes. This has been so inspiring that several new walking groups have been established since the official opening.