Driving sheep through Baugh

Photograph of Archie Kennedy and James MacMaster driving sheep through Baugh in the 1960s.

Courtesy of Mrs Mairi Campbell

In this photograph of the 1960s, Archie Kennedy of Crossapol and James MacMaster of Kenovay are driving sheep through Baugh on their way to the ferry after lamb sales at Crossapol. The monument to Dr Buchanan can be seen on the hill to the left.

Sheep are generally kept on common grazings; each croft has a souming, the right of grazing on common land, which varies according to township. For instance, in Barrapol each croft has the right to graze five cows and fourteen sheep, whereas in Balephuil the crofts have different soumings.

In the second half of the 19th century, there were between four to five thousand sheep and lambs on the island. Today they number over thirteen thousand.

Black and white photograph of a flock of sheep at Baugh in the 1960s.

Archie Kennedy of Crossapol and James MacMaster of Kenovay herding sheep past the Baugh monument on the way to the ferry after lamb sales in the 1960s.