1 Introduction
1.1 General
1.2 Terms of reference
1.3 Outline of report
2 Physical character of the Western Isles
2.1 General setting
2.2 Solid geology
2.3 Winds and waves
2.3.1 Wind conditions
2.3.2 Waves off the Western Isles
2.3.3 Wave measurements
2.3.4 Numerical wave modelling
2.4 Tides
2.4.1 Long-term increases in sea level
2.4.2 Tidal levels - predicted tides and meteorological effects
2.4.3 Tidal currents
2.5 Beaches
2.6 Machair
3 Coastal Cells
4 Coastal Management Units
4.1 Cell 1 Barra Head to Butt of Lewis (NL 557794 to NB 520665)
4.1.1 Sub-cell 1a Stornoway Harbour to Tiumpan Head (NB 423320 to NB 573379)
4.1.2 Sub-cell 1b Broad Bay - Tiumpan Head to Tolsta Head (NB 573379 to NB 565468)
4.1.3 Sub-cell 1c Tolsta Head to Butt of Lewis (NB 565468 to NB 520666)
4.2 Cell 2 Butt of Lewis to Barra Head (NB 520665 to NB 192453)
4.2.1 Sub-cell 2a Butt of Lewis to Tiumpan (NB 520666 to NB192453)
4.2.2 Sub-cell 2b Tiumpan to Hushinish Point (NB 192454 to NA 978114)
4.2.3 Sub-cell 2c Hushinish Point to Sound of Harris (NB 978114 to NG 045818)
4.2.4 Sub-cell 2d Sound of Harris to Griminish Point (NG 045818 to NF 725766)
4.2.5 Sub-cell 2e Griminish Point to Sound of Barra (NF 725766 to NF 745105)
4.2.6 Sub-cell 2f Sound of Barra to Barra Head (NF 745105 to NL 557794)
5 Summary of the present situation
5.1 Natural Defences
5.2 Coastal Defences
5.3 Tourism and recreation
5.4 Agriculture & livestock
5.5 Sand and shingle extraction
6 Future Coastal Management
6.1 Outline for a Shoreline Management Plan
6.1.1 Definition and stocktaking
6.1.2 Definition of Management Units and Objective setting
6.1.3 Plans for each Management Unit
6.1.4 Multi-Criteria Analysis
6.1.5 Management Unit 3 - Aiginis to Melbost Point
6.1.6 Management Unit 30 - Kirkibost and Baleshare Islands
6.2 Future coastal monitoring
7 Conclusions
8 References
Tables
Table 1 Summary of the present state of existing coastal defences
Table 2 Summary of recommendations of required future coastal defence work
Table 3 Summary of tourist and recreational beaches in the Western Isles
Table 4 Summary of recommendations for beaches used for recreational purposes
Table 5 Summary of recommended livestock restriction areas
Figures
Figure 1 Location map
Figure 2 Geology of the Western Isles
Figure 3 Wind rose for Stornoway
Figure 4 Wave rose offshore of Gob Shilldinish
Figure 5 Wave rose offshore of Ardivachar Point
Figure 6 Machair areas of the Western Isles
Figure 7 Coastal cells, sub-cells and Management Units
Figure 8 Summary of coastal erosion - Lewis and Harris
Figure 9 Summary of coastal erosion - North Uist to Barra
Figure 10 Summary of infrastructure at risk - Lewis and Harris
Figure 11 Summary of infrastructure at risk - North Uist to Barra
Appendices
Appendix 1 Glossary
Appendix 2 List of photographs taken during the site visit
