fine dining at the edge of the Atlantic . . .


At the edge of the Isle of Lewis,

on the remote cliff-top of Gallan Head,

amidst the wild and beautiful landscape of the Outer Hebrides

lies Bonaventure . . .

the most north-westerly restaurant in the British Isles.

Origins		Our Bonaventure
The Gaspé Peninsula is a tongue of land lying to the east of Quebec city, which juts out into the Atlantic, an undiscovered and unique corner of Quebec, full of surprises. Here you will find a town called Bonaventure (pop. 2,756): this name has been used since the end of the 16th century and its origin has been linked with the sailing vessel "Bonaventure" that travelled the Gulf of Saint Lawrence during the fishing expeditions in 1591. Bonaventure is one of two Acadian (Nova Scotian) strongholds in the area. Also off the peninsula is Ile Bonaventure, an island whose history has been shaped by fishing. Tradition has it that Basque and Breton fishermen came here at the beginning of the 16th century, since there was plenty of fish, it was 'une bonne aventure'. Also, Jacque Cartier anchored near the island on 15th July 1534 (Saint Bonaventue's Day). The 20th century was marked by the decline in fishing and the exodus of the inhabitants. Tourism now plays a major role; in 1985 the island was declared a conservation park - 250,000 birds nest on the island and the gannet colony consists of 70,000 birds.		On the edge of Lewis, on the reomote cliff-top of Gallan Head, amidst a wild and beautiful landscape, there is another Bonaventure, and like its namesake - it too is unique! Our establishment occupies, what was, the administration building on the former RAF base built at Gallan Head, the most North-Westerly point of the British Isles. Constructed in 1954 to cover the North Atlantic Gap during the Cold War, the base consisted of 24 substantial buildings, which were abondoned in 1963 and replaced by satellite surveillance equipment and the RAF/NATO presence at Stornoway Airport. (For a fascinating insight into what life was like for servicemen at Aird Uig, follow this link and then select "For memoirs of a national serviceman at RAF Aird Uig click here". About half way down you will read about Sam Webb being sent 'Off to the Hebrides')