Residents of the Isle of Lewis in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides are reportedly grappling with a persistent, low-frequency humming noise that has disrupted daily life. According to a report in BBC, the mysterious sound, described as a “droning, pulsating” disturbance, is audible day and night across the island. Around 200-plus people have reported it, per a Facebook group set up to track the issue.
Dr. Lauren-Grace Kirtley, who launched the “Hebridean Hum” Facebook page, told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland that the 50hz hum is “incredibly intrusive and distressing,” causing sleeplessness, dizziness, headaches, and difficulty concentrating. “It’s impossible to ignore – it is like somebody shouting in your face constantly for attention,” she said. Kirtley noted the noise is strongest on the island’s east coast and less noticeable in its center.
Local resident Marcus-Hazel McGowan, using amateur radio techniques to pinpoint the source, described the hum as inescapable, telling the BBC, “It is one of those you cannot escape from.” He ruled out Stornoway’s Battery Point Power Station, operated by SSEN, as the cause, noting the hum is constant while the station operates intermittently.
McGowan also dismissed boats as a likely source. Theories circulating on the Facebook page range from a TV mast to tinnitus, with some suggesting ferry noise carried by persistent easterly winds, which BBC Weather data confirms have been prevalent recently. Similar low-frequency disturbances have been reported elsewhere, including Omagh, Northern Ireland, where a business was identified as the source last year, and Immingham, England, where the cause remains unknown. In 2013, a drone-like sound on England’s south coast was speculated to be mating fish calls.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the local council, acknowledged receiving reports from a small number of islanders. A spokesperson told the BBC, “The comhairle’s environmental health team is investigating and will liaise with those who have reported issues.” As the investigation continues, residents like McGowan remain determined to uncover the source, hoping to restore the peace they once cherished on the island.
Dr. Lauren-Grace Kirtley, who launched the “Hebridean Hum” Facebook page, told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland that the 50hz hum is “incredibly intrusive and distressing,” causing sleeplessness, dizziness, headaches, and difficulty concentrating. “It’s impossible to ignore – it is like somebody shouting in your face constantly for attention,” she said. Kirtley noted the noise is strongest on the island’s east coast and less noticeable in its center.
Local resident Marcus-Hazel McGowan, using amateur radio techniques to pinpoint the source, described the hum as inescapable, telling the BBC, “It is one of those you cannot escape from.” He ruled out Stornoway’s Battery Point Power Station, operated by SSEN, as the cause, noting the hum is constant while the station operates intermittently.
McGowan also dismissed boats as a likely source. Theories circulating on the Facebook page range from a TV mast to tinnitus, with some suggesting ferry noise carried by persistent easterly winds, which BBC Weather data confirms have been prevalent recently. Similar low-frequency disturbances have been reported elsewhere, including Omagh, Northern Ireland, where a business was identified as the source last year, and Immingham, England, where the cause remains unknown. In 2013, a drone-like sound on England’s south coast was speculated to be mating fish calls.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the local council, acknowledged receiving reports from a small number of islanders. A spokesperson told the BBC, “The comhairle’s environmental health team is investigating and will liaise with those who have reported issues.” As the investigation continues, residents like McGowan remain determined to uncover the source, hoping to restore the peace they once cherished on the island.
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