Low-Frequency Mystery on Isle of Lewis
Across Scotland’s Isle of Lewis, residents say a persistent, low-frequency hum is rattling windows, ruining sleep, and sparking a grassroots investigation to find the source. Local councils are fielding complaints as volunteers log times and locations—yet the cause remains stubbornly unknown.
What people are hearing
Witnesses describe a droning, pulsing sound—most noticeable at night—that some compare to a distant engine idling. Reports have arrived from multiple parts of the island, with many residents saying the noise triggers headaches, dizziness and insomnia.
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- Community tracking: A public Facebook group (“The Hebridean Hum”) has collected 200+ posts from affected residents and is plotting when/where the sound is reported.
- Council involvement: Western Isles officials have acknowledged the complaints and say environmental health teams are aware, but a definitive source has not been identified.
- Recordings: Some measurements suggest a dominant tone around ~50 Hz, near the lower limit of human hearing—though not everyone can hear it.
Ruling things out… slowly
Early suspicion fell on local infrastructure, including diesel generation at Stornoway’s Battery Point, but the hum reportedly persisted after shutdowns and checks. Other theories range from under-sea industrial noise and shipping to long-range communications or unknown technical sources.
“It’s impossible to ignore,” said one resident interviewed by reporters, describing a low, insistent drone that seems to follow them room to room.
Short explainer (video)
Why the “hum” is hard to solve
Low-frequency noise can travel far, reflect unpredictably, and be amplified by certain homes or landforms—so the source isn’t always where it seems. Add that not everyone perceives these frequencies the same way, and investigators face a moving target that may vary by weather, wind, or tides.
What to watch next
- More coordinated audio measurements across the island to triangulate a source.
- Targeted infrastructure tests (on/off schedules) to rule in or out specific candidates.
- Independent marine and industrial noise surveys to check for underwater or offshore contributors.
