Isle of Lewis Tour

Introduction

This post reports on a one-day private tour of the Isle of Lewis in Scotland's Outer Hebrides.

Information on the tour

Stone circle known as Callanais III on Isle of Lewis. 

First, we departed our lodgings in Tarbert, Harris, Outer Hebrides and embarked on a tour of adjoining Lewis where we visited the following sites:

  • Famous Neolithic standing stones of Calanais which pre-date Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Egypt.

 Calanais Standing Stones, Lewis, Scotland


  • Carloway Broch, one of the best preserved examples of a high status, defensive building from the iron-Age. Brochs are unique to Scotland.

Gearrannan Blackhouse Village


  • Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, a restored traditional village reflecting life on Lewis until the 1950s.

Gearrannan Blackhouse with peat stack


  • Arnol Blackhouse Museum, a traditional Lewis thatched house where a family and its animals lived under the same roof.

  •  Norse Mill and Kiln, water powered technology from the Viking Age for milling and drying grain.

 

  •  Butt of Lewis Lighthouse. the windiest place in U.K. on northern tip of Lewis.

We returned from our travels via the island’s capital, Stornoway.

Throughout the day, the weather was cold and overcast with heavy rain as we approached Harris. These conditions were compensated by views of streams of water cascading off the mountains.

In course of the day we encountered lots of sheep and cattle including a small herd of Galloway or ‘belted’ cattle. Also extensive examples of peat cutting. Peat remains an important fuel for the islanders.

Tomorrow, we return to the mainland via Skye and then on to Oban,

More information for the visitor.

The publication Visitors’ Guide to Scotland includes sections on islands and various aspects of Scotland's long history.. ISBN is 978-1-9161`332-0-4. Also available via Kindle..

 

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