Our essential guide, long perused at home prior to trip, seemingly unpronounceable names tried out tentatively…….Steòrnabhagh, for example.
Made from whale ear drums:
Artefact in beautiful Stornoway ferry terminal.
Ferry to Skye, a little known route, world’s only turntable ferry. Story of lost lives at sea …. Sheol an Olaire, sank on January 1 1919And the memorial in Stornoway harbour. Each light represents one sailor.Humour abounds.Huge skies and empty beaches at Port NisAnd the Butt of Lewis, most northerly point in mainland Lewis , reportedly the windiest spot in the UKReinigeadal, isolated fishing community until recently only accessible by 5m cross country walk from TarbertReinigdeal hostel. A delightful spot. Door unlocked.And cosy as anything (once the fire’s lit). Fuel provided.‘Taste ‘n’ Sea’. Roadside burger – and lobster and scallops- bar.And the view whilst eating lunch.One of 20 or so boxes of crabs at the tiny fishing port of Scalpay Island. Harvested Saturday. Newbury Berkshire by Monday. And then to Spain…Off they go.Half man, half crab.Tourist information, Scalpay style.
The saddest playground ever? Sunday morning Harris to Uist ferry – Tarbert to Lochmaddy. View from our hotel window.Tarbert Harbour.Really??!! Public loo in the Hebrides Hotel. Made me very nervous.Bird watching at An Taobh Tuath (Northton) (and eagles circling overhead)Truly, the geology is secondary only to New Zealand. Stunning.Teaching grandson to sort (by gender and number of claws) crabs, at An t-Ob (Leverburgh, South Harris)Last ferry of the day, Leverburgh, South Harris to Berneray, next Island down the archipelago.En route the Eagle hide, MhiagbhaigThe glen Miaghag, NorthHarris community owned estate.Dropping down to Hùisinis beach. Cattle roaming quite free.And very beautiful they are too.Hùisinis beach.Unusual architecture in a rocky barren land, site of former school.Broadway Medical Practice, a tardis.Wonderful waiting room sculptures.
Iceland Stornoway – poster in window from original Iceland – in OSWESTRY. Stornoway harbour. It’s not by any means all rain. A lovely place to be.
Helen Willows 