Isle of Lewis,Beautiful beaches and Rainbows

Thanks Ren…looks v nice…I had forgotten about Laggan…never been there,will visit next time.:D

As promised a couple of shots from Laggan beach, taken during the filming of ‘Raven’ series 10 for BBC.

I should mention the Standing Stones,there are quite a few ancient monuments on Lewis,and even if you are not that interested in S Stones – by definition the were always placed to have a commanding view…ergo also great for sightseeing.
We have not seen them all but here are a few…
The most imposing/spectacular are the Callenish Stones,which also has a visitor centre /restaurant/cafe 😉

Callenish Stones

view from callenish

Steinacleit Stones

view from steinacleit

view from Ach Mor stones

It’s an odd setting Dalwhinnie, driving past on the A9 it always reminds me of someone’s model railway diorama. Next time you pass, head for nearby Laggan and it’s spectacular beach. I’ll dig out a photo for you shortly…:cool:

OK please do Ren-may be heading up for a ‘Whisky Research’ long weekend in spring 😀

rgds baz

Managed a quick token visit to one distillery :D,lovely setting etc…very pictureskew

It’s an odd setting Dalwhinnie, driving past on the A9 it always reminds me of someone’s model railway diorama. Next time you pass, head for nearby Laggan and it’s spectacular beach. I’ll dig out a photo for you shortly…:cool:

Managed a quick token visit to one distillery :D,lovely setting etc…very pictureskew

Driving south…next was the ‘Norse’ Mill at Shawbost
Water course on the left

Back on the mainland-a couple of pics near the A9

Blair Atholl (working) Mill + teashop

The next part of our trip took us up to the Butt of Lewis right on the most Northern Point,fairly flat up the north half of the isle but still some interesting stuff to see…

Port Nis

Butt of Lewis (next to lighthouse)

Eoropie Beach

Some interesting (and old) rocks at Eoropie

Blackhouses at Arnol

V quick snap shot as cloud moved 😀

Arnol Blackhouse interior (real fire – no chimney -cough 😀 )

What an outstandingly beautiful place.

What prices did you pay for the hotels?

We were b+b ing so approx £25 pppn,however it really is like stepping back 50 years and anybody visiting needs to be aware that nothing is open on sunday (except maybe in stornoway,but I wouldnt like to bet on that either).
I have always driven up to there because it is easier to pack a 12volt kettle and thermoses etc and 4 seasons clothes,some rations are handy – not many coffee shops around esp off season.
I wanted to go for 2 weeks this time- but the weather was awful for the first week so that was out,if the weather is bad there is very little to do unless you are in stornoway.
We really wanted to go out via ullapool this time because it is a quicker easier drive,because of the gale forecast I already had the alternative route to skye printed out,I called the ferry people just before ‘decision point’ on the M74 and had to make a reservation from uig (idrigill)skye.
As for other parts of scotland one needs to be aware of the ‘midge’ season,I always go late enough not to have to worry about the little blighters.

regards baz

What an outstandingly beautiful place.

What prices did you pay for the hotels?

Next was a trip down to neighbouring Harris – also with stunning scenery.
We drove along the B887 to Huisinis Beach,dont let the ‘B’ road classification fool you LOL,one of the most ‘interesting’ roads I have ever driven !! very narrow single track with blind summits over which you have no idea where the road is going 😀

Nr Acha Mor (Lewis)

Huisinis (Hushinish) Beach

The Gate to Abhainnsuidhe Castle – the road just runs past the front door LOL…we could not believe it when we saw it 😀
these pics taken on way back from beach

We saw this very ornate cattle grid gate on the way to the beach and then just round the corner was the castle -only £175 pppn for b+b 😀

Lost count of how many rainbows we saw 🙂
here is 1 of em

Uig beach is arguably one of the most impressive I’ve ever seen. I used to work up there years ago and Sunday’s were a day of (beach) worship. Think I’m due a trip up there soon…;):D

Yes it is pretty impressive Ren,but I thought Reef Beach just looked fantastic 😀
The only thing that spoilt it was a dead Dolphin/Porpoise halfway along…poor thing

Uig beach is arguably one of the most impressive I’ve ever seen. I used to work up there years ago and Sunday’s were a day of (beach) worship. Think I’m due a trip up there soon…;):D

The reason we had diverted through skye was because we had managed to get a reservation for the saturday ferry to Tarbert (Harris),the best weather forecast was for sunday /monday so we didnt want to be stuck in ullapool (lovely though it is !!)
We arrived at Cairisiadar (carishader) at 2100 on sat – a wee bit tired after 16 hours travelling,and then up early to do some serious beach walking 😀

Clibhe beach nr Bhaltos (Valtos)

Clibhe

The vectra at Reef Beach (Traigh na Beirigh) between Valtos and Riof

Reef Beach…lovely long walk 😀

Loch Croistean

Loch Sanndabhat

Bostadh Beach on Great Bernera

Bostadh iron age house/village

Reef beach was just stunning,all the beaches had lovely quality sand,some of the sand on Lewis has the highest proportion of shell anywhere in britain.

edit…I have not enhanced these pics by the way…just a direct download and of course massaged the vectra number plate 😀

Beautiful shots…picture postcard stuff.

Thanks Steve 🙂
even better to come ! I am just sorting through the pics to follow the route we took !

regards B

Beautiful shots…picture postcard stuff.