Day 19 - West Lewis

I started the day with a run in the grounds of Lews Castle.  It was my planned run from Wednesday which I put off till today for various reasons.  

The weather today has been very different.  It rained overnight, was dry but windy for my run and then hammering down when we went out.  The rain and wind eased late morning and we did have some hope that the sun would break through - but it didnt.

We started the day by visiting Callanish Standing Stones, which was on yesterdays list but we ran out of time.  They are quite impressive and fairly symetrical, looking out over the sea.  The visitor centre is currently closed so we just looked around the site.  There are about 8 other stone circles in the area but I dont think Paul would have been impressed at going to all of them.  Some we could see from the main roads but they were much smaller than this one.

 

Callinish Standing Stones 

 

Callinish Standing Stones 

 

Callinish Standing Stones 

 

Callinish Standing Stones

We then had quite a long drive up to the Bernera Peninsula.  It consists of 2 islands, Great Bernera and Little Bernera (furthest north).  We stopped at a Cairn on top of a hill on Little Benera and then moved on to the most northerly point, Bosta Beach.  Here they have a Tide and Time bell.  We have seen one before but never heard it sounding as the tide comes in.  Nearby was an Iron Age house.  It was supposed to open at 12 and a few people were waiting but we came away and didnt see anyone who might have been going to open it.

 

Memorial Cairn at Little Bernera to commemorate the participants of the Bernera riot of 1874 

 

Time and Tide Bell at Bosta Beach 

 

Bosta Beach 

 

Dead jellyfish on Bosta Beach 

 

Iron Age House at Bosta Beach 

We stopped at a little honesty shop called The Wee Shop.  Items for sale were in 2 little sheds with models of a man and woman outside.  They looked lifelike as you drove past.  We bought a fridge magnet.   

 

 

One of the shops 

 

Paul and man at the Wee Gift Shop 

 

The Wee gift shop 

 

Telephone box with double doors.

 

We then moved on to the Uig Peninsula, further west.  We had planned to do a scenic route around a headland with several little villages but a large part of the route was closed so we just saw what we could.  There are quite a few campsites in this area - not surprising with the lovely beaches.

 

Kneep Beach 

 

Reef Beach 

 

 

Landscape change from peat bogs and grassy hills to rocky hills.

 

Nearby is a replica carving of a Norse Chessman.  In 1837 hundreds of chess pieces were discovered nearby.  The originals are in either the British Museum or the Scottish Museum in Edinburgh.

 

Norse Chessman - King 

 

Young lapwing 

 

 

Lots of rabbits in the sand dunes

 

 

Carnish Beach - so big we couldnt get it all in a photo 

 

 

Red deer seen near roadside 

 

Red Deer seen near roadside 

 

 

One of the few direction signs seen today 🤣 

 

We then set off to find Mangersta Sea Stacks but couldnt find out how to get to see them as they are obscured from the road.  Google maps took us near to them but it wasnt possible to get across the peat bogs without risking being knee deep in water.

 

Glimpse of the cliffs near Mangersta Sea Stacks 

 

We came back to Stornoway late afternoon feeling quite drained.  We have had 2 full days and have only seen a small part of this island.  A week would have been better.  It is beautiful, even in the rain.

After dinner we walked into the town and had a drink in a pub called the Criterion.  It was mainly older people (50+) and one table had a guy playing a guitar with others singing songs from our era.  It was really nice and seems to be a locals pub but we were made very welcome.  

 

The bar in the Criterion

Fisher woman statue in town centre