Lewis 3rd week

I didn't think I had much more to take photos of, but was mistaken. Jenny and I were back in Ness on Tuesday, to walk to an old blackhouse village. It is now the site of a few shielings, some new and some still in disrepair, as well as an occasional white house. A photographer's paradise. Yet another site to visit one evening with better light.

Jenny spotted this ram so we stopped for a photo. It took some time as he was camera shy. He kept butting his two wives and hiding his head behind them. I finally managed this shot.

We passed several peat banks on the way to the village. The first is a traditional hand cut peat bank. The second photos show machine cut peat. Ness is the apparently the only area on the island to use machines. They were bought over from Ireland but left very narrow cuts in the ground which meant sheep kept catching their feet in them, so the machines did not take off.








A local joke?



Unfortunately, Jenny was feeling unwell so while she was being looked after by Murdo, I took myself off to Callenish to take shadow photos. There were only about 5 people when I arrived but 40 about 10 minutes later. There was going to be a good sunset together with a nearly full moon and clear sky. The midges were about though and I had forgotten my net. I took the boat and returned to Ghinda at Lochganvich. The telegraph poles may not be iconic but there are no people here.






Off to Uig on Wednesday to picnic at a secluded beach at Mealasta - Jenny fully recovered. Photos on the way of the views. On the way back we stopped for a photo opportunity. Some creative soul has made the scarecrows and invite people to take a photo with the drum seat filled. We duly obliged. In the evening, I went to see the Coal Porters at Breaseclete community centre, with Jenny and Murdo. Part 1 of my birthday present. Rua MacMillan were the first act - great fiddling and drumming with a bodhran. Coal Porters is blue grass. A good time was had by all.




Oyster catchers on the beach




Another walk with Robin Reid, the North Harris ranger. This time at Huishinis over the machair. Unfortunately, like my last machair walk, it was raining. It stopped for a bit for photos. On the way back we spotted this bird together with two flying. I was very excited thinking it was an eagle but I have convinced myself it is a buzzard. Am having it checked out.

I think the boat in this photo is the MV Kuma (or Cuma) which does 4/6 day trips around the island.








Stornoway was buzzing on Friday when we went in to meet Anne and Donald for lunch. The tall ships were in and the Heb Celt Fest was in full swing.








On Saturday, we filled ourselves up with a Big Breakfast at the community centre. We won 1st and 2nd prize in the raffle - two hampers, one of food and one of smellies. The evening was spent in the Lewis castle grounds at the festival. The main act was KT Tunstall and she didn't disappoint. A great social event too as there was plenty of time to walk around, eating, meeting and greeting.

On Sunday it was back on the ferry to the mainland, a drive to Aviemore, overnight at the YHA and a drive back on Monday. I detoured to Martin Mere WWT, just outside Liverpool. It was sunny in Scotland but rain started at the Lake District. Luckily it was only drizzle at Martin Mere so a quick look around and a good lunch before joining the crowd on M6.

Lewis 2nd week

Jenny and I drove to Harris on Tuesday to do a walk at Rodel. We stopped for coffee in Tarbet and lunch at the Skoon Art cafe. I resisted buying a painting but there was a lot of temptation. We parked by the church in Rodel and did the short walk to work off the lunch. Tea at the new cafe and gallery - Hebrides Art on the way back.

Seal haulout (with some greylag geese)





Jenny and Murdo were working the next day so I took myself off to do the machair walk in Ness with Julie Sievewright. It was a drizzly day so no photos except this one of Julie's dog Murphy.



On Thursday I visited a most beautiful part of Lewis - South Lochs. There is a very good cafe at Ravenspoint visitor centre with shop and museum too.
View from Garyvard.


Uninhabited house at Cromor




After bridge on Thursday evening, Jenny and I stopped on the Pentland Road to view the sunset. Spot the fisherman in this picture.



On Friday we visited Anne and Donald in Tolsta. I popped into Stornoway for my daily cup of coffee and took a look at the exhibition in the An Lanntair Arts Centre. It was by the photographer, Ian Lawson and it took my breath away. It was about how Harris tweed comes from the land. Some of the photos showed a piece of tweed together with a photo of the landscape or wildlife which corresponded with the colours in tweed. His book is out in spring 2012.

Took the dogs on the beach at Traigh Mor below.

In the evening we had a splendid dinner at Auberge and caught the mist on the way back. The last photo is the mist over the loch at Lochganvich. Those are the hills behind the loch.




On Saturday we joined Robin, the North Harris Ranger on one of his golden eagle walks at Bowglas. A lovely walk and we saw golden eagles - not close enough for a photo though.





A view from Rhenigidale after the walk.

A very rainy day on Sunday meant chilling out at home. At dinner, the curlew family made an appearance on the lawn. There was another chick in the field. We regularly see one of the parents flying around but this was the first time on the lawn. In the evening we popped out to Bosta beach where the iron age fort reconstruction is. Tried the bay where otters have been sighted but not by us, today.




Jenny, the dogs and I walked from Dal Mor to the blackhouse village at Garenin. We dropped a car at both ends of the walk. Beautiful scenery and definitely a walk, I would do again when the light is better.

Dal Mor beach