A month on Lewis Part II

Now in my third week on Isle of Lewis.  Woke on Sunday and thought it looked as if there was going to be a good sunrise so took the camera and tripod up to the stones.

I left the stones in this one as silhouettes to show the colours better

Went off to Point and found the walk to Dursainean the chambered cairn and Clach Glas the triangle standing stone.

Drove on the Penteland Road to Stornoway

The loch by the landfill site

Dursainean the chambered cairn

Clach Glas - I don't know the bird

I retraced my steps back to the cairn rather than completing the circular walk by the road

I then went on to the Tiumpan lighthouse and had a short walk on part of the coastal route.  You can spot whales and dolphins here if you are lucky but I only spotted the guillimots.

 Off to Harris on Tuesday because the Skoon Art Cafe was open for the day.   Had the best coffee of the trip at the cafe and said hello to Emma and Andrew.  Drove to Finsbay to see the seals then on to Leverburgh, Scarista and Seilebost.  Back to Skoon Art for lunch then back on the rest of the Golden Road back to Tarbert and Lewis. 

View from Achmore, Lewis

Seals at Finsbay

Floods at Scarista

Seilibost, my favourite beach on Harris

On the Golden Road

On Thursday I went into Stornoway for a few supplies as all the shops are shut until Tuesday for the New Year.  Spent a few moments at Dal Mor in the afternoon.  The sun was out but the rain came all too soon.  I was playing with the macro lens and like the effects.

Gulls at Dal Mor

Seascape

I was not planning staying up for New Year's but the Aurora watch app was bleeping at me.  I thought it was worth going out to take a look.  Sure enough there were the Northern Lights over the stones - just what I had wished for.  There was already someone up at the stones taking photos.  We talked in the darkness and then the woman from Callanish Digital Delights, which is how she introduced herself left.  Another couple turned up with more torches plus a couple of cars with headlights.  However, they eventually left me in peace.  I had an hour snapping away and still had time to enjoy the free spectacle together with all the stars.  I was leaving as the clouds were gathering when the aurora started to dance.  I met a couple on the way up as I left.  I hope they didn't get caught in the hail/sleet/rain which hammered down at midnight while I was safely indoors.

More rain for New Year's Day but it was forecast to be dry for about an hour at Uig so I made my way there.  Stopped at Ardroil for the excellent toilets there and then made my way to Mangersta - one of my favourite beaches on Lewis.

Don't think this one is in use.

Looking down at Mangersta beach

Seascapes

Drove towards Barvas in the rain and then decided to stop at Bragar at about the same time as the rain stopped.  No light but there was a surfer to watch - too far away.  Lots of walkers about.  Definitely a place to return to.  Drove through Tolsta Chaolais (home of Katie Morag) and found the sheep with the horns.

Eating seaweed at Bragar

Another seascape

Surfer towards a fall

Dry today - Sunday but a strong wind.  I decided to do the walk to Callanish stones II and III taking in a couple of ruined houses, sheep and cows.

Sunscape

Two fireplaces

Callanish III

A short trip to Bragar and Dal Beg on a very windy and cold Monday.  Spotted what I think is a blackthroated diver and then stood at Dal Beg and watched the waves.

Jenny and I drove around South Lochs on Tuesday and had fun taking each other through windows of a ruined house in Orinsay.

Gulls flying off as I get out of the car blended with a seascape from Uig

The view from Orinsay

Window from the house we snapped

Jenny

Me

Jenny calls this 'the loo with a view'  It is in Achmore

Spent my last day looking for the otter.  Caught sight of it on the rocks in the distance.  Of course, it went into the loch as I got nearer and played about at the far end of the loch.  Watched it for awhile before heading back home.  Had to retrace my steps in the afternoon as I lost my pendant (still lost) and saw the otter again but too far off.  Snapped the heron flying away - not sharp but a good record.

Otter in the seaweed

Grebe

The scene between the loch and the stones

Heron

  Another holiday on Lewis at an end.  I will be back in July for the HebCelt festival.  My thanks to the staff at Callanish Visitor Centre for all their info - and excellent coffee.  I stayed at Callanish Farmhouse - very comfortable and to be recommended.  www.callanishfarmhouse.co.uk