Harris and Lewis comprise the most Northern part of the Outer Hebrides. The impressions are of a barren, melancholy lunar type landscape with stunning extensive white sandy beaches. People still live amongst these rocky hills with townships marked by chocolate-coloured peat stacks. However, one will be impressed by the modern and thriving town of Stornoway, the capital and administrative centre for the region. The Butt of Lewis lighthouse, shown to the left, is now unmanned as it looks out over the Pentland Firth. A visit to this isolated part of the United Kingdom is a must. You will not be disappointed.
Butt of Lewis Lighthouse
The beach at the now preserved Bostadh Iron Age Village (above) is typical of the many Historic sites found on The Isle of Harris and Lewis. Hundreds of archaeological sites and monuments are preserved on the island, itself made up of the oldest rocks in the world.
Take a trip back in History and explore this wonderful isolated area. Take the road to Skye and the ferry from Uig to Tarbert. Again you will not be disappointed.
Can you name this Harris beach and area ?
Did you know this:-
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The stone circle at Callanish on Lewis is the second largest stone circle in Britain, after Stonehenge .
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The Clach and Trushal standing stone on Lewis is 18 ft (5.5 m) high and is the tallest standing stone in Scotland.
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On Lewis, the Free Church in Stornoway, capital of the Outer Hebrides is reckoned to be the best attended church in Britain, with a regular congregation of over 1,500.
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The rocks on South Uist are thought to be the oldest rocks in Britain. A rumble of stones in Mingary marks the birthplace of Flora Macdonald. The only significant castle on South Uist is Ormacleit Castle. Completed in 1708 for the Chief of the Clan Ronald, it was one of the last traditional castles to be built in Scotland and the shortest lived having burned down in 1715 and was never restored.
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The now uninhabited island of St Kilda, a World Heritage Site owned by the National Trust for Scotland, lies 45 miles (72 km) to the west of the Outer Hebrides and is the most westerly and most remote part of the British Isles. The sea cliffs at Conachair are 1,300 feet (396 m) high, the highest cliffs in Britain. St Kilda has the largest colony of guillemots in the World and Britain’s biggest Puffin colony.
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