Breakfast at the hotel starts at 0730 but we were let in for the Continental selection at 0715 so we could set off in time for the ferry for the Isles of Harris & Lewis. We had beautiful canned grapefruit and mandarins to go with muesli, plus ham and cheese to go on our toast. It was more than adequate despite missing out on the bacon and eggs.
The drive to the ferry departure point, Uig, took about 1h15. The crossing took 1h40 in relatively smooth conditions despite the bleak appearance.
We drove up to Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis which took an hour through green and rocky countryside, with a somewhat high pass which was heavily clouded. We dropped in at the An Lanntair Art Centre Cafe for a quick lunch before going to the Callanish Standing Stones about 30 minutes west out of town.
The Callanish stones are a Scottish version of Stonehenge which date back about 5000 years. Thereafter we headed to an Iron Age house which was partially built into the ground. Actually, it was a replica of the real thing which was re-covered to protect it.
We returned to the cafe to meet Kim’s mum’s second cousin’s wife for a cuppa at 5pm. Kim’s family (on the mother’s side) are originally from here. There was a bit of a catch up as Kim was here 50 years ago and his parents a little more recently.
We drove south back down to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris and then 30 minutes further through some very unusual landscape to get to our B&B, the Riverside Cottage. The landscape was very rocky, interspersed with tussock-like grass and lots of water (either inlets or lakes).
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- Typical scene on Harris & Lewis Isles.
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- Typical scene on Harris & Lewis Isles.
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- Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis.
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- Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis.
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- Typical scene on Harris & Lewis Isles.
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- Typical scene on Harris & Lewis Isles.
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- Iron Age House on the Isle of Lewis.
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- Near the north on the Isle of Lewis.
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- Tarbert Harbour where the ferry comes in from Skye.
