One of the best known attractions on the Isle of Lewis are the Callanais Standing Stones. There are actually a number of standing stone sights around Lewis, with Circle 1 being the best known and most visited. Two years ago I visited and photographed one of the other circles (Callanish 3). The standing stones date back over 5000 years, pre-dating Stonehenge. Their purpose is not known but one popular belief is that they were some kind of astronomical observatory.
Just over the bridge to Great Bernera, an island adjacent to Lewis, is another stone circle, Callanish 8. Its just a few steps up a hill from the little parking lot and is comprised of only a few stones.
The island of Great Bernera is definitely worth spending a few hours driving around.
Another well-known attraction is a short drive up the west coast of Lewis from Callanais: the Arnol Blackhouse. For hundreds of years, it was common for Scottish farmers and their animals to live under one roof. Many Hebridean blackhouses were occupied as recently as 1965. These houses provided shelter against the harsh climate and were well suited to an environment of scarce resources. Blackhouses had rounded corners, no chimneys, and housed both animals and humans. The animals helped to provide heat and housing them in the dwelling meant fewer buildings being required. A peat fire in the center of the living room was never allowed to go out. The smoke from the fire killed insects as well as blackening the walls: hence the name “blackhouse”. In the photos below, the trough in the floor identifies the “animal wing” of the house. In another photo you can see a pot hanging over what would have been a peat fire. Outside is a mound of peat bricks to fuel the fire.
As previously mentioned, the Isle of Lewis & Harris has some incredible beaches. Some rival the Caribbean in their beauty. In Part 1 of this series, I featured Huisinis Beach. Here are a few more.
One such beach is on Great Bernera (OK not exactly on Lewis & Harris but close enough).
There are several little beaches by the village of Carnish.
Dalbeg Beach offers some wonderful sand patterns and some gorgeous green waves.
Nisabost Beach offers some beautiful sand and pounding waves.
One word can describe Ardroil Beach – huge!
Like most of the other beaches, the water at Shawbost is emerald green.
Probably the best known beach is Luskentyre. The grass covered dunes, the seemingly endless beach and the water attract tourists from near and far.
We spent a lot of our time on Lewis & Harris just randomly driving around exploring the island. One interesting little site we found was this old hut on a hillside. It was completely empty save for some glass artwork on the window ledge.
In our travels, we encountered a number of waterfalls. Give me a smaller waterfall tumbling over a series of boulders over a massively plunging Niagara Falls or its like any day. And Lewis & Harris has lots of the variety that I prefer.
In my next post I’ll finish off this series on Scotland with a few photos from our final days on the Isle of Lewis & Harris. If you have been enjoying these episodes, please leave a “Like” or a comment. I appreciate the feedback.
Wind At Your Back 
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