We are now starting our journey among the outer islands. Today we headed toward the outer Hebrides to the isle of Harris and Lewis (they are one island but narrowly connected so they count it as two?). First was boarding the ferry.
Next we arrived on Harris at Tarbet. First thing we say was the Isle of Harris Distillery. We signed up for the 12 pm tour and get a look around. They are currently selling gin but their whisky hasn’t matured enough for sale. However, they did let us taste the whisky they had made yesterday before it was casked. At 80% alcohol, I’m still not sure if I can feel the back of my throat! They jokingly claim it’s the untapped COVID cure because it can kill anything in your throat!
Then, because we were on Harris, we had to visit a Harris Tweed store. They sell Harris tweed all over Scotland, but it seems more authentic to buy it from the source. The distillery even runs a primary school competition for the kids to design the next tweed pattern and they actually produce the tweed of the winner. David bought a striking blue tweed jacket and I bought a purple tweed hat and computer bag for work.
Next we drove to the Calanais Standing Stones on Lewis. For Outlander fans, these are are the stones they used as the model for the ones on the show so look for similarities. This place was a hippie magnet. There was one couple getting married in the midst of the stones (rumored to bring happiness to the marriage), a guy chanting and beating a drum standing in the middle of the burial cairn, several people hugging/leaning against the stones, and dozens of campers with tents set up around the stones. We tried to take our pictures without getting any of these people in them, so forgive the awkward angles.
Next we headed to an old Blackhouse. Blackhouses were ones where they kept the animals in the house with the people. So they are long with a people part and an animal part. These mostly disappeared in the 20th century with the push to house animals separately from people for the sake of good hygiene. We didn’t arrive in time to go in the restored one, but we did tour around the ruined one next to it.
Then we saw a restored grist mill for oats and barley called a Norse Mill because that’s where the people thought the design had originated. Water turned the turbine below that rotated the top stone to crush the barley or oats.
Then we arrived in Stornaway and ate at a local restaurant.
After checking in at our B & B in Eagleton and talking to Erin, we decided to walk down to the local beach. It’s hard to believe it was 9:30 pm when I was taking these pictures. At 10:30 pm it’s dusk here and stays dusk until 4:30 am, then it’s daylight again. Fun to be this far north on the longest days of the year! And we may or may not have brought back a pocket full of pretty rocks to add to our collection! Tomorrow we will see a little more of Lewis and then catch the ferry back to the mainland in Ullapool.
David and Heidi’s Travels 