Western Isles of Scotland - June 2007

Déjà vu - a return to the Isles after 9 years.

2007-06-18T19:56:00.001+01:00

Here are the Photos we took. I hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed travelling through this beautiful country. Click here to see the previous Cycle Trip.

Please note that when you get to the bottom of the page you can see more photos by clicking on "older posts"

The start

2007-06-17T19:17:00.000+01:00

At Inverurie Station on a cold, wet, June morningps: Thanks, Harry R for the very early morning lift to the station. We really appreciated it.

Arrived in Oban at our B&B - weather much nicer here than in Aberdeenshire.

This is Thornloe Guest House where we stayed for the night waiting for the early morning ferry to South Uist.

Our ferry "Lord of the Isles" at Oban, 8am

2007-06-17T12:50:00.000+01:00

This Royal Navy Ship below is HMS Buwark. Formally commissioned into the Royal Navy on 28 April 2005, HMS Buwark has emerged from an intensive eight month maintenance period which has enhanced the ship’s propulsion system and improved her capabilities in a number of other areas. Having recently visited her affiliated County of Durham, the ship has returned to sea and is currently conducting a demanding programme of trials and training. The new Bulwark is the second of two Amphibious Assault Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ships. Both Bulwark and her sister ship Albion replaced the recently paid off LPDs Intrepid and Fearless.

Ferry from Oban to South Uist @ Lochboisdale

2007-06-17T12:49:00.000+01:00

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Stop for lunch

South Uist & Orasay Inn

2007-06-17T12:46:00.000+01:00

Our Stay for the first night on the Isles was the Orasay Inn, South Uist, owned and run by Isobel and Alan Graham. If you like sea food and peace this is the place for you.

There can be no better views when taking a bath. Champagne anyone?

Benbecula and causeways

2007-06-17T12:45:00.000+01:00

Benbecula is the main stepping-stone between North and South Uist. The main road north leaves Benbecula on a causeway which touches the little island of Grimsay, before sweeping over another causeway into North Uist. Grimsay is a delightful little island with a perimeter road that begs to be explored.
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Heading for North Uist via the causways

2007-06-17T12:42:00.000+01:00

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At the village of Clachan na Luib at the south end of North Uist.

North Uist

2007-06-17T12:39:00.000+01:00

This is the first time I have seen a MacIain, i.e. "Son of Iain" sirname.

Lochmaddy - North Uist

2007-06-17T12:38:00.000+01:00

Which Way to the ferry?

2007-06-17T12:37:00.000+01:00

Same view but 9 years of time has passed us by.

The signs have changed, the bicycles have changed and we have changed too!

Oh dear, time stands still for no man (or woman).

Ferry from North Uist to Harris

2007-06-17T12:35:00.000+01:00

Ferry from North Uist to Harris

2007-06-17T12:34:00.000+01:00

Tràigh Scarasta - South Harris

2007-06-17T12:32:00.000+01:00

Horgabost beach - South Harris - 24C

2007-06-17T12:31:00.000+01:00

Horgabost beach - South Harris

2007-06-17T12:28:00.000+01:00

Horgabost beach - South Harris. Probably the best beach in the World.

2007-06-17T12:26:00.000+01:00

Isle of South Harris

2007-06-17T12:23:00.000+01:00

View of Tarbert, Isle of Harris. Tarbert is the main port and capital village of Harris. Tarbert is a fairly common name across Scotland and, here as elsewhere, it comes from the Norse tairbeart meaning draw-boat. Tarbert lies on the shores of Loch Tarbert, and South Harris avoids becoming an island by just a few hundred yards of land over which the Vikings would drag their longboats into West Loch to avoid sailing around via the Sound of Harris.

After a wonderful day cycling we stayed at Ardhasaig House near Tarbert

2007-06-17T12:21:00.000+01:00

View from my bedroom window.

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A view of where a Whaling Station was located at a square brick chimney located close to the shoreline. This is pretty much all that remains of the Bunabhainneadar whaling station. Whaling has no place in the modern world, but there is no denying its fascination in a historical context. The whaling station was established by a Norwegian company in 1904. A fleet of 90ft whaling vessels operated from here each summer and autumn, catching whales as far afield as Rockall and St Kilda. Whales were harpooned and, once dead, inflated with compressed air to keep them afloat, then towed by the whalers back to Bunabhainneadar for processing, primarily into cattle feed and fertilizer.

Isle of Harris - Our B&B for the night

2007-06-17T12:18:00.000+01:00

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Another view of the Bunabhainneadar whaling station to the right of the photo.

The most remote Tennis Court in the UK and with spectacular views

2007-06-17T12:15:00.000+01:00

Isle of Harris near Ardhasaig

2007-06-17T12:11:00.000+01:00

Another view of Bunabhainneadar Tenis Court - see link for a game!

Harris around Ardhasaig

2007-06-17T12:10:00.000+01:00

Don't eat it yet Harry. Mmm, Yummy.

Ardhasaig House Hotel

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Ardhasaig House

2007-06-16T21:59:00.000+01:00

These were taken at 10.30pm

The menu that Katie prepared for us.

This small hotel comes highly recommended. LINK here to WEB site.

In the misty cold rain heading for the Isle of Lewis

2007-06-16T21:57:00.000+01:00

We climbed 700 feet and into this cold, bleak and wet area. What a difference from yesterday when it was 24C.

Calanais Stones

2007-06-16T21:56:00.000+01:00

The area around Calanais is home to over 20 monuments erected between 3000 and 4000 years ago. Most famous by far is Calanais I, a complex arrangement of some 50 stones. At their heart is a circle of 13 stones between 8 and 13 feet tall, surrounding the tallest stone on the site, 16 feet high and weighing in at about 5.5 tonnes. Some time later a stone tomb was added to the centre of the circle.
Extending north from the main circle is an avenue formed by a double row of stones, while single rows of stones extend roughly east, west and south from the main circle.
It is thought that the alignments of the various stones were used to mark significant points in the lunar cycle. The stone circle and the north avenue were probably built before 2000BC, while the three single lines and the tomb added around 1500BC.

Calanais, West Lewis

2007-06-16T21:54:00.000+01:00

Max in Barvis ... and Stornoway

2007-06-16T21:52:00.000+01:00

This is Max. He lives with Mrs MacDonald in Barvis, West Lewis. He enjoys keeping her guests company.

Stornoway harbour area

Stornoway

2007-06-16T21:48:00.000+01:00

The Castle

At the Harbour

Leaving Lewis

2007-06-16T21:47:00.000+01:00

A light lunch

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The "Isle of Lewis" Ferry

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Chimney Pots

Having a rest

On the "Isle of Lewis" Ferry from Stornoway

2007-06-16T21:45:00.000+01:00

Near Ullapool on the Ferry

2007-06-16T21:43:00.000+01:00

Ullapool

2007-06-16T21:41:00.000+01:00

The end

2007-06-16T21:22:00.000+01:00

Ullapool

End of the holiday - at the station in Garve waiting for the 9am train from Kyle to Inverness