The
Outer Hebrides stretch in a chain 130 miles long, and act
as a break against Atlantic storms heading for the Inner
Hebrides and the Western Highlands. The rugged landscape
of moorlands, mountains, deep sea lochs, splashing rivers
and huge skies is as dramatic as any on the mainland. Against
this background lies a wealth of prehistoric standing stones,
graves and brochs.
Arnol
Traditional
tigh dubh, or black house on Lewis with 6ft thick
walls and thatched roof tied down with rope and weighted
with stones, now houses folk museum. Crofters' furniture
includes straw-filled box beds.
Bairanald
Waymarked
paths lead through Hebridean marsh, machair and along North
Uist shoreline, offering chance to see birds such as corncrakes,
red-necked phalaropes, oystercatchers and mute swans that
visit and nest here.
Barra
Castle,
dating from 1120 and restored in 1930s, home to the piratic
MacNeils of Barra. A thou-sand species of wild flower have
been identified on island.
Benbecula
Reuval
Hill, 408ft high, gives views of whole of Benbecula, North
and South Uist and neigh-bouring islands. On southern slope
of hill is cave where Bonnie Prince Charlie waited for Flora
MacDonald to bring suitable clothing for him to travel disguised
as her maid to Skye. Good beaches at Culls though sea is
cold.
Callanish
Standing
stones erected on Lewis about 4000 years ago. A 270ft avenue
of 19 stones leads off from circle of 13 stones, with other
avenues heading east, west and south. Inside the circle
is a small chambered tomb. Reasons for its construction
not known.
Cille
Bharra
Ruined
Church of St Barr and restored Chapel of St Mary once formed
part of Barra's medieval monastery. Carved stone in graveyard
has Celtic cross on one side and Norse runes on other.
Dun
Carloway Broch
Iron
Age stone fort, built on Lewis 1700 years ago, still has
30ft high walls standing. Courtyard, 25ft across, is surrounded
by double walls, between which are chambers, galleries and
stairs.
Eriskay
Island
of 'love lilt' and setting of novel Whisky Galore, which
was based on 1941 event when SS Politician foundered
off coast with 243, 000 bottles of whisky. Pink sea convolvulus
flowers supposed to have been planted by Bonnie Prince Charlie
when he landed on island on way to Scotland.
Garynahine
Bronze
Age stone circle on Lewis comprising stone slab surrounded
by ring of boulders, in turn surrounded by ring of upright
stone slabs; tallest is 9ft.
Hushinish
From
pier opposite Scarp, walk leads north-east over Harris hills
to beach. Inland lies Loch na Cleavag. Hushinish road passes
near 19th-century Amhuinnsuidhe Castle and salmon leap at
Loch Beag.
North
Uist
Ancient
forts, ruins and standing stones are everywhere on island.
Stone group 3 miles north-west of Lochmaddy is called Na
Fir Breighe, 'The False Men', said to be either wife deserters
turned to stone or gravestones of spies buried alive.
Rodel
St
Clement's Church, built on Harris 1500 and restored in 18th
and 19th centuries, finest example of church architecture
in Hebrides. Contains monuments to members of Macleod family.
Seilebost
Harris
sand dunes sheltering hamlet are populated by rabbits and
sea birds. Carpets of bright flowers emerge in early summer.
Shawbost
Shawbost
Museum, housed in disused Lewis church, illustrates old
methods of fishing, croft farming and weaving. Restored
19th-century water mill.
South
Uist
Nature
reserve at Loch Druidibeg is breeding ground of greylag
goose. Statue of Madonna and Child, 3Oft high, carved by
Hew Lorimer in 1957. Birthplace of Flora Macdonald now just
a tumble of stones near Mingary.
Stornoway
Lews
Castle, built 1844, now a technical college surrounded by
largest wooded park in Hebrides. Ruin of 14th-century Ui
Chapel at Point peninsula. Gaelic culture celebrated at
An Lanntair Gallery.
Tarbert
Harris
countryside offers opportunities for walking. Otters, red
deer, golden eagles and swans in area. Scenic route runs
eastwards from village to Kyles Scalpay. Cairns on road
to Luskentyre mark prehistoric funeral routes.
Trinity
Temple
Ruins
of medieval college and monastery on North Uist founded
in early 13th century. Theologian Duns Scotus studied there.
Beside it is Teampull Clan A'Phiocair, chapel of the MacVicars.
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