Gearrannan

Mostly cloudy today, some sunny spells, the odd light shower, better this evening. 

Up early, and headed out after breakfast.  A great day of exploring the west coast.  First stop, Arnol and the blackhouse museum.  On to Bragar, where we saw the blue whale jaw bone arch.  Next was Gearrannan and the Dun Carloway broch, and onwards to the stunning Calanish standing stones.  Lunch at Uig, and spotted some muckle chessmen, and then headed down to Brenish.  I was amazed to see Flannan Isles, even more exciting was spotting St Kilda, or at least I hope it was, and is on my bucket list for a future holiday.  Back to Stornoway, a chip supper and then a quiet night in the caravan.  

Finding a traditional croft township was icing on the cake today.  A settlement has been here for over 2,000 years, with the blackhouses being the last built.  With only a few remaining elderly residents, it was abandoned in 1974.  They noted the importance of the site, and had it restored to it's former glory in 1989, and now a museum and self catering accommodation.  Life in Lewis was similar to Shetland in many ways, and I expected the blackhouses to be similar too, but no, they look more like our Viking homes.  Great to see many houses here, and we had a cuppa and cake in the café.  Taken at Gearrannan blackhouse museum, Isle of Lewis.