Mealaisbhal...

Overlooking Uig Bay, Isle of Lewis.

We woke to glorious sunshine in Ullapool.  A beautifully calm morning so hopeful of a smooth crossing to Stornoway.

Light breakfast in the hotel (no full cooked before a ferry journey!  :-) And along at the ferry terminal just after 9am.  We are always impressed by the Calmac ferry staff.  So kind and helpful and full of good humour.  Car positioned right by the lift so easy move from the car deck to the lounge deck.  And a wonderfully smooth crossing.  Yay!!

Sun was still shining when we arrived at Ullapool.  Headed to Lews Castle for lunch.  There was a wedding on so sadly we couldn't access the castle rooms so no piano playing for D in the grand hall today.  We'll be back though.  Probably tomorrow as we've ordered a pair of binoculars from Argos in Stornoway :-)

As we drove down to Uig Bay in south Lewis the weather closed in and we arrived at our wee cottage in rain and mist, stopping first at the local shop for supplies, they have everything! :-) 

The cottage is as amazing as we'd hoped.  The views are breathtaking as you can see from my main blip, which was taken from the comfy armchair I've claimed as mine in the living room.  Don't worry though, D hasn't been left out as there's a matching one and two more doors on the other side of the living room, so he has the same view.  

Mealaisbhal (the tallest peak on the Isle of Lewis) was completely shrouded in mist when we arrived but by the time we'd unpacked and were eating dinner (delicious smoked haddock gratin) the peak was in full view and by 8pm was bathed in the warm light of the setting sun (a couple more in extras) 

The cottage is absolutely stunning and so cosy and has everything we could wish for.  There was even a very generous welcome pack containing milk, butter, orange juice, crusty bread, 4 pain au chocolat, marmalade, jam, crisps, water, Tunnocks caramel wafers as well as washing machine and dishwasher tablets, dettol spray, loo roll and kitchen roll.   

So happy to be back in the outer Hebrides.  Going to relish every single second :-)))