Once upon a time . . .

. . . a long, long time ago, people lived out their lives here in the Uists. They lived by the sea, but chose the hillier places for their religious centres. These are the remains of a Neolithic (4500 – 2500 BC) chambered cairn, which would have been of great importance for the society at the time. Construction of the cairn would have been labour intensive and the actual building itself must have brought the community together. It is assumed that these were burial places, but that they were also centres for the social life of the people.

Quite a sunny day, but very windy. We did visit yet another lovely beach and we spent a long time watching the waves and the wind playing together.

Then we went up (yes there are a few ‘up’ places in this flat landscape). And I found this cairn. It would have consisted of a long, five-compartment chamber and you can just about make this out from the picture. It would have been covered, but most of those stones have gone. Close by there are the remains of another Iron Age wheelhouse. Below you can see some of the landscape of North Uist, with of course lots of water in evidence.

Leaving North Uist tomorrow and heading north across the water.