Hebridean adventure day 4....... Another glorious day.
Wednesday day 4
Got up to amazing light and the most clear view we've had so far. We decided to head down to swordsal bay to make the most of the light. It was stunning, azure blue sea, and the Shiant Islands clearly visible like icebergs rising out of the sea.
We then headed off the the little gem that is Great Bernera. It is actually an island but connected to Lewis by a bridge that is across the Atlantic Ocean!
It is a privately owned island and the population is only 275 people. We drove to the edge which is Tobson, and yet again the landscape was different. Lower lying land intersped with mini lochs. The sky was an unremitting blue reflected in the water all around us. We walked a little way and found a small beach and picnic bench so we had our pack up, accompanied again by two chickens. They seem to enjoy Apple cores!!
As we sat enjoying the view, a family pulled up, and the Dad appeared around the headland in a kayak, they were there to collect him!
We visited an amazing artist who worked from a converted Blackhorse on the way back. Sally Tyszko, who was so welcoming and enthusiastic. She introduced us to an amazing book about the islands and the relationship with tweed.
We then headed up the northern tip of the island which didn't disappoint - beautiful white sands, with an azure sea, broken up by small islands just off shore, which took it in turns to reflect the glorious sunlight.
Then Tim was a man with a plan, so we headed up the west road of Lewis looking for the Iron Age broch, which we chanced upon, although don't know how you could miss it! After a short steep climb, we felt transported back in time as we stood inside the footprint of an ancient chieftains dwelling, with all the magic that goes with that. Again, he had good taste as the view to the Uig mountains and their friends, was stunning, with strings of water and lochs breaking up the receding lines of the landscape.
We then headed up the coast with half a plan to find somewhere for a possible sunset. We passed a harris tweed sign in Carloway so decided to pop in.
We met Mr Norman Mackenzie, a master craftsman. He was pedalling away on a machine that looked like it had come out of the industrial revolution. It was actually made in Yorkshire, around 1923, and he explained the history of tweed in the Isles, and how it was made. It was absolutely fascinating, and so complete to hear a master talking about his craft. I asked if he minded if I took a few pictures, and he was happy to let me. I was pleased with them so have sent him them by email, hope he likes them too!
We then headed up the coast a wee bit more thinking about the sunset, and drove down to Dhal Mòr, but realised halfway down the road that the hills were already obscuring the sun....... A quick turn around ensued and we faced back down the coast to Dun Carloway Broch, and raced back up the incline to get a feeble sunset that belied all the promise of the previous hour. I took some shots, but time will tell!
Another amazing day on these amazing isles of contrasts.
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