Isle of Lewis Heritage
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Port
Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$119
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 3¼ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Depart from Stornoway, capital of the Outer Hebridean Isles and home of the Western Isles Council, which strives to promote the Gaelic language and culture.
Follow the beautiful Atlantic coastal road with a stop at Carloway — a pretty parish with a scattering of island croft houses. Here, you'll see the Carloway Broch, a fortified stone tower built around 100 BC for defensive purposes. It is the best-preserved broch in the Hebrides.
The road leads to the beautifully remote coastal settlement of Gearrannan. Step into this restored village of typical "blackhouses" — so named because their walls are covered in soot from the peat fires burned within. Perched on the edge of the ocean, these are like a journey back in time. The black houses were built as a combined byre, barn and home, with an open peat fire in the tradition of ancient long-houses,. Farming folk lived together with their animals until as recently as the 1970s.
At the museum, listen to an introductory talk about the history of this tradition, the village and the island. Watch a weaving demonstration and explore other parts of the village.
You'll turn inland and cross the bleak, open moorland en route back to Stornoway.
Notes:
Dress warmly in layers with a windproof and waterproof outer layer; bring a warm hat, gloves and a scarf. Wear sturdy non-skid walking shoes. Terrain includes even and uneven surfaces, inclines, gravel, grass, and steps.