Another beach day in Lewis, but this time I was exploring all the beaches on the East coast of Lewis, starting at Thraigh Mhòr – the “Big Beach”.
Also called Tolsta beach, Traigh Mhòr is a stunning sandy beach looking that seems to go on forever.
Close to Shawbost, there is a hidden but very special sight, a Norse mill and kiln, just a few steps from a parking spot.
Overlooking Loch Roinavat you will find a renovated pair of thatched buildings used in past times to process barley grain. The Corn Mill and kiln were in use right up till the 1930s.
The Mill and Kiln were restored and rebuilt in the late 1960s and would be working today. The Kiln, the first one on the right side, is a drying room with a raised stone floor and a fire pit underneath to prepare the corn for milling. The Mill was powered by the stream running to the loch and had a mill laid running through the middle of the building to drive the paddles and mill wheel.
Once upon a time, Lewis houses about 200 of this kind of mills.
Looking inside the mill. These two buildings give us another glimpse of how life used to be in Lewis.
And as a bit of a contrast, a modern time windmill:
It´s been a while since I visited a broch, but luckily there is one in Carloway on the Isle of Lewis. Dun Carloway has probably been constructed about 200 BC and used until about AD 1000. It is said that the members of the Morrison Clan used the broch in Carloway as a stronghold in the 1500s.
And there was another blackhouse.
The broch was closed and under renovations, while I was in Lewis, but it was possible to walk around the almost 9m tall tower.
Dun Carloway is a striking monument in the landscape. This impressive example of Iron Age architecture may have been designed to make a bold statement of status, wealth or power. It was also easily defended, sitting high on a rocky outcrop, with wide views for miles around. (Historic Enviroment Scotland)
The main features of the Dun Carolway are a double-skinned wall with two tiers of internal galleries, a low entrance on the ground level, a small room off the entrance passage (guard room?), a stairwell that led to the upper floors and a stone ledge on the wall that probably supported the upper floor.
Dalmore Beach
On the way home I made two more stops, the first one at Dalmore Beach for a little evening stroll along the waves.
And met a cute dog!
Lewis Gneiss – these stones are 1 to 3 million years old.
