Photos and the City

Category: Sotland

Another day in Stornoway

It was a rainy day on the border between Harris and Lewis, but it looked a bit drier in Stornoway, so I decided to visit this lovely town another time. I also toyed with the idea of getting some wellies.

I was lucky, as soon as I crossed some of the mountains the sun came out.

I started my walk around town in the harbour and discovered this impressive monument remembering the sinking of the Iolaire on 1 January 1919 right in the Minch before Stornoway. One of the worst maritime disasters in United Kingdom waters.

This monument was erected for the 100th anniversary of the sinking.

A friendly fisherman greeting you on the other side of the harbour, vis a vis from Lews castle.

The brewery at the edge of the world seemed to have moved…

Another ferry arrived and brought lots of happy tourists ready to explore Harris & Lewis.

And one of my favourite statues in Stornoway, the “Herring Girl”, or better said one of the “Herring Girls” statues – remembering all the women working in the fishing industry. For almost 100 years, from 1850 up to WWII, more than 3000 of the island’s women were employed in the industry as “Herring Girls”.

27/09/2022
The Golden Road

The Golden Road in Harris – a beautiful but winding single-track route through some of Harris’s rocky East Coast. Stunning views and beautiful scenery are guaranteed.

Where did the name “golden road” originate? Maybe from the costs of building this road? The local historians have different opinions about this.

Beside all the wildlife you will also find lots of little galleries along the road and a tweed museum. The perfect road in Harris for slow travel, but let the locals pass you by!

For a long time the settlements were only reachable by sea, the road was only built in 1897.

I stoped at Plocrapol to visit a little Harris Tweed museum and also to even more enjoy the views.

During my time in Harros & Lewis I truly fell in love with tweed, such a stunning and cosy material.

22/09/2022
Nisabost Beach

Nisabost Beach, Traigh Nisabos in Scottish – is one of the amazing and stunning beaches on the West side of the Isle of Harris. It was my 2nd day and I wanted to go on a little walk from Nisabost beach to a standing stone on a hill above the beach.

This was actually my second try to do this little hike, as it was raining before and I turned back halfway up the hill and went for a coffee at Talla na mara nearby. This is a restaurant, there are artist studios and galleries. Definitely would recommend a visit!

Back to the beach and up to another try going up the hill and then down on the other side will bring me to another stunning beach Traigh lar.

Macleod’s Stone

Clach Mhic Leoid is a standing stone with an amazing backdrop. The stone probably dates back to the Neolithic area and was used for rituals, including funerary rites. Other stones near the standing stone are believed to be the remains of a cairn.

Macleod´s Stone and there should also be an amazing view of Traigh Lar, but the rain was coming in quickly.

So in the end I didn´t walk down to Traigh lar but got drenched a second time that day.

20/09/2022