Photos and the City

Tag: Scotland

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
Hello Stornoway!

Hello Stornoway, hello Lewis! I had some time to explore this lovely town before driving to my first accommodation right on the border between Lewis and Harris.

I parked near the ferry and walked along the harbour towards Lews Castle.

Stornoway is filled with a variety of independent shops, cafés and restaurants and is very lively. It also is the main town and capital in Lewis & Harris with some huge supermarkets.

Founded by the Vikings in the early 9th century around a natural harbour, the city soon became a hub for people travelling and trading with the rest of Scotland.

James IV transferred Lewis to the MacKenzies of Seaforth in 1610 to further support the trading.

In 1844, the MacKenzies sold Stornoway, and the Isle of Lewis as a whole, to Sir James Matheson (and his descendants) who built the present Lews Castle on a hill overlooking the bay of Stornoway. (Wikipedia)

Today Stornoway belongs to the people.

In 1918, Matheson sold the island to William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme. Lord Leverhulme held the island for a short time. His economic plans for the island (together with various business setbacks) overstretched his finances. Faced with failure in Lewis, he gave Stornoway parish to the people of the town. The Stornoway Trust was formed and continues to administer the parish for the people. (Wikipedia)

Lews Castle today houses a museum and also offers holiday-let rooms and apartments. The view over the town from the rooms must be amazing!

On my way towards the border between Harris and Lewis, I made a stop at Crust – great Neapolitan-style pizza in the middle of Lewis. Enjoy some pizza with an amazing view!

15/09/2022