Day 8
Sitting down for breakfast I realised that the chairs in the dining room of the hotel all have Harris Tweed cushions. It may well be that the next time you visit me, my dining room chairs will have new Harris Tweed cushions too!
After a hearty breakfast, I jumped in the car to head to the Arnol Blackhouse. It was only a 20 minute drive from the hotel and on the way, I kept my eyes open for brown tourist signs…and I was not disappointed with my first stop, ‘the Shieling’. Having researched online, Shielings were where women and children took animals and lived for the summer months. According to what I have researched today, Shielings are still used by local families as weekend retreats and peat-cutting bases.
Back in the car and I was headed to the first stop on my itinerary for the day. The Arnol Blackhouse, which was once the home of a Hebridean crofting family and their animals. The thatched house is preserved almost as the family left it when they moved out in 1965. The peat fire was burning inside and the smell of peat is quite unique. Even today the fire at the heart of the blackhouse is never allowed to go out.
Another brown tourist sign spotted and I found myself at a Norse Mill and Kiln. Fascinating!
Deciding that I would like some music in the car for my drive, I had connected my phone and set out with some relaxing contemporary Christian music from the 80’s on shuffle. As I was driving along, Stryper came on. Now, back in the 80’s Stryper were considered to be a Heavy Metal Christian Band and were frowned upon by many ‘good Christians’. I chuckled for two reasons: 1. I would consider Stryper to be a rock band at best; and 2. The music seemed a little out of place whilst driving in the calm and serene backdrop of the Outer Hebrides!
The second stop on my itinerary for the day was the Gearrnnan Blackhouse, which is a fascinating place. If you ever get the chance to visit, I highly recommend it! This site featured in the 2019 Christmas Special of Call the Midwife.
Gearrannan is on the Atlantic coast of west Lewis. There are 9 restored traditional blackhouse cottages. These houses were lived in until as recently as 1974.
After exploring the museum and walking around the sites, I paused in the cafe for a coffee and gluten free shortbread.
Back in the car, and I was on my way to the third stop on my itinerary, Dun Carloway Broch. I understand that the Broch was probably constructed about 200 BC. Broch-building ceased around AD 100, but they may have continued in use. Evidence from excavations suggests Dun Carloway may have been used until about AD 1000.
The final site on my itinerary was the Calanais Standing Stones. The Calanais Standing Stones are a cross-shaped setting of stones which were erected 5,000 years ago. They predate Stonehenge. and were an important place for ritual activity for at least 2,000 years. It is not known why the Stones were erected. There are actually three separate sites.
Having been out for most of the day, I headed back to Stornoway.
As noted above, at breakfast this morning, I noted that all of the chairs in the dining room have the most fabulous Harris Tweed cushions on them. The cushions are part of the chair! With the suggestion from my dear friend Geanette to buy the Harris Tweed and have my current chairs reupholstered, I headed into the Harris Tweed Hebrides Shop in Stornoway and bought Harris Tweed for my dining chairs! Another friend is to recommend an upholsterer. More Harris Tweed! This photo does not really do the fabric/colour justice…
This featured blog entry was written by Cruicksie from the blog Skanky Goes Solo.
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