Badger Galore
Staying ‘Up Over’ for a while.
In the Second City of the Empire
So...we left Lewis and Harris on Tuesday. The ferry trip back to Uig on Skye was a lot rougher than our journey out but we had been told that sitting at the back of the boat made for a slightly smoother trip. We then drove the five hours down to Glasgow.
Our Glasgow accommodation was good but hadn't realised it was right next to a railway line. Happily only two trains seemed to use it, one at 10.00 pm and the other at 5.30 am. Both times it felt like an earthquake as the carriages rumbled past.
Our full day in Glasgow was wet but we had a good wander and met up with some of Will's friend's and Steiner mum's. We called in to look at the revamped Burrell Collection before heading back to Penrith today.
Farewell 'Haggis Galore!'
Och No!
Och Aye!!!
Exploring Harris...and a bit more of Lewis!
So...Monday was a very bluery day. We headed out on the road to Hushinish, dodging cows and sheep just loungng about on the road but nearly got blown away when we got out of the car, so we jumped back in again and headed back to Tarbert.
Och No!
Och Aye!!
Then we drove down the western side of Harris to the bottom most point at Rodel and St Clement's Church and then drove back along the eastern side on a very narrow road. We then headed back North and went out to Uig Sands and found some more beautiful beaches and ended the day back in Tarbert with dinner at The Harris Hotel.
Ancient Wonders!
So... on Sunday we left our Stornoway apartment and began with a wander around the grounds of Lews Castle in the town and then we travelled down the west side of Lewis stopping off to see the sights on the way. We saw ancient dwellings, stone circles and a seal!
We ended the day with a walk out to another lighthouse but chose to go back to the car a different way than the way we came. It was a mistake because it was unfamiliar ground, and the light was fading. We had a frantic 2km trek up and down moorland slopes and through peat bogs before we finally reached the safety of the road.
Och No!
Och Aye!!!
We lived to tell the tale.
I haven't been able to post any pictures because the internet signal was very poor at the 'right' Tarbert, but our stand-in accommodation was lovely!
The Butt of Lewis and more.
So... we are staying on the islands and not leaving early to go to the 'wrong' Tarbert. We are not even extending our stay here in the apartment in Stornoway. Tomorrow we have booked new accommodation close to the 'right' Tarbert and shall continue to explore from there.
Och aye!!!
Today we had a long walk from Eoropaidh around the cliffs to the lighthouse at the Butt of Lewis, then we extended it to see the Medieval Fort on Dun Eistean. On the way back we stopped to look at a stone circle and Scotland's tallest standing stone at Truiseil. Later we went out to the Lighthouse at Tiumpan Head and stopped at the ruins of St Columba's Church and the Aiginis Farm Raider's Monument, commemorating the Aiginis riots of 1888 for the land reform struggle in the Highlands and Islands.
Here are the pics of the day...
A tale of two Tarberts.
So... we are in the Outer Hebrides on Lewis and Harris. We set off this morning from Fort William driving north and west, across Skye to Uig where we caught the ferry across The Minch to Tarbert on Harris. We are/were here for four nights, the first two in Stornoway and the second two in Tarbert.
The accommodation I had booked in Tarbert was on a lovely barge in the harbour but as our ferry drew into the tiny Tarbert harbour I couldn't see any sign of the barge. The reason for that, it turns out, is there is more than one Tarbert in Scotland and the one I booked was back on the mainland and a five hour drive south!
Och no!
Och aye!!!!
What an idiot!
So...our options are, firstly, we try to get a ferry back on Sunday and drive the 5 hours down to the 'wrong ' Tarbert and stay there for the two booked nights. The problem with that is there is only room, at present, on the last ferry of the day which gets into Uig at just before 6.00pm which would mean arriving at the 'wrong' Tarbert after 11pm. Check in is only open until 10 pm.
Secondly, we abandon the barge in the 'wrong ' Tarbert, losing all the money it cost to book it and see if we can extend our stay (at extra cost) at the apartment we are in, here in Stornoway and still have our four days on Lewis and Harris.
Either way epistles have been sent out, by gannet, to those who must be obeyed from each of the accommodations booked and we await with bated breath their reply.
Och no!
Och aye!!!!
In the meantime here are the pics of the day before it went pear-shaped...
