The Isle of Lewis

The Isle of Lewis is famous for a variety of different reasons, several people born in the town have gone on to play a major role in the history of other nations while others who had left the islands at a young age have seen their children grow up to do wonderful things. In fact the people of the Hebrides are extremely well spread out across the globe, some by choice some not but all have left some of their heart back in their homeland. Today the Isle of Lewis sees a great many visitors coming to the islands in search of their ancestors and, while many find their answers and go home fulfilled, others find that they have an almost genetic love of the islands and find it difficult to leave. That is the usual effect of this most unusual place, the Hebrides. Steeped in a strong, individual and sometimes bloodthirsty, history the islands of the Hebrides were, at one time, literally a law unto themselves. This has helped to create a place rich in culture and vastly different to elsewhere in Scotland. There have been times, on the Isle of Lewis, when even the common folk have stood strong against the power of rule.

Over time each and every event that has occurred on the Isle of Lewis has left it's mark and where is has failed to do so there are now efforts to restore, renovate or to recreate the past for the present's enjoyment and education. At one time most of the people of the Hebrides lived in a type of building called a blackhouse. Huddled together these small cottage like abodes would stand against the ferocious winters protecting the Hebrideans and their livestock within. Sadly most of the blackhouses have now gone or have been reduced to nothing but a small outline of stones. There have been moves to renovate some such as the blackhouse at Arnol and the blackhouse village at Gearrannan (shown to the right) where visitors can see the complete recreation of a Hebridean village close to the Calanais Standing Stones (shown on our top banner and site 3 at Calanais shown above).

More details about the Isle of Lewis very soon.