Harris and Lewis - Simply Stunning
We don't live in the back of beyond, we live in the very heart of beyond. — Kevin MacNeil, The Stornoway Way
I’m struggling for words… at the end of February, Helen, myself and our friend Gordon packed up the car and set out for a week in the Outer Hebrides. Based in Stornoway, the aim was to do some photography and take in the sights of the Isles of Harris and Lewis. As we left Berwick the forecast was for a sort of constant grey, which was a tad concerning, but in the event we needn’t have worried.
I was the only one of us who had been to the islands before (the last time was here was in 2023 - see here), so, perhaps unwisely, I’d been left in charge of the itinerary. I managed a mix of more familar locations as well as some new ones. Having a good guide is also a help - this one is particularly good as it provides all the essentials with no padding.
(Clicking on any image on this page will bring up a full-sized version).
Luskentyre, the iconic view…
Sony A7R V | 32mm f/8.0 1/400s ISO 100
If I’m honest, I’m still slightly shell-shocked from the trip, which is why this post is more a collection of galleries than a description of the trip. There was so much to take in that processing the images into a coherent structure still feels a little daunting. I hope you enjoy the images; at some point I may edit this for brevity and clarity!
North Lewis and Stornoway
Butt of Lewis Lighthouse
Sony A7R V | 28mm f/11 1s ISO 100
The first location we visited was the lighthouse above; a great way to start the holiday. Over the week we also managed to take in Dalmore and Dalbeg beaches in the north and catch the sunrise at Garry Beach. We ran out of time for Tolsta and Stac a’ Phris, but I’m sure that we’ll be back. Stornoway had everything that we needed and was well worth a wander. Lews Castle, with it’s museum and exhibition of chessmen, was also a good stop.
Stones, Ruins and Inland
Ghost house in the landscape…
Sony A7R V | 35mm f/10 1/800s ISO 200
One of the attractions of the islands is the history, and in particular the standing stones at Callanish. (In reality there are at least nine sets, but the main set - Callanish I - are undoubtedly the most impressive). Sadly the visitor centre was shut for refurbishment, because we were desperate for a coffee! Dun Carloway Broch was spectacular and the Gearannan Black Houses are worth seeing. Some of the ‘ghost houses’ that are dotted around the landscape also make good subjects…
South Lewis
Mangersta Stacks
Sony A7R V | 35mm f/11 5s ISO 100
Given our limited time on the island, we only really had time to explore the western corner of southern Lewis, meaning that there were many beaches and gems that will need to wait for another visit. We did, however, take in Mangersta, Bernera and Bosta Beach, the very photogenic Cliff Beach and Uig Bay. All were excellent.
Harris
Eilean Glas Lighthouse, Scalpay
Sony A7R V | 20mm f/8.0 1/200s ISO 100
Harris, for good reason, has the reputation of being the prettier of the two islands. Which is not to say that Lewis isn’t stunning - it is and is the more rugged of the two. Harris, however, can be ridiculously pretty. Again, I could probably have spent the entire week exploring Harris (perhaps another trip) and not got bored. Luskentyre is the headline act, but there are other spots that are equally, if not more, photogenic. We were also able to take in the Isle of Scalpay, with the very lovely Eilean Glas Lighthouse.
Conclusion
I’m not sure that there are any insighful conclusions to draw. We were fantastically lucky with the weather, had a great trip in great company and the whole experience was huge fun with plenty of laughs. I feel blessed to have been and don’t want to wait another three years before I go back.
