Category: Outer Hebrides
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Gearraidh Lotalgear
A deserted settlement on the east coast of Harris
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TrĂ igh na Beirigh
On the west coast of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, a two kilometre stretch of golden sands with hardly a footprint on it. ‘S math sin. ‘S math sin is a Gaelic phrase that found its into English. ‘S math sin is pronounced smashing and that exactly what it means.
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Geodha an Fhithich
I spotted this on the map and I just had to visit it. Fhithich, as some of my regular readers will know is the domain name for this blog. Itâs Gaelic for raven. Geodha means a chasm or ravine. So this is the ravine of the raven. I must admit I was a bit disappointed.…
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DĂšn Ăistean
The site of a medieval fort on a small island the size of half a football pitch surrounded by steep crags off the coast just east of the Butt of Lewis overlooking the shipping routes of The Minch. The island probably supported a permanent community and is said to be the traditional stronghold of the…
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Mo Buidhe
An ascent of An Cliseam, at 799 metres the highest mountain on Harris and a Corbett to boot, a short ridge to the slightly lower Mulla Bho Dheas. Cloud base was at 600m so not much to see. Dropping out of the cloud on the descent down Mo Bruidhe ridge into brilliant sunshine, Bunavoneader on…
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Lazy beds at Losgaintir
Lazy beds or feannagan in Gaelic are an ancient method of cultivation. Similar to ridge and furrow except lazy beds were dug by hand usually on the steepest slopes. The peat sods were cut into blocks and piled up in ridges inter-layered with seaweed fertiliser. Potatoes were the staple crop until the potato blight of the…
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BheĂ rnaraigh
Fantastic rock strata on an un-named beach on the north coast of Berneray. Gneiss I understand, a metamorphic rock 542 to 4000 million years old. I thought geologists could be more precise than that. Berneray, Gaelic BheĂ rnaraigh, is said to come from the Norse bjarnar and ey meaning island of the bear. Whether bears survived here is hard to…
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North Uist Sunset
An unexpected sunset after a day of winds and passing squalls. From a rocky headland called Raicinis on the northern end of Traigh Stir near the township of Hosta.
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View from Sheabhal
Castlebay, Barra
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BĂ gh a'Deas
The south beach, one of three on Vatersay, clean, white and sandy; and the least frequented.