Tuesday 12/07/05

This week, there are two major events in Stornoway. The Hebridean Celtic Festival (music and culture) and Sail Hebrides. In the context of the former, there are Gaelic lessons in Pointers Cafe on North Beach Street. Nothing happening there though. I visit the library and Somerfields on return. Weather not very good today, cold, windy and wet. I was invited to join the other guests in a sight-seeing expedition to Great Bernera and the West Side. We set out in two vehicles at 2 pm. The trip to Tobson beach, on the western shore of Great Bernera, takes 50 minutes. Aquatic wildlife was found in rockpools, as well as a dead seal which was perched fairly high up a rock. It had two bullet holes in  its lower body. Next stop: Bostadh Beach at the northern tip of Great Bernera. I notice that the machair flora is in full bloom. It is absolutely covered in daisies and buttercups. large number are on the beach and in the Iron Age house behind the beach. Someone is camping on the dunes. Nice views out towards Old Hill to the north. This 80m (270 ft) high island can be seen from as far away as Galson, way up towards Ness. I walk to the narrows that separate Great from Little Bernera. On return from there, I go into the Iron Age house. I've visited that twice during the winter months, when it was closed and under 4 inches (10 cm) of water. The house is now dry and open, with a local lady explaining about life 2,000 years ago. At 4pm, we return to the cars. The guide jumps on the bus home. Our little group proceeds to the Callanish Stones, very familiar to me. We had a cuppa and some cakes, then had another look round. Scientists were scanning the exterior of the stones using laser beams. This would yield a lifelike image on-line. Return to town via Carloway and Barvas, arriving back at 7.20 pm.