North Lochs

The eastern part of the island of Lewis, south of Stornoway, is referred to as Lochs. For obvious reasons. Driving down the minor sideroad to Grimshader, Ranish and Crossbost, you encounter nothing but lochs (Scots for lakes). The sea is never far away either, with several sealochs (obviously connected to the sea, in this case the Minch) penetrating deep inland. Loch Erisort, 10 miles south of Stornoway, reaches 15 miles from the sea to the village of Balallan. These are the site for several fish and musselfarms. Setting the scene for a scenic drive this afternoon, with the sun out.

Coming down the B897 (which branches off the main road south from Stornoway to Tarbert), first popped into Ranish, which overlooks Grimshader on the far side of the loch. Incidentally, the sideroad within Ranish takes you to the Loch Erisort side of the peninsula. It is fronted by a 360 foot high hill, which I once traversed in pouring rain, in my footloose days back in 2005. Beinn Mhor - to the Gaelic speakers among you, this name will not come as a surprise. The big hill. Doubling back into Crossbost, the road plunges down to the little bay at the end of the road. The churchyard, at the Leurbost side of the village, has seen me several times for war graves business.

Then continued through Leurbost to the junction at Cameron Terrace, then on to Achmore. The Pentland Road branch cuts the distance to town from 12 to 9 miles, although it is by no means faster. It rises to 500 feet above sealevel at Beinn a'Bhuinne, past shieling huts and peat banks. Pity that my camera battery gave out at that point, after sustaining me through about 250 pictures. Here are some of the 50 I took today.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Loch Roisgeil, between Grimshader and Ranish"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Fidigarry, Loch Grimshader, at Ranish"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Shack above Loch Grimshader, Ranish"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Ranish"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Loch Erisort at Crossbost"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Leurbost"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Lochs at Achmore"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Achmore"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Shieling hut at Beinn a'Bhuinne, north of Achmore"][/caption]

Lochs revisited

Went down to Crossbost on Thursday of last week, for more business related to the Iolaire Disaster. After locating the gravestones for 14 victims in no time at all (look in the lower cemetery, closest to the shore), I went for an amble through Crossbost and Ranish, the next village, for an hour or so. Can't say I was raving about the weather, but then it's April. Just want to share a few pics.


North Lochs War Memorial, Iolaire section

Sheep on croft, Crossbost

Road to Ranish - muirburn has blackened the hill on the left

Boats on the shore of Loch Grimshader

Loch Grimshader from Ranish

Ranish Temple - not signposted from the road