Author: Craig Neil

Harris & LewisOuter HebridesRegions of ScotlandThe Hebrides

Callanish Standing Stones Visitor Guide

The Callanish Standing Stones are located on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

These huge granite stones (the largest is 16 feet tall) were erected 5,000 years ago in the late Neolithic era, possibly for ritual use.

The site comprises a cross shape of monoliths around a central circle of 13 stones, with an avenue of a further 19 stones facing northeast.

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Harris & LewisOuter HebridesRegions of ScotlandThe Hebrides

Butt of Lewis Visitor Guide

The Butt of Lewis is an area on the far-northern tip of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.

In addition to being one of the windiest places in Britain, the ‘butt’ is home to a lighthouse built in 1862 that’s unusual because it’s unpainted rather than having the standard red and white colour scheme.

The Butt of Lewis is also a prime wildlife-spotting site as the steep cliffs are a haven for seabirds.

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Harris & LewisOuter HebridesRegions of ScotlandThe Hebrides

Lews Castle Visitor Guide

Lews Castle is a Victorian-era castle situated in the heart of historic Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.
The castle is a popular tourist destination thanks to the extensive landscaped gardens as well as the on-site cafe and gift shop.
The main point of interest though, is the museum which explores the history of Lewis, the people that live there, and the wildlife that call this remarkable island home.

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Harris & LewisOuter HebridesRegions of ScotlandThe Hebrides

Gearrannan Blackhouse Village Visitor Guide

Gearrannan Blackhouse Village lies on the southwest edge of the Isle of Lewis, set within a deep cove that offers protection against the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

The village comprises a number of restored blackhouses – traditional thatched stone-walled dwellings that served as home to both animals and people for hundreds of years.

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Harris & LewisOuter HebridesRegions of ScotlandThe Hebrides

Arnol Blackhouse Visitor Guide

The Arnol Blackhouse on the Isle of Lewis is a fine example of one of the traditional thatched stone-walled houses that served as home to both people and animals on Scotland’s west coast islands for hundreds of years.

The restored building at Arnol – number 42 – sits in an idyllic setting on Lewis, surrounded by open fields and complete with authentic piles of cut peat and harvested crops.

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Regions of ScotlandMidlothianThe Lothians

Swanston, Pentland Hills Visitor Guide

The Pentland Hills are located south of Edinburgh where they span Midlothian and West Lothian in a regional park that’s over 38 square miles in size.

There are 9 peaks over 1,500 feet in the Pentlands and more than 600,000 people visit them each year.

There are a number of entry points to the park but one of the best is at Swanston, which is just a 20-minute drive from Edinburgh city centre.

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