Van Life Day 8 - Huisinis, Harris

We woke to more wind and rain so headed off for a bit exploring in the van. First stop wasn’t far up the road, to look at some sea stacks, then we made for the other two sets of stone circles near Callanish before heading up to Stornoway to exchange the empty gas bottle for a full one, fill up with diesel (139 per litre, vastly more expensive than the mainland) and buy some food supplies because guess what, we are again parked up miles from a pub or restaurant. It’ll be falafels and a veg stir fry tonight.

While in Stornoway we went to the rather grim-looking baronial style Lews Castle to the museum to see the chessmen again. Last time we were here the museum was in the town. The website gave opening times so silly me thought it must be open. Not so and the workers in the cafe had no idea when it would be open.

We stopped to look at another cairn dedicated to more 1888 land rights protesters then decided to push on down to Harris. I suspected Mr C had some cunning plan and I wasn’t wrong. Of course it wasn’t the famous but probably busy Luskintyre beach. Oh no. We left the main road and drove 12 miles, which doesn’t sound much at home, down a very narrow single track road without verges, just drops to the endless bog. There were blind summits, endless blind corners, thankfully with passing places, Highland cows on the road, lambs dashing out in front of us to get back to their mothers, and belting rain.

However here at the end of the world - I mean road - we have a stunning place for the night at Huisinis. The sand is white, the sea is green and it is truly beautiful. In the distance is Taransay. You may remember a TV series where people agreed to stay there, one of whom was Ben Fogle. Now stop the rain and bring on some sunshine!