Stella2

By Stella2

A colourful croft house

Its our last day on Harris and we decided to head north.  Our first stop was to the Dun Carloway Broch.  At Dun Carloway, its an impressive sight with a large tower of 9m height and open cross-section of the structure found only in Scotland. It was probably constructed about 200 BC. Broch-building ceased around AD 100, but they may have continued in use.  Evidence from excavations suggests Dun Carloway may have been used until about AD 1000.  As the sun was in the wrong position we waited here at the top of the hill strewn with heather, grass and moss for it to cloud over a bit.  While we enjoyed the panoramic views of lochs and distant mountains a farmer herded his sheep into a pen.

Our next stop was to the Blackhouse at Arnol.  It is a Lewis dwelling built in 1885 with a drystone walled stackyard, preserved as a model of the hundreds whose roofless cells are scattered across the stony landscape. It was last occupied in 1964 was not modernised and was one of the last of its type to be built, see extra.  The main image is of the house opposite with its colourful doors and windows.

We explored the area a bit more stopping to take further interesting buildings and decided to revisit the Callanish stones where we had poor light a few days ago.  Fortunately there was no dark clouds and hail.  We then had a slightly anxious journey back as we had driven past our turning by mistake and were on cooking duty that evening.  Fortunately a colleague had already started preparing the potatoes for us.   We had an enjoyable last meal together as a group and tomorrow we take a ferry to Skye.  It's been a very sociable, photography trip and my friend and I have a few extra days on Skye before returning back to Devon. 

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