Looking west towards North America
Looking north up the coast of Lewis
Looking north from Eilean Arnol
Looking south towards Labost
Looking south
Looking north
Eilean Arnol from Lewis
Thursday, 30 June 2016
Island 311 - Eilean Arnol, Arnol, Lewis
Eilean Arnol, is as you might expect located about half a mile from the village of Arnol, which is on the north west coast of the Isle of Lewis. It is a pleasant mile long stroll down a track from the village to the beach. You then have a 300 metre boulder field to cross but thankfully the rocks were dry and there was very little seaweed. The island is roughly round in shape and only about 100 metres in diameter. It is covered in grass and thrift.
Island 310 - Bratanais Mor, Callanish, Lewis
Bratanais Mor is a small and low lying uninhabited tidal island, located half a mile to the west of the Calanais Stone Circle. It is grazed by sheep but they all ran away when they saw me. The island is covered in grass and cotton grass. It is accessed across a 50 metre rocky beach. There was no obvious path to the island, so I walked round the coast from the car park at Calanais. I found a slightly more direct inland route back but had to climb over a couple of gates I couldn't undo and at one point had to back track, as I couldn't get out of a field. Having run away from a couple of ponies, which were a bit too interested in me for my liking, I eventually emerged at the stone circle.
I saw a black rabbit disappear down a hole, as I arrived at the crossing point. In addition to the ubiquitous cotton grass, I also saw thrift, orchids, milkwort, butterwort, heather and tormentil on the island.
There is a small unnamed island adjacent to Bratanais Mor on its eastern side and joined to it at low tide by lots of slippery seaweed. I didn't visit it, as it is unnamed.
I saw a black rabbit disappear down a hole, as I arrived at the crossing point. In addition to the ubiquitous cotton grass, I also saw thrift, orchids, milkwort, butterwort, heather and tormentil on the island.
There is a small unnamed island adjacent to Bratanais Mor on its eastern side and joined to it at low tide by lots of slippery seaweed. I didn't visit it, as it is unnamed.
Lewis from Bratanais
Unnamed island from Bratanais Mor
Cottongrass on Bratanais Mor
Bratanais Mor from Lewis
Island 309 - Tom, Carnish, Lewis
Tom is a small low lying uninhabited tidal island on the south side of Uig Bay, opposite the island of Tolm. It is accessed across a beach of silver sand, although there are some boulders to cross at both ends. The island is about 200 metres long by 100 metres wide.
I parked near the end of the road at the hamlet of Carnish/Carnais. I then walked half a mile across Machair Carnish to reach the crossing point. There was a faint path but it was relatively easy going across the machair.
Tom was covered in wild flowers when I visited in mid June 2016. I identified wild thyme, spring squill, birds foot trefoil, violets, primroses, cotton-grass, buttercups and daisies.
I parked near the end of the road at the hamlet of Carnish/Carnais. I then walked half a mile across Machair Carnish to reach the crossing point. There was a faint path but it was relatively easy going across the machair.
Tom was covered in wild flowers when I visited in mid June 2016. I identified wild thyme, spring squill, birds foot trefoil, violets, primroses, cotton-grass, buttercups and daisies.
Tom from Lewis
The top of Tom
Lewis from Tom
A sculpture on Tom - not sure what is it supposed to represent - a lampshade perhaps?
Lewis from Tom
Mine were the only footprints leading to Tom
Island 308 - Tolm, Crowlista, Lewis
The small but very pleasant uninhabited tidal island of Tolm is located about 500 metres south west of the hamlet of Crowlista/Cradhlastadh on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis and on the north side of Uig Bay. The island is about 300 metres long by 150 metres wide at its widest point.
I parked at the southern end of the road, where there was room for one car. I walked back up the road and through a field of ruined houses, on through a bog to the coast and then walked south down the coast until Tolm appeared. On my return to the car I watched a local dog walker go through a pedestrian gate above where I had parked, so that might be an easier route.
Tolm is separated from the mainland of Lewis by a rocky beach, which looked as though it is uncovered for more time than it is covered. It has an adjacent smaller island called Leac Holm, which I didn't visit, I'm not sure why - I'll put it on the list for my next visit.
Tolm is covered in short grass and when I visited in mid June 2016 I spring squill, birds foot trefoil and thrift were in flower.
I parked at the southern end of the road, where there was room for one car. I walked back up the road and through a field of ruined houses, on through a bog to the coast and then walked south down the coast until Tolm appeared. On my return to the car I watched a local dog walker go through a pedestrian gate above where I had parked, so that might be an easier route.
Tolm is separated from the mainland of Lewis by a rocky beach, which looked as though it is uncovered for more time than it is covered. It has an adjacent smaller island called Leac Holm, which I didn't visit, I'm not sure why - I'll put it on the list for my next visit.
Tolm is covered in short grass and when I visited in mid June 2016 I spring squill, birds foot trefoil and thrift were in flower.
Leac Holm
The top of Tolm
Looking across the bay towards Tom
Small Cairn on Tolm
Lewis from Tolm
Tolm from Lewis
Island 307 - Buaile Mhor, Crosbost, Lewis
The small tidal island of Buaile Mhor is accessible at most states of the tide from the village of Crosbost on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis. It is located at the western end of Loch Griomsiadair. I parked at the side of the road, which was plenty wide enough, near a T junction. I walked through one field of grazing sheep passed a ruined house, through another gate and then down to the crossing point. The island, which is about 300 metres from east to west and 150 metres from north to south, is low lying and covered in heather and grass but there were no animals grazing it when I visited. There were a few wild flowers, including several orchids, milkwort, tormentil and lousewort.
Buaile Mhor from Lewis
Orchid on the island
Looking west from the centre of Buaile Mhor
Crosbost from Buaile Mhor
The crossing point
Island 306 - Eilean Chaluim Chille, Lewis
Eilean Chaluim Chille is a substantial sized uninhabited island off the east coast of the Isle of Lewis half a mile to the west of the hamlet of Cromor. It is at the eastern end of Loch Erisort. It is about a mile from east to west and half a mile from north to south. It is grazed by sheep.
If you aren't an island collector, the main reason to visit the island is to look at the ruins of St Columba's Church, which are located about 500 metres to the south west of the causeway. Colmcille is Gaelic for Columba. The island is thought to have been connected with Christianity since the 7th century but the ruins which can be seen today date from the 12th century. There may once also have been a monastery on the island and in the 16th century there are reports of an orchard on the island. Today it is grazed by sheep. The graveyard around the ruins of the church was in use by local people until the 19th century. There is a more recent enclosed burial ground between the causeway and the church ruins.
The island can be accessed on foot at low tide via a gravel and stone causeway. The causeway was presumably built sometime after 2007 because it isn't marked on an Ordnance Survey map of that year. The island was not previously accessible on foot at any state of the tide. The morning I visited it was a neap tide and I arrived at the causeway about 45 minutes after low tide. The causeway was above the water but only by a few inches. Aware that the tide was coming in, I only stayed on the island for about 20 minutes and by the time I got back to the causeway water was beginning to trickle over parts of it. I assume that it is uncovered for longer during spring tides.
There are no signposts to the island. To get to it you take a road which heads west from the village of Cromor to the south of the telephone box. The road soon becomes a track and you need to go through a couple of gates. After half a mile and just before you reach the end of the track at a house at Crobeag, turn off to the right and go through a pedestrian gate and walk north along the shore. The causeway will soon come into view. Parking places at Cromor were in short supply. I parked about 500 metres to the south of the telephone box where the road widens out as it goes over a small causeway.
If you aren't an island collector, the main reason to visit the island is to look at the ruins of St Columba's Church, which are located about 500 metres to the south west of the causeway. Colmcille is Gaelic for Columba. The island is thought to have been connected with Christianity since the 7th century but the ruins which can be seen today date from the 12th century. There may once also have been a monastery on the island and in the 16th century there are reports of an orchard on the island. Today it is grazed by sheep. The graveyard around the ruins of the church was in use by local people until the 19th century. There is a more recent enclosed burial ground between the causeway and the church ruins.
The island can be accessed on foot at low tide via a gravel and stone causeway. The causeway was presumably built sometime after 2007 because it isn't marked on an Ordnance Survey map of that year. The island was not previously accessible on foot at any state of the tide. The morning I visited it was a neap tide and I arrived at the causeway about 45 minutes after low tide. The causeway was above the water but only by a few inches. Aware that the tide was coming in, I only stayed on the island for about 20 minutes and by the time I got back to the causeway water was beginning to trickle over parts of it. I assume that it is uncovered for longer during spring tides.
There are no signposts to the island. To get to it you take a road which heads west from the village of Cromor to the south of the telephone box. The road soon becomes a track and you need to go through a couple of gates. After half a mile and just before you reach the end of the track at a house at Crobeag, turn off to the right and go through a pedestrian gate and walk north along the shore. The causeway will soon come into view. Parking places at Cromor were in short supply. I parked about 500 metres to the south of the telephone box where the road widens out as it goes over a small causeway.
Eilean Chaluim Chille from Lewis
Ruins of St Columba's Church
Ruins
St Columba's Church Ruins
Sculpture?
Private Modern Cemetery
Private Cemetery
Lewis from Eilean Chaluim Chille
Wednesday, 29 June 2016
Island 305 - Eilean Druim an Tolla, Finsbay, Harris
Eilean Druim an Tolla is a small tidal island about 15 metres off the east coast of Harris near the hamlet of Boirseam, which is near the slightly larger settlement of Finsbay. The gap between Harris and the island is no more than about 20 metres and it looked like it would only be covered by high spring tides. The island is only about 150 metres in diameter.
The walk to the island from the nearest parking is only about 600 metres but there is no path, there are a couple of ascents and descents and there are areas of heather and bog to negotiate. I visited in mid June after a dry spring and the bogs were largely dry but I doubt they are often like this.
The island is low lying and the grass is closely grazed by sheep, who were present during my visit and unusually didn't run away from me. The only flowers I saw were tormentil.
The walk to the island from the nearest parking is only about 600 metres but there is no path, there are a couple of ascents and descents and there are areas of heather and bog to negotiate. I visited in mid June after a dry spring and the bogs were largely dry but I doubt they are often like this.
The island is low lying and the grass is closely grazed by sheep, who were present during my visit and unusually didn't run away from me. The only flowers I saw were tormentil.
Looking east towards Eilean Druim an Tolla
Looking east from the end of Eilean Druim an Tolla
Pile of rocks on Eilean Druim an Tolla
One of the resident sheep
The gap between Harris and Eilean Druim an Tolla
Island 304 - Aird Mhor, Harris
Aird Mhor is a small uninhabited tidal island, which is linked at most states of the tide to the east coast of the island of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. It is located 500 metres to the south east of the end of the road at Manais (apparently it is pronounced to rhyme with varnish, not vanish) Township. There is no path to the island but in late June after a dry spring it was an easy walk round the coast to the causeway. The gap between Aird Mhor and the mainland of Harris is no more than about 15 metres and a manmade crude stone causeway spans the gap, although it is broken at the mainland end. I presume it was built to give people and sheep access to the island at all times, except high spring tides or during stormy conditions.
The island is 700 metres from north west to south east and 400 metres from north to south. There are 2 manmade cairns on the island - I'm not sure of their original purpose - navigation aids perhaps or memorials? The island is closely grazed by sheep and when I visited in mid June 2016 lousewort, butterwort, tormentil and cottongrass were in flower.
The island is 700 metres from north west to south east and 400 metres from north to south. There are 2 manmade cairns on the island - I'm not sure of their original purpose - navigation aids perhaps or memorials? The island is closely grazed by sheep and when I visited in mid June 2016 lousewort, butterwort, tormentil and cottongrass were in flower.
The causeway looking south east over Aird Mhor
One of the Cairns
Another view of the same cairn
The other cairn looking south
The other cairn looking north
Harris from Aird Mhor at the causeway
Island 303 - Goat Island/Eilean na Gobhail, Stornoway, Lewis
Goat Island or Eilean na Gobhail is permanently linked to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis by a causeway. The island and the causeway act as a harbour wall. There are several industrial units on Goat Island, so it isn't the prettiest of islands. Public access is limited to the road and the foreshore on the north side of the island and there are currently no resident goats. I noticed a few wild flowers e.g. thrift, birds foot trefoil, scurvy grass, kidney vetch, fox & cubs, cuckoo flower, buttercups and ladies mantle.
English Civil War
In 1653 during the occupation of Stornoway by Cromwellian forces, Goat Island was used as a fort to protect the harbour from attack. The main armoury, comprising two great guns and four sliding pieces, was taken from the Old Stornoway Castle. There is a plaque on the island commemorating this event.
Goat Island as seen from the Calmac Ferry
English Civil War
In 1653 during the occupation of Stornoway by Cromwellian forces, Goat Island was used as a fort to protect the harbour from attack. The main armoury, comprising two great guns and four sliding pieces, was taken from the Old Stornoway Castle. There is a plaque on the island commemorating this event.
The Causeway to Goat Island
The centre of Goat Island
Slipway
The shoreline of the north side of Goat Island with a cruise ship in the distance
Looking east down the causeway
The Cromwellian Fort Plaque
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