Having visited the Outer Hebrides once before I really wanted to go back and spend some time photographing the fabulous white sand beaches of Harris and Lewis. So 4 nights in October when the sunsets and sun rises are not too early or late, sounds a great idea. However, that relies a lot on the cooperation of the weather!
So, what to photograph when it is raining and misty 80% of the time!
My son, Nick, and I flew from Glasgow to Stornaway on a Monday morning, a mere "hop"
We were to spend 2 nights in Tarbert and 2 nights in Stornoway. Our main target was Callanish Stone Circle at sunrise or sunset, with a full harvest moon on the Wednesday evening. Alas, no real sun and no prospect of a moon - very fustrating - so, go and find something else perhaps!
Heading out to the West Coast beaches on Thursday, gave us some light for a couple hours before the weather closed in.
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There is always something to photograph, even if it has to be black and white.
I love the way this abandoned house still has a post box and even a toilet - a local joke I'm sure. |
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| This was the little light we got that morning, but I thought the telegraph and electric pylons in Lewis were typical of the stark landscape and peat bogs in the centre of the island. |
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| As we were only a few miles from Callanish at that point, we decided to give it a go, with that partial sunrise. Callanish in the mist might have been an opportunity too, but when we had been the day before, it was just rain. However, nobody had even bothered that morning so we managed to have the place to ourselves. I don't this that happens very often. |
We then headed to Uig beach, not only known for its extensive white sand beach, but also for a discovery of a Viking Chess set in 1831. This comprised 93 chess pieces made of ivory from Walrus teeth. All we found, however, was rain and mist, although we did find some interesting patterned rocks, which seemed to stand out in the rain.
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One thing about rain - it guarantees plenty of water! Amhuinnsuidhe Castle Waterfall on Harris.
North of Tarbert on the B887 |
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Some surprising sights on the same road. Would have been good at night with floodlights!
I bet the ball boys get tired |
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| Balallan Post Office - Lewis |
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Traigh Scarista Harris - the white sand is there in the mist somewhere.
Even misty images like this have a certain charm, I think? |
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| Stopped to talk to a shepherd, whilst on the way from Harris to Lewis. Everyone seems very friendly. |
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| Abandoned shop and telephone box, miles from anywhere, on East coast of Lewis |
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This is the Golden Road. Not very golden in this light! It's thought to be named for the amount of money it cost.
A single track roads with passing places, wandering through the rocks, about 30 km from just south of Tarbert to Rodel at the southern tip. |
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| Just North of Tarbert, we thought the gap in the mountains looked quite nice, under the cloud cover. |
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| Always some photo opportunities. This is abandoned near Scarista beach in Harris |
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We were longing to get in and photograph inside one of these abandoned properties.
Having had a discussion with a neighbor walking his dog, who thought it would be fine to explore, I went down to look.
Imagine my surprise to find 3 people in there! The back door was non-existent and I tried to enter, to be shocked by the sight of a man, woman and boy. They were not antagonistic or anything, just said they "were having a meeting". Maybe they were discussing doing the place up, but with at least 30 miles to a builders merchant and no shops, good luck! |
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Of course, you can always sit on some wet rocks, when it's blowing a gale, trying to take photographs of the waves.
This is overlooking Seilebost beach on Harris. |
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| This building is in Stornoway - thought it was interesting as well as colorful. |
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| Walking around Stornoway Habour and using the sea wall to steady my camera. |
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| At last! Some light! The morning we left Stornoway, to fly back to Glasgow, we had a couple hours on the beaches just North of Storonway, on the east coast of Lewis. This is Traigh Mhòr and Tolsta Head. |
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| Garry Beach (Traigh Ghearadha) looking North |
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Traigh Ghearadha, looking South
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| I thought I would finish by posting a picture of a previous visit, showing what these white sand beaches really look like when it's not raining and the sun is shining. This is Scarista Beach (Traigh Scarista ) in Harris |
