Lewis Attractions

The black rocks at the exposed northern tip of the Hebrides Western Isles are formed from Precambrian gneiss.

By the west coast stands Dun Carloway Broch (16mi/25.6km northwest of Stornaway). This Pictish fortified farm dates from the fourth century B.C. It stands at a height of about 164ft/50m above sea level and measures 52ft/16m in diameter. The double walls are 10ft/3m thick in places and on one side they reach a height of 33ft/10m. Several steps form a link inside the mortar-free double walls and four chambers can be made out within the inner wall.

The Calanais Blackhouse dates back from 1760 to 1800. A blackhouse was comprised of a long narrow building, usually with one or more additional buildings laid parallel to it and sharing a common wall. The animals lived under the same roof and in the byre area there would be earth flooring.

The A858 follows the coast northwards to Shawbost Museum which documents the Lewis islanders' traditional way of life.

North of Black House a group of stones arranged in an oval can be seen near Ballantrushal. These standing stones are thought to date from the third or second millennium B.C.