Caladh Inn

This place rocks!!

by daarth

In Stornoway I observed a fish and chips shop. On the floor there was laying a bagpiper playing. Over him an accordion player was doing a mean tune. Around them a fiddle player was dancing. They called it a Celtic festival….
What more can you ask for?
Yaaaahuuu
:-)

The pub on the picture was packed well beond the limit the evening before!

Stuff you'll likely need...

by Adelle123

A backpack makes getting off and on the ferries easier if you're a foot passenger. In high tide the passenger ramp in Tarbert can be very steep. warm clothes and waterproofs (high winds make umbrellas nearly useless) Don't expect to be able to buy specific items in town. Once the pharmacy has run out... they've run out. It could be a few days until items are in. Avon 'skin so soft' (as midge repellant) re-apply frequently. The midge's don't like the texture of it.

a dream come true

by margaretvn

Visit the tiny island of Benbecula.
Take the A867 across the 5 kilometre causeway from Lochmaddy, which is North Uist's main village to Benbecula. From this island Flora Mac Donald smuggled Bonnie Prince Charlie to Skye.
For me it was a special trip. When a was a little girl of about 5 years old my parents were given a beautiful blanket made on Benbecula. it was soft, warm and of beautiful shades of brown. I loved it but I also loved that mysterious faraway sounding name "Benbecula". I just knew that I had to go there one day.
The tiny isle with a few schattered houses and one tiny little shop and wonderful nature was a dream come true. There is marvellous walking and the views out to sea are unforgettable. To me the memories of isle are like the blanket from my childhood soft and warm and the colours of the isle are reflected in the blanket - lots of shades of brown.

Presbyterian Dead zone

by Orchid

"Never on Sunday"

Stornoway is the major town on Lewis, the northern, flatter part of the islands of the Outer Hebrides. It is an attractive enough town, but rather lacking in stuff to do (perhaps because I came at the weekend!).

Still, a walk around the harbourfront is not a bad thing, even though (you guessed it) not a lot happening. Fishing for a living in these waters is a tough life. These chaps do need a day of rest!

"Keeping the riff raff off the streets"

Stornoway pretty much closed down for Sunday in the early 80's, the only action going on is the Church of Scotland. Actually, since they're isn't anything else on, catching a Sunday service is not such a bad thing. If you are lucky, you can get a real fire and bringstone sermon, with the red faced pastor flaying his congregtion with the prospect of the hellish fate awaiting such miserable sinners! Then watch as everyone walks a block from the church, and then hops in their cars to drive home (because no one can be seen to be so lazy as to drive to the kirk!).

Still, the lengths the authorities went to to prevent any sort of gaiety, enjoyment or diversions for anyone could be pretty extreme. They even tie up the swings in the playground to prevent their use!

"Can't get lost here"

So take yourself for a walk in the countryside. You surely will not get lost, and it has a bleak, harsh charm.

Then if that is all too much, saunter back to your comfy B&B and enjoy a vacuum cleaner demo in the sitting room! (this happpened, I kid you not!)