Introduction

Welcome to the fifth page of my tour of the Isles of Lewis and Harris.

West Lewis

Just south of Calanais, the road splits with the A858 continuing on to Stornoway. However, the B8011 takes you to West Lewis. By now, if you've travelled down the Western coast (Page 4), you'll have already experienced the real reason that you came to the Isles. However, the best is yet to come.

About three miles along the B8011, the road splits again, where you can choose to go to North to Great Bernera or continue to Uig.

Great Bernera (Bearnaraigh) is connected to the Isle of Lewis by a narrow bridge crossing a small sea channel. Just across the bridge are the Sruth Iarsiadar standing stones, accessible up a few (steep) steps from the road. Certainly a place for meditation if the wind isn't too strong (the channel is fairly exposed).

Further up the road at Breacleit is a small community museum, but as the weather was fine we didn't call in.

Also, if you have time, make a detour to Bhalasaigh, where an interesting looking path makes it's way up the west coast of Bernera. We were going to have a walk here, but never actually got the time.

Most visitors travelling to Bernera, weather permitting, make the journey to the top of the island where the Iron Age Village and Bostadh Beach are located. Although the Iron Age Village was closed when we visited, the beach more than made up for it. The beach is a paddling, sandcastle building, rock pooling heaven. Yes, you heard me right. We actually had a paddle in the sea here. And, before you ask, the sea was bl**dy cold. However, the warm weather stopped us from getting too chilled.

Anyway the beaches just get better and better. If Bostadh isn't good enough for you, then perhaps you should take the other road to Uig. The first stopping place along here is a small pottery workshop, which, if we hadn't have come on the plane to the Isles, would have had a few items less to sell now.

This is where your spoilt for choice now, and where this page begins to look like the good beach guide. To start with, there is two excellent beaches near Bhaltos, a small village that's a couple of miles off the B8011 at Miabhaig.

Cliobh beach looked excellent again but by the time we came across it, we were all beached out.

However, just around the corner is Traigh na Beirigh, which is right by a caravan and camping site. We obviously weren't that beached out.

Carrying on along the B8011 from Maibhaig, you'll drive down Gleann Bhaltois, which is one of the most superb roads to travel along. Although it's only a couple of miles long, it just made me think of prehistoric times, and you can just imagine a dinosaur wandering down the valley. You'll see what I mean if you visit the area.

If your now ready for a tea stop, the school at Uig has a small tearoom that's open during the summer period. (The scones were just what we needed).

Right, back to the good beach guide. I'll just bypass Uig beach for a minute, and mention Traigh Mhangurstadh first, another excellent looking beach that we never got the time to visit.

At the end of the road, Mealasta beach once again is fantastic. The area here seemed popular with campers too, although we don't believe it's an official campsite.

So, back to Traigh Uuige. Well what can I say, The pictures won't do it justice. Whatever I write, won't do it justice. Simply put, it has to be the best beach on the Isles in our opinion. If you don't do anything else on your visit to the Isles, just do make sure you visit this beach. You won't be disappointed.

The sandcastle building and paddling is 11 out of 10. However, the rock pooling is even better. When we visited, there was literally hundreds of shimps, and it was more of a challenge not to catch anything. Our bucket was chock full with these baby shimps. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to catch anything else when hundreds of curious stupid shimps think to themselves, a-ha, a fishing net, I'll take a look at that. I thought curiosity only killed the cat.

There is one small word of warning though. As with all beaches, watch the tide. Being a fairly flat beach, it could be easy to get cut off at Traigh Uuige, and as it's so large and remote, the chance of meeting other people who could raise the alarm is slim. So the rule is, enjoy yourself, but watch the sea. Don't get caught out. Be careful out there (as they say in Hill Street Blues).

Well that concludes page 5 of my tour of the Isles. Can things get any better touring the Isle of Harris and Tarbert? Find out on the next page.

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