Dunes and silver sand beaches at the end of the road along the west side of the Isle of Lewis.
Dunes and silver sand beaches at the end of the road along the west side of the Isle of Lewis. A pleasure at the end of a day which started on the ferry on the voyage across the North Minch from Ullapool on the mainland; that's twice the journey time crossing the English Channel, even today, when the sea looks as flat as the Mediterranean.
West sides of islands are are particular pleasure, here in the Outer Hebrides it's the Atlantic bashing the shoreline but the sense that there's nothing more in that direction except boundless ocean adds to the bleakness which is charming to us fair weather visitors.
This west side road starts bleak and beautiful as it leaves the Butt of Lewis, to the north. Nothing breaking the gales off the Atlantic. Southwards, the glaciers have gouged the granite forming islands, freshwater loch and sea channels. Pre-historic settlements are evidenced by the standing stones around Calanish, the main circle views about twenty smaller monuments... experts debate the purpose.
And a bleak Atlantic sunset, after half-past ten.