|
Images of the Whale Bone Arch at
Bragar and a peat cutter The Isle of Lewis
The Isle of Lewis is the most
northerly of the Western Isles and stretches from the
Butt of Lewis to Loch Seaforth — the border with Harris.
Mostly
consisting of ancient gneiss rocks, some of which are
the oldest in the world, much of the interior of the
island is peat moor land, except in the hilly south.
The west coasts have lovely sandy beaches backed by
machair, with some low cliffs. The west of Lewis has
much dramatic coastline ranging from the beautiful Uig
Bay to the smaller beaches at Dalmore and Dalbeg, up to
the sweeping sands at Swaibost in the north.
Stornoway is the main town on the Isle of Lewis and is
also the home of the Western Isles Council. Just over
6,000 people live in the town, which represents about a
third of the island’s total population. The economy is a
mixture of traditional businesses such as fishing,
Harris Tweed and farming, with more recent influences
like tourism, the oil industry and commerce brought
about by the digital revolution and increased ease of
communication. The rest of the Isle of Lewis is more
traditional and relies a great deal upon the old
industries of fishing, crofting and the weaving of
tweed. For many islanders, peat is still a main source
of heating fuel and during the summer months, it can be
seen being cut and harvested out on the moors.
The allure of the island is its quiet peace and calm.
The local people talk with a soft lilt and charm in
their voices and Gaelic is often heard spoken. The
islanders value their traditions and heritage which
gives the island its distinctive atmosphere.
The Doune Braes Hotel is situated in the western coastal
area and is close to most of the best beaches and sites
of historical interest. It is also near to some of the
best salmon and trout fishing in the UK. Wildlife is
abundant, the coastal walking is outstanding and surfing
is superb!
Lewis has several places of historic interest in the
area:
For more information on
Lewis and
other Hebridean islands
click
here.
Email:
hebrides@doune-braes.co.uk
|
