Photography…mostly.

random thoughts

  • Uig – Isle of Lewis

    This is a curiosity. Gallan Head or Aird Uig Isle of Lewis was transformed from peat-bog into a defence listening post in 1950’s.  The Royal Air Force built RADAR towers used to eavesdrop shipping which continued through the Cold War under NATO ownership. Finally it was sold and is now owned by the Gallan Head Community Trust. Aird Uig is an unusual settlement.  Changing from ugly utilitarian barracks into homely colourful homes. The moorland is also transforming from concrete buildings and groundworks to a whale watching/listening area and night sky observation point. Gallan Head has terrific views out over the Atlantic Ocean. I wish it well in its transformation.

    Aird Uig Isle of Lewis, Gallen Head

     

    Ex-militarised wilderness

    (more…)

  • Lewis beach – Bosta

    This Lewis beach, Bosta, is not only a lovely white beach on Great Bernera. It was also a farmed area in Iron Age / Pictish times with settlements. A reconstruction of an Iron Age house opens on warmer months.

    Isles of Bearasaigh and Seanna Chnoc

     

    Dislodged Seaweed Root

    (more…)

  • Callanish Standing Stones

    Four thousand years ago a Neolithic conversation in Callanish went as thus:

    “Why don’t we stand huge fekin’ boulders on top of this hill?”

    “They weigh five heffers each! Why?”

    “Lets do it on the longest….no shortest day.”

    “Eh Why?”

    “Lets put them into the same pattern as the lights in the night sky, as god commands.”

    “Come again beardy”

    “No look over there, that group of hills resemble a sleeping woman. Lets do that !”

    “Have you been smokin’ kelp weed again hairy? Word to the wise, keep magic fire away from that face.”

    “I know. We’ll knock-up a prototype stone circle here on this hill here then build a bigger one 1,000 beardlengths over there. In that one lets bury the bones of Morag the Mammoth”

    Today we have no clear idea why Neolithic Scots created the stone circles at Callanish. Without written history things get lost. We excavate, scan, carbon date and take arial surveys to guess how it was done and hope it leads to why. I love follies and curiosities and some very special buildings. You might guess the how, but never get the why. Neolithic Scots – I salute you. What is your ‘Callanish’ ?

    A Stone Circle

     

    Rainbow over Circle

    (more…)

  • Isle of Lewis Beaches – Mealasta & Mangersta

    Storm passes on the Isle of Lewis beaches Mealasta and Mangersta. It’s a wild coastline exposed to Altlantic ocean and storms, yet still the sun shone. I was lucky to experience changing weather systems as beach transitioned from sunshine to rain/sleet/storm/sunset.

    Stormy Mangersta beach
    Rain frozen in frame with sun on a Stormy Mangersta beach

     

    Blue and yellow
    Blue and yellow

    (more…)

  • Uig on the Isle of Lewis

    My base in Rheinigidale worked well on Harris, now its time to explore Lewis. I shacked-up in the Otter Bunkhouse in Uig which was clean, bright with nice views. Lewis is much larger with a huge coastline by comparison so no weather  would stop my journey.

    Loch Miabhaig, Lewis
    Loch Miabhaig, Lewis

     

    Olympic pool or Loch Miabhaig ?
    Olympic pool or Loch Miabhaig ?

    (more…)

  • Scarista Beach Scotland

    Lets go to another Scottish beach because you must. Beach visits refresh the parts other environments fail to reach. Sarista Beach Scotland is on the west coast of Harris and despite this overcast November day, interesting views were all around. I’m often taken with the small geography of the sand, how the wind shapes it, how the plants inhabit and shape sand too. Be sure to see me doing Maths on the Beach™ at the end of the article.

    Beach detail

     

    (more…)