Scotland: Lewis, Harris, Barra and the Uists.
The Outer Hebrides consist of a chain of islands, 200 km long, lying off the northwest coast of the Scottish mainland. They receive the full blow of Atlantic gales and their wild mountain scenery and peat bogs perforated by hundreds of small lakes can give the visitor a feeling of desolation. But there are also white beaches stretching for miles, beautiful sea-lochs that cut deep into the coast and numerous archaeological treasures such as the “Stonehenge of Scotland”.
Piping at Callanish stone circle.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27672] On a windy evening local musicians are enhancing the mystic atmosphere of the neolithic stone circle at Callanish on the Isle of Lewis. The tallest slab stands in the centre of the circle and marks the entrance to a burial chamber. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27666] South of Mangersta, the western shore of Lewis offers superb views over a succession of bays. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27743] At the little port of Eoligarry on the northern tip of the Isle of Barra a small boat lies secured on the sand. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27664] The seastacks of Aird Fenish, on the western shore of Lewis, offer some of the most spectacular coastal scenery of the Hebrides. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Callanish seen from the north.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27669] On the Isle of Lewis the standing stones of the neolithic stone circle at Callanish bask in the evening sun. The circle has a diameter of 13 meter and was constructed around 2700 BC from slabs of Lewisian gneiss. The slab in the foreground is part of an avenue of stones that approaches the circle from the north. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Piping at Callanish stone circle .
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27671] On a windy evening local musicians are enhancing the mystic atmosphere of the neolithic stone circle at Callanish on the Isle of Lewis. The tallest slab (just behind the piper) stands in the centre of the circle and marks the entrance to a burial chamber. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27675] The neolithic stone circle at Callanish was constructed around 2700 BC on the shore of East Loch Roag, an estuary along the north coast of Lewis. The tallest slab stands in the centre of the circle and marks the entrance to a burial chamber. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Celebrating the summer solstice.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27678] On the Isle of Lewis the neolithic stone circle at Callanish has been called "Scotland's Stonehenge". Just as its English counterpart, on the evening of june 21th it receives a variety people who want to celebrate the summer solstice. On the foreground people are sitting and dancing in the burial chamber that occupies the center of the stone circle. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27688] A mud-flat on the southern shore of Great Bernera is covered in flowers. The Isle of Great Bernera was linked to the north coast of Lewis by a bridge in 1953. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27690] A mud-flat on the southern shore of Great Bernera is covered in flowers. The Isle of Great Bernera was linked to the north coast of Lewis by a bridge in 1953. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27695] The watermill of Great Bernera (an island off the north coast of Lewis) is around 400 years old and can be found east of the village of Breaclete. The mill receives its energy from water that is channeled out of a lake (outside the picture, to the right) into the sea. The horizontal paddle wheel of the mill is housed in the stone structure beneath the thatched roof. The location of the mill on the shore of a sheltered bay made it easy for the local farmers to bring in their corn over sea by boat. These mills are generally called "Norse", an adjective given in the 19th century when people erroneously thought they were a remnant of the Viking occupation of the Hebrides. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27702] An isolated telephone booth overlooks the northern shore of the Isle of Lewis near the village of Crulivig. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27698] At the beach of Bosta on Great Bernera (an island off the north coast of Lewis) a period of heavy storms in 1990s uncovered the stone remnants of Iron Age houses dating from 400 - 800 AD. The picture shows a 1999 re-construction of one of these houses. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27713] Islander James Crawford has specialized in restoring the architectural heritage of Lewis, such as the "Norse" mill of Shawbost. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27685] On the shore of East Loch Roag, an estuary along the north coast of Lewis, you can find several neolithic stone circles. This one, surrounded by the white plumes of common cottongrass is called Callanish III. It is less spectacular than the better known primary circle at Callanish I, but still offers a mystic experience during sunset. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27663] The seastacks of Aird Fenish, on the western shore of Lewis, offer some of the most spectacular coastal scenery of the Hebrides. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27668] At Islivig on the western shore of Lewis, a scarecrow protects chickens and the eyes of newborn lambs from attacks by sea eagles and rooks. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27670] On the Isle of Lewis the standing stones of the neolithic stone circle at Callanish bask in the evening sun. The circle has a diameter of 13 meter and was constructed around 2700 BC from slabs of Lewisian gneiss. In the centre of the circle the tallest of the stones marks the entrance to a burial chamber. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Piping at Callanish stone circle.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27673] On a summer evening local musicians are enhancing the mystic atmosphere of the neolithic stone circle at Callanish on the Isle of Lewis. The circle was constructed around 2700 BC on the shore of East Loch Roag, an estuary along the north coast of Lewis. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27676] On the Isle of Lewis the neolithic stone circle at Callanish has been called "Scotland's Stonehenge". Just as its English counterpart, on the evening of june 21th it receives a variety people who want to celebrate the summer solstice. On the foreground people are sitting and dancing in the burial chamber that occupies the center of the stone circle. The girl with the hat is checking if the sun has already disappeared below the horizon. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Stone circle of Callanish III.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27686] On the shore of East Loch Roag, an estuary along the north coast of Lewis, you can find several neolithic stone circles. This one, surrounded by the white plumes of common cottongrass is called Callanish III. It is less spectacular than the better known primary circle at Callanish I, but still offers a mystic experience during sunset. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27689] A mud-flat on the southern shore of Great Bernera is covered in flowers. The Isle of Great Bernera was linked to the north coast of Lewis by a bridge in 1953. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27691] The watermill of Great Bernera (an island off the north coast of Lewis) is around 400 years old and can be found east of the village of Breaclete. The mill receives its energy from water that is channeled out of a lake (outside the picture, to the right) into the sea. The horizontal paddle wheel of the mill is housed in the stone structure beneath the thatched roof. The location of the mill on the shore of a sheltered bay made it easy for the local farmers to bring in their corn over sea by boat. These mills are generally called "Norse", an adjective given in the 19th century when people erroneously thought they were a remnant of the Viking occupation of the Hebrides. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27693] The thatched roof of the watermill of Great Bernera (an island off the north coast of Lewis) is held in place by elegantly knotted ropes and anker stones. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27700] Rusty roofs provide a nice contrast with the green surroundings near the village of Crulivig, on the northern shore of the Isle of Lewis. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
