Our accommodation on the 10,000 acre estate near Uig, Lewis. The lodge was built in 1860.
Highland Cattle
Hebridean Sheep. This is the native breed to the Outer Hebrides. Many farmers only raise Scottish Blackface because of their larger frame, but there has been a push to bring back the Hebrideans in recent years. These dual purpose sheep have a small frame and sweeter, dark meat. They also produce a gorgeous, full fleece that is used in many tweeds. They can survive in wind and rain while grazing on little but heather.
Wild Red Stags
We spent two days cutting peat. It's hard work! Peat is an organic material that generates from years of decomposition on the moor. It is cut into bricks and dried, then burned. Once cut, it takes 100 year to regenerate. Before coal, this was the only form of heat. The only trees on the island are fast growing Scandinavian pine plantations and wood is not readily available for burning.
A view of several peat bogs.
A Shetland Collie named Bracken who accompanied us to the peat bog.
My peat stack. Long ago, people held competitions for the nicest peat stack design or the straightest peat bog walls.
The feed store in Stornoway. All signs on Lewis are in Gaelic first then English.
The sea loch on the estate with a view of the lodge.