Oh sunny Day...

Hiya folks,

This morning, with my coffee in hand, as I stood in front of the castle and looked up at the sky, I had a really good feeling.... bright light, thin clouds... it looks promising. And indeed... Your Grace, the sun honored us with its presence. So, no fatigue to excuse... shoes laced, hair tied back, and off to the Butt of Lewis. That’s where we wanted to go anyway, and with such beautiful weather, it’s twice as fun!

On our way to the lighthouse, we stopped at Eoropie Beach. A beautiful, deserted beach tucked behind dunes. And like most beaches here, it is bordered by rugged rocks. I love it and lost track of time and space while Mr. Fü patiently waited in the dunes. Such a treasure :o* Then we continued to the Butt of Lewis... just 7 minutes away from Eoropie Beach... you really have to get used to the short distances here :o)

The coastal landscape at the Butt of Lewis is breathtaking! The wind, which has barely subsided since yesterday, whips the water against the rough rocks, creating a misty spray that lays like a veil over the jagged cliffs... so beautiful. We wandered around the cliffs, me of course keeping a very safe distance from the edge, enjoying the wind, the sun, and the sound of the sea... pure relaxation for the soul! Naturally, we couldn’t miss out on the hot cocoa with marshmallows and cream :o))))

While we let the sun shine down on us, we discussed our next destination. We decided to head to Uig. The community of Uig lies deep in the west and is said to be one of the most beautiful places on the Isle of Lewis. Excited, we set off. Our first stop is Kneep Beach.

During the drive to Uig, we encountered a severe weather front.... heavy rain and wind from all directions. We almost considered turning back when we spotted a bright blue strip on the horizon and unanimously decided to keep going, hoping that the bright blue strip in the distance was a good sign. And indeed, the rain eventually let up and the sun showed its lovely face. The drive to Kneep Beach is adventurous, and off the main road, we mostly traveled along single-track roads. But the challenge is worth it... this beach is fantastic! A wide, long, white sand beach and turquoise waters. In the sunshine, it looks like the Caribbean. It’s hard to tear yourself away from such a dreamy sight. However, the weather helped a bit in making the decision to keep going as it started to rain again. We quickly headed to the nearest community center, since there is always a small café there. With a little snack, we tried to wait out the rain... unfortunately without success. So off to the car, wipers on, and off... to the Abhainn Dearg Distillery, the first legal distillery in the Outer Hebrides. Whisky has only been distilled here since 2008. Since most malts need to age for at least 10 years, the first batches were probably not that great. But now, the malts from the sherry and Madeira casks are on the market, and especially lovers of unpeated whisky will find something to enjoy. It is a one-man operation, and all ingredients are sourced exclusively from the Isle of Lewis. Unfortunately, it was closed when we arrived... during the advertised opening hours. But we had been warned that this could happen as the owner is said to be a bit quirky :o) So we turned around and headed back towards the castle. On the way back, we stopped at several viewpoints when the rain was less intense.

Back in Stornoway, we grabbed dinner and are now winding down the evening comfortably.

Feasgar math agad (Wishing you a lovely evening.)