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  #1  
Old 7th July 2010, 12:00 PM
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Default Recommendations for Harris & Lewis

I'm hoping to take a LF trip to Harris & Lewis towards the back end of this year and just wondered if anyone has any recommendations for A. accommodation and B. photo locations?

Paul
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Old 7th July 2010, 04:18 PM
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Callanish if you are in to stone circles, but I cannot help with accommodation as I took a motorhome.
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Old 7th July 2010, 07:26 PM
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We stayed at www.leumadair.co.uk self catering a couple of years ago and were very happy. They also do B&B. Walking distance to the stones so yoy can go across after the crowds have gone . Our trip was midsummer but there were plenty of photographers at sunset - be warned. (mostly Germans with plate cameras !)
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Old 7th July 2010, 07:53 PM
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A few notes that come to mind...

There appears to be only a few hotels on the island outside of Stornoway but quite a number of B&B's.

Travelling around can soon clock up the miles. We drove over 700 miles during our last short visit without leaving the island!

Very little is open on a Sunday so stock up before the weekend.

There are many superb places for photography. I will post a list later with some suggestions.
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Old 7th July 2010, 08:00 PM
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Two hotels that are popular with photo workshops are: -

Harris

Harris Hotel

Lewis

Doune-Braes
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Old 8th July 2010, 06:52 AM
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Many thanks for all your suggestions everyone, will have a peruse. Those nice people at Amazon have just delivered 6 OS maps of Harris & Lewis so that's my weekend sorted... can't have enough maps is what I keep telling my wife!
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Old 8th July 2010, 09:31 AM
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Well, there are loads of nice places to go here - apart from Callanish Stones :-) Beaches by the dozen, rock arches, lovely old walls, boats, dilapidated buildings, new kit homes :-( and drunks. What more can you want. Well, if you want more there are weavers, sheep keepers, chicken pluckers, artists, galleries and a couple of nice cafes. Lochs, peat stacks, ferries..........
Lots of nice places to stay as well but I recommend taking a rented cottage. Especially nice if its raining on a Sunday.
Please don't hesitate to contact me directly if you require any more info. We even have a photo [film] group [Lewis Photgraphica (continuing) ] here and some darkrooms.
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Old 9th July 2010, 01:55 PM
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Accomodation shouldn't be a worry, unless you have a severely restricted budget. There are plenty of local agents that will help. Advance booking is advised, for peace of mind.

With the right weather conditions, the entire Outer Hebrides are a photo opportunity.

South Harris:
If you're driving (be aware of animals on the road , and adjust your speed accordingly. If it's late in the year, take extra care with a low sun in your windscreen), a good days 'shooting' would be to head South from Tarbert, and take the turning for the 'Golden Road' (careful, the turn-off is easily missed).
Follow this amazing road all the way down the East coast of South Harris, to Rodel. Make your way from there to Leverburgh, where you can pick up any supplies needed (as long as it's not 'The Lord's Day !). Then head for Northton, and the beginning of the west coast road of South Harris, where you will find the very opposite landscape to the rugged, indented, 'Golden Road' coast. Follow this sweeping route back to Tarbert (if you have the time, check out Luskentyre, which has got to have THE best beach in Europe, imho) for shots of fantastic sea-colours, machair-strewn coasts, and wide sandy beaches .

Tarbert-Tarbert via Rodel, a long days drive, but could be split up to suit. You certainly won't want for photo opportunities.
Remember, the sun is from the South, you may prefer the illumination of the two coasts reversed. In that case, go Tarbert-Tarbert via Northton.
I lived on Lewis for 5 years, and have made this trip several times(with camera, and or sea-rod). I liked to finish the end of the day with the glorious sunsets on the West coast, given the weather of course.

I just wish I was going with you.
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Old 9th July 2010, 03:30 PM
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I'll second a recommendation for Rodel (Roghadal on OS maps). Lovely church and an interesting old harbour. The public loos near the church amused me as the door to the ladies is wider than that to the gents - not sure what that says about the locals . Calanais is a must of course, but there are several smaller circles near the main monument. We managed to get up at 5am for the sunrise and weren't disappointed. I can recommend the Doune-Braes hotel as well, although the atmosphere was slightly marred at breakfast by Terry Wogan's dulcet tones going on about jams on the M25 ... Could have done without that. But a very fine and friendly cat made up for it. Be aware (as others have said) that just about everything is closed on Sundays.

Great place though, I'm sure you'll enjoy the trip .
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Old 9th July 2010, 09:13 PM
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...and no trip to Lewis is finished unless you go to Bosta beach on Great Bernera reached over a bridge off the road to Uig - which in its self is just wonderful. Not only is Great Bernera a superb place, its probably one of the best places to Golden Eagles from the road. Then, if you want to see Sea Eagles, you might get lucky near my village - go north from North Tolsta - where there is Garry and The Big Beach to give them their Anglicised name. And call in for a cuppa while you are here!
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