📌 Carloway, Isle of Lewis
★★★★
Blackhouses – stone-walled, thatched-roofed buildings originally often shared between people and animals – were once common across the Western Isles, and their ruins can still be seen across the Isle of Lewis. At Garenin, on the west coast, a cluster of blackhouses built in the late 19th century and vacated in the 1970s have been restored to form a unique tourist attraction. Part open-air museum, part holiday accommodation, the “village” paints a fascinating picture of what living here may have been like, with some of the blackhouses containing weaving and other historical displays, living and sleeping quarters and a cafe. Coach passengers can overwhelm the site and detract from the peaceful atmosphere, so it may be worth arriving early or late in the day for a quieter visit.
🌍 Location
📌 5a Gearrannan, at minor road end, Garenin, Carloway, Isle of Lewis
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NB 193442
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 58.296433,-6.792551
🚌 Bus stops at car park
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
⌚ Officially Monday to Saturday, summer months, but visits probably possible at other times
🎫 £5.60 adult / £5 child
