The northernmost island of the Hebridean chain,
Lewis is both the largest and most populous of
the Western Isles. The gaelic name for 
Lewis is Leodhas which means marshy.
Although the mountain of Mealisval rises to
some 600 metres,Lewis is a fairly flat island
with many spectacular sandy beaches, a rugged
coastline and a landscape that is worth
investigating.

The underlying rock of Lewis is thought to be 
2,900 million years old - half as old as the
earth.Famous tourist attraction, the Callanish
Standing Stones date back 4,000 years - older 
even than Stonehenge.
The Western Isles have a population of approximately 
23,000 and has the most univerity-educated people per
capita of anywhere in the British Isles. 

Gaelic is spoken as a second language throughout the island
 

Comman Eachraidh an Taobh Siar (West Side Historical Society) covers the area between
Arnol and Dail Beag (Dalbeg in Gaelic) on the west side of the island.There are many local
tourist attractions, some of which are listed below:          
Arnol Black House            
This is one of the old croft dwellings which has been preserved by Historic Scotland.Inside 
its double stone walls, filled with earth for insulation, lived both the family and their animals.
Admission charge. Open Monday - Saturday. 
Whalebone Arch ( click link to view article )
Formed by the jawbone of an 85-foot long blue whale that came ashore in 1920 with the
harpoon still attached. Visible from the road. 
South Bragar Dun            
After you have passed the Whalebone Arch in Bragar, continue south along the road.
Shortly you will see the dun in a loch 80 metres east of the road. It can be accessed on
foot by a causeway.
Shawbost Folk Museum            
Situated in an old church, it began as a school project in the 1970s and was never 
dismantled. It houses various artefacts from days gone by including farming tools, kitchen
implements, irons, a loom, even a crofter's bedroom and photos of a Norse watermill which
 was restored. No admission charge, but donations welcomed. 
Shawbost Norse Mill and Kiln 
These two small thatched buildings have been rebuilt to illustrate the process by which 
barley grain was processed into meal. After being dried in the kiln, the grain was put 
through the water-driven mill. This type of work went on in Lewis up until the 1940s.
 Open all year. Nearby Dalbeg beach is very picturesque