Location and Travel
Dalbeg is a magical location. It is one of those places where you could come on holiday and stay put for the entire time – there is so much to do in the immediate vicinity that you need look no further. The Westside Coastal Walk goes southwest to the Black House Village at Gearrannan and northeast to Shawbost and beyond. Along its length, you are never far from the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Bring a pair of binoculars with you – there is always something to see. Gearrannan provides an extraordinary window on the way that the people used to live in this part of Lewis – every detail has been considered. I remember one visit with my father, a West Highlander, pointing out that they had missed something – when he was a lad, every house had its own cobblers last to mend shoes. “Ah,” the guide said, with a patient sigh, as he reached up to the ledge just below the rafters, “You mean one of these!”
If you do wish to go further afield, you will be spoilt for choice. About 10 miles to the south are the standing stones at Callanish. This extraordinary Neolithic site takes your breath away. It is so easy to close your eyes and imagine what it might have been like to stand on that very spot 5,000 years ago. There is a great Visitor Centre there as well, where you can whet your whistle and buy gifts to take home.
Three miles to the south of Dalbeg is the remains of an Iron Age broch or fort. Opinion is divided as the exact way in which these buildings were used but there is no doubt that it is well worth a look. You can go inside the broch and climb for some distance up the stairway between the enormously thick double walls. Once again, a chance to close your eyes and imagine what it might have been like to live in such a place all those years ago.
A short distance north of Dalbeg, there is a restored Norse mill. The islands are peppered with the remains of these buildings – but this is one of only two that have been restored. The other overlooks Loch Roag, on Great Berneray, a short distance to the southwest.
There is a wealth of other things to see close to Dalbeg: Simon Rivett’s studio in Shawbost; James Smith’s photographic gallery in Brue; the Pottery at Borgh; and the gallery at Morven, to name but a few. If you want to wander, you’ll find somewhere different to go every day.
Check out the Links page for more information.
Aultbeithe is situated 20 miles northwest of Stornoway on the A857/8. Aultbeithe is half a mile down a single-track road from the main A858, just past Shawbost. You can download directions from Stornoway Airport here; and you can download directions from the Stornoway Ferry here.
By air: The nearest airport is just outside Stornoway, approximately 25 minutes drive from Aultbeithe. Several airlines offer routes from the Scottish mainland to Stornoway Airport:
- Highland Airways fly between Stornoway and Inverness – www.highlandairways.co.uk or tel: +44 (0) 84 54 50 22 45
- British Airways fly between Stornoway and Glasgow, Inverness and Edinburgh – www.britishairways.com or tel: +44 (0) 87 08 50 98 50
- British Midland fly between Stornoway and Edinburgh – www.flybmi.com or tel: +44 (0) 87 02 64 22 29
All these mainland airports offer a wide range of flights all over the United Kingdom and beyond.
By ferry: Caledonian MacBrayne run a number of ferry routes both between the Western Isles and to the Scottish mainland. You can choose to travel to Ullapool and take the ferry to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis or go over the Skye Bridge to Uig and take the ferry to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris – www.calmac.co.uk +44 (0) 87 05 65 00 00.
By bus: Regular bus services connect with ferry arrival and departures times. The main operators from Central Scotland are Scottish Citylink Coaches, for all connections call +44 (0) 99 05 05 05 05 or check times online at www.citylink.co.uk. For timetables and information on getting around the islands by bus phone Stornoway Bus Station on +44 (0)1851 704327. Ask for Dalbeg and the bus will stop at the end of the road, leaving a short walk down the hill to the house.
Car Hire: Arnol Car Hire telephone +44 (0) 18 51 71 05 48, is based just outside Stornoway and can deliver cars to the airport or to the ferry terminal in Stornoway.