Have you thought about the Outer Hebrides?

Pamela, That area has been on my "places to visit" list, as one of my close friends has family on Barra and Lewis. I wasn't aware of the books or the App, but will definitely have a look. Who knows, maybe I'll get there next year?

I am planning (hopefully) a trip to Lewis and Harris in July, thank to you Pamela and Ed from your comments on my last post regarding the Callanish stones! I also just took out The Black House from the library last week and am halfway through it - unfortunately I don't have a smartphone but will be getting an iPad mini soon and will have to remember to look for the app. The reason I say hopefully is that the HebCelt festival is on during my mini-break, and all the hostels are completely booked up. I was debating on changing my plans, but I really want to visit so the other night I emailed a few B&Bs and hopefully there will be a room somewhere!

Please delete this post. If you don't: Callanish will get a fence like Stonehenge Lewis will get a bridge like Skye Stornoway will become another Colmar CalMac will go broke The world will go topsy-turvy

Bonnie Call Christine real quick at Heb Hostel. If she doesn't have room, she might have something up her sleeve. Be polite about the time, she's got a brand new kid.

We went to Lewis to see the stone circles and were surprised at how beautiful the island is. It is very different from other places we visited in Scotland - very bare, but full of beautiful tiny lochans. Harris which is actually more of a peninsula attached to the south of Lewis is also quite interesting, especially a moon-like landscape on the eastern shore......We had two dinners on Lewis - one was the best of the entire 20 day Scotland trip, the other was the worst!......We really enjoyed our stay at Leumadair Farm. It is so close to the Callanish stones that you can walk to them. The hosts are very friendly. http://www.leumadair.co.uk/

Ed, I think we're safe. It's too far and too stark. But, I think it's beautiful. It's easier to get around now that the Free Church doesn't have absolute control, but they still have influence.....

Ed - thanks for advice! I'll give her call tomorrow morning my time which should be early afternoon. Right now my plan B is to first head to Skye, stay at Uig Hostel, then ferry over to Tarbert and spend two nights on Lewis.

Sounds like a great trip, Bonnie. There was a wonderful 3-part series on PBS a couple years ago called "The Islands of Britain," hosted by Martin Clunes, the actor who plays Doc Martin. He traveled all over the British Isles, including Lewis and Harris. That series caused me to add a lot more destinations to my future trips! It's definitely worth watching - very informative and funny.

@Sarah, I watched all the episodes of that "Islands of Britain" series with Martin Clunes - it was GREAT! As I recall, on one small island a guy had established his own "kingdom".

Ken, You may be thinking of the Shiants Islands, or at least one of them. Adam Nicolson wrote a book, "Sea Room, An Island Life In The Hebrides", about his father buying the Shiants. Thus, Adam has inherited them. Its been sometime since I read it but I can remembering it being very interesting. One of our aquaintances on Islay is very knowledgeable about the Nicolsons and the Shiants.

So, I found the videos separate from the app! Lewis Research http://www.ur-web.net/PeterMayFrancais/pmvideo.html#lewisvideo The second book is the Lewis Man which is only available in the UK right now. http://www.ur-web.net/PeterMayFrancais/pmvideo.html#esriskayandharris The videos are really good. Yes, the sea is really that color. If you have trouble with the links try the main site here. Go to the Video section and look at the ones for the Lewis Trilogy. Pam