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Outer Hebrides – Harris – Lickisto Blackhouse Camping

Posted on May 20, 2024 by SteveJuly 5, 2024

20th May 2024

Sunny day. Wandering back from the loo, R saw a Red Deer doe on the hillside opposite the entrance. She shared the sight with a fellow camper, but I wasn’t around. Down at Otter Lookout I spotted a seal basking on the rocks on the opposite side of the inlet. I sat there for a long time, hoping for otters, or the seal to go for a swim. Snapped a few birds flying by, black herons.

R and I walked further down the road, but it comes to a dead end. Yes, we went on the path, but that became blocked by a fence. I hiked up the hill, but the ground was very boggy and not nice walking on. Went back down. We walked back to site and down to Otter Lookout.

R saw an Eagle being mobbed by corvids above the trees. I was in the loo. Obviously it was her day for good wildlife spots.

After lunch we went for a walk down the other road, wanted to see the other end of the loch. This was rather disappointing as it disappeared into nothing. An inland loch which I though was connected, was connected only by a meter-diameter pipe, well above water level. I left R here as I walked on round to get a view of the campsite from across the loch.

Did stop at one place where there were at least three seals, maybe four basking in the rising tide. Sat here for a while, taking photos of them and others.

Walked on further, but not a lot to see unless I hiked miles.

Back at the campsite we had drinks, and supper outdoors. Smoked salmon, with pasta, pesto and mayonnaise. Lovely quick tasty supper. R had used the campsite’s washing machine.

Faded Ginger came and nuzzed around us, very friendly. Later saw the black cat on top of the roof of one of the accommodation buildings. Later still I heard him thudding around the roof of the loo block. I bet there are.quite a few rodents there.

Sitting outside was difficult, lots of little insects had been encouraged by the warmth of the day. Minute insects with striped bodies. Can’t be midge as they were not biting, but annoying. Sitting in a spot with a breeze helped mitigate their annoyance.

Birds Photographed

Oyster Catcher
Heron
Black Heron
Cuckoo

Track

Outer Hebrides – Harris

Posted on May 19, 2024 by SteveJuly 4, 2024

19th May 2024

Packed away the van up leisurely and started our journey to the port at Berneray. We stopped at Clachan Sands Camping ground for a picnic lunch. There were a few motorhomes parked on the grass in front of the beach, plus a few tables, benches and a bin. We ate lunch here as there was no alternative. On Sundays everything appears closed. Shops, even cafes and restaurants. The only services in operation are the ferries.

Driving back to the main road, we passed the cemetery which R had coo-ed over as we went past it on our way to the beach. The whole of the ground around the graves was covered in primroses. So this time, I agreed to take a photo, but on her phone so we didn’t need to stop for long. Time & ferries wait for no man.

But, in the end, we made it to the ferry in plenty of time. It was moored at the other end of the causeway. Boarding time arrived, and the ferry came over to pick us up.

The trip to Leverburgh is very twisty, around rocks. Well-marked by buoys, at one stage I thought we were going the wrong side of a green buoy. Going out of the harbour the green on the left, red on the right. Going into the harbour, it’s the other way around. Green on the right, red on the left. At what point does the change occur on the crossing? A critical decision.

We disembarked and headed to Lickisto Black House camping. We chose the shortest route, which took us on the East coast. These were some of the narrowest roads with steep long drops on either side of the road. R was not happy. All the other vehicles departing the boat went around the west coast, where the road is wider, and there are many Harris parking spaces next to the sea. Thankfully, there were very few other vehicles on the road.

We made it to the site. It is kind of idyllic, especially for the hiking or biking camper. Small, secluded, imaginatively-named pitches next to no one, but a community shelter for cooking, reading, and getting warm. It also has secluded pre-erected tents; yurts are stretching it. It’s not ideal for vans, few spots and all together. No dirty water or chemical disposal (not that we need that) on site. We called this site, the Hobbit Campsite, partly because some of the building appeared to be buried into the ground, the windy paths, and the names of some of camping spots.

Extremely friendly cats came to inspect us and our unit. Black cat even had a good look inside. We appeared to pass muster. Faded Ginger just said hello and inspected the outside.

The guy who owns the place says there are otters, and that an eagle was seen yesterday. Of course, today there was nothing.