h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The cross - very similar.

Living on Lewis was quite a heady experience. Gaelic is mostly spoken there by the natives.

It is a very remote place with few - if any - trees on the landscape which is mainly flat and full of peat.

Sundays were a blast as everything shut down and you couldn't even leave the island. My father used to relate traditional sundays up there when you couldn't even cook on a sunday - and could only venture outside if you were on your way to church. This was only about 15 years ago, and it hasn't changed very much in that respect.

In my own experience, I got fined for playing football on a Sunday as I was breaking a local by-law by doing so, and they used to chain up the swings and roundabouts on sundays as well.

Apart from this religious experience however, it's a pretty cool place with some wonderful beaches.

There is a Castle in the centre of the main town - Stornoway - which over looks the bay, and is surrounded by many imported trees. Can't remember the name of the guy who built it, but apparently he made his money on Opium runs in Hong Kong during the 1800's.

As well as the Callanish Stones, there is a Broch (not sure on spelling here) which is an old Celtic Stronghold, formed in a sphere with hidden passages between the innner and outer walls, and viewpoints to spy on the enemy from.

In the Northwest part of Lewis, there is a wall which divides the island in two and was built during the Jacobean Rebellion - most of it is now grown over, but you can still make it out if you look.

They still practise crofting up there too - with many steadings having sheep, chickens, cows etc, and most of the fuel coming from peat.

Out in the villages - if you knock on someones door for whatever reason, you will be very lucky to escape copious amounts of tea and scones, and it was not uncommon for folk - comparitive strangers - to invite you to share their main meal with them.

Socially, there are many pubs, few dances, no cinema.

Restaurants/take-outs. No Macdonalds, burger king, etc. A couple of very good chinese, and most recently one Thai restaurant though.

Haven't been up for many years, but apparantely they finally built a sports field up there as well.

Hope this answers your question.
Hope this gives you a rough idea of what it was like.

You bet it does! Thanks for putting in so much effort - it gives me a good feel for the place. Have you thought of working this into an entry for the guide?

I am studying and teaching Celtic history at the moment, so am interested in what life is like in the Celtic regions. It is unfortunately a bit expensive to get over to Scotland, etc, too regularly from where I am, so I have to suffice with what I can get electronically or in books.

Interesting what you said about Sundays. Lewis is one of the strongholds of the Free Church, I understand (and its various permutations). It is the sort of thing that is "quaint" to the outsider but I imagine would annoy the hell out of some people living there. I have a friend who grew up up on Man ... I reckon it sounds like a great place, but he swears never to return!

Thanks again for the posting.
Cheers
Bran

Hi,

For more on Scotland, I have a work in progress over at http://www.h2g2.com/A198614 - needs a lot more input.

I am currently seeking contributions from guide members to this, and will eventually include something about lewis - and other places I've stayed.

If you've got anything to contribute to this, it would be more than welcome.