Framedlight

When we arrived in the little hamlet of Rodel we parked near an old jetty by the Rodel Hotel. This building is now sadly empty having closed earlier in 2016. It was built in 1781 and served as a family home until the start of the 20th century when it was converted into a hotel. Queen Elizabeth visited here when the Royal Yacht Britannia moored off the coast in the 60's. Now it is up for sale for £625,000 including the harbour and a couple of islands! St Clement's Church is equally interesting. It was built originally around 1520 by the Clan MacLeod, as a burial site, although it has gone through various stages of neglect, fire and restoration. The interior is austere although it holds a fine collection of medieval sculpture and the founding Alexander MacLeod's tomb is built into the south nave. The church is thought to be the best example of a medieval structure in the Western Isles. The weather suited the slight air of depression that overhung the place. ...

I had another early morning wake up call and left the van very quietly, as we were parked cheek by jowl to the other happy campers in this tight spot. The van was just across the road from the sea and Harris was giving me another ripping sunrise. Even more gaudy than the one the day before. I watched as the colours intensified and then waned to an overcast sky. I have sneaked one camera movement shot into this set. Back at the van we had breakfast and then were on the road. We drove out of Huisinis and back towards Tarbert. Strangely the road passes straight past the front door of a rather grand estate and we observed some tweedy figures going into the big house. The light was an odd yellowish colour as we motored the length of the east coast of Harris down to Rodel at the southern point.