Cnoc nan Uan hill is just north of Stornoway, and an easy walk from town. The hill is the highest in the area and has sweeping views across Stornoway and the Isle of Lewis, along with a sobering reminder of the toll of war.

Atop the hill stands the 85-ft (26 m) Lewis War Memorial, dedicated to those from the Isle of Lewis who lost their lives in World War I and the 1919 sinking of HMY Iolaire. Nearby is a World War II memorial, and a set of plaques recording the names of over the 1,526 local residents who died in the two World Wars. The roll is very long for such a small population.

Below are highlights from March 22nd, 2021. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.

3/22/2021

HMY Iolaire Position: 58°12.46’N, -6°23.44’W Posts set out in the water at Stornoway outer harbour in the shape of the HMY Iolaire provide a somber reminder of the shipwreck on January 1, 1919 that killed more than 200 men returning from World War I. The vessel went aground and sank in a severe gale just outside Stornoway in one of the worse peacetime maritime disaster in UK history.

Herring Girls Position: 58°12.48’N, -6°23.23’W Another Herring Girls statue at the Stornoway outer harbour.

Traps Position: 58°12.41’N, -6°22.63’W Stacks and stacks of new traps in stock at Gael Force Marine.

D.R. Macleod Position: 58°12.42’N, -6°22.62’W We often see the beautiful yellow trucks of D.R. Macleod passing by the inner harbour.

Highland Bull Position: 58°13.02’N, -6°23.14’W Highland Bull carving outside the CoOp grocery store in Stornoway. The hardy Highland Cattle is a long-haired breed with big horns that originated in the Scottish Highlands and Outer Hebrides (where Stornoway is located).

Scalpay Position: 58°13.03’N, -6°23.14’W Scalpay, an Economy fishing boat common in the area during the 1940s and 1950s.

Stornoway Golf Course Position: 58°13.03’N, -6°23.26’W Golfers on the Stornoway Golf Course. Under current lockdown regulations, the course is open only to those who live within five miles.

Bridge Position: 58°13.13’N, -6°23.51’W An old bridge passing over the Bayhead River on the Lews Castle grounds.

Water Wheel Position: 58°13.13’N, -6°23.51’W The Stornoway Water Wheel on the Lews Castle grounds is a modern reconstruction of an 18th-century mill that stood on the site.

Lewis War Memorial Position: 58°13.30’N, -6°23.79’W The 85-ft (26 m) Lewis War Memorial atop the hill Cnoc nan Uan just north of the Stornoway Golf Course. The tower is dedicated to those from the Isle of Lewis who lost their lives in World War I and the 1919 sinking of HMY Iolaire.

Casualties Position: 58°13.31’N, -6°23.98’W A somber circle of stones at the Lewis War Memorial, each carrying plaques listing dozens and dozens of war casualties: 1,150 are from the First World War and 376 from the Second World War. The 1911 census showed 26,903 residents on Lewis, so nearly 5% of the island’s population was killed in World War I.

WWII Memorial Position: 58°13.31’N, -6°24.02’W Memorial next to the Lewis War Memorial to those from Lewis who died in World War II.

Bayhead River Position: 58°13.14’N, -6°24.02’W Crossing over Bayhead River on our way back into town.

Daffodils Position: 58°12.83’N, -6°23.27’W Daffodils in bloom on the Lews Castle grounds.

Thai Cafe Position: 58°12.61’N, -6°23.19’W Picking up some take-out at Thai Cafe on Church Street. Restaurants here are open for take-out only and most do not allow patrons inside the building at all.

Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map, with the complete log of our cruise. On the map page, clicking on a camera or text icon will display a picture and/or log entry for that location, and clicking on the smaller icons along the route will display latitude, longitude and other navigation data for that location. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.