Gearrannan Blackhouse Village

Gearrannan is a restored Blackhouse Village where people can actually stay and experience the traditional crofting way. It is a picturesque village, found in a quiet bay in Carloway, on the western coast of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.

As you look at them, you might think the houses are ancient, because they don’t really look that much different from those dating back to the Iron Age and also found on the island. But they’re not. The original village was built back around 1800, and, perhaps surprisingly, people lived in those houses until the 1970s. When its last residents left in pursuit of a more modern way of life, the village remained abandoned. That is until a local trust decided to give new life to it in 1989. Today, the village is used as holiday accommodation for people visiting the area. But even if you are not spending the night, you can still wander around the village and further to the beach and coastal area.

The houses at Gearrannan have been restored using some of the traditional methods, in order to preserve their authentic look and feel, and are actively maintained. Some are family cottages, and the longer one is actually a hostel. Each house is named after the family that once lived there.

If you’re looking to learn more about the history of blackhouses in the Outer Hebrides, then it’s also worth visiting Arnol Blackhouse - it’s not too far away. Read more about it here.