Arriving on a Saturday to blue skies, we determined to move straight to the seaside of Luskentyre in South Harris. Such was the climate forecast for the remainder of the week that this may be our solely probability to see it whereas the solar shone.

Whereas Harris is well-known for its many extremely stunning seashores, it’s Luskentyre that most individuals will consider because the jewel for its huge space of white sand, a backdrop of hills, and the Isle of Taransay (the place the fact UK TV collection Castaway was filmed with a then unknown Ben Fogle).

We handed the turning for the seaside with a view to look out on the giant bay which was an unlimited expanse of white sand, the ocean itself a good distance off on the horizon. Leaping down from the rocks onto the agency sand, a single determine was misplaced within the vastness of all of it.

From right here it was nonetheless a small drive to the primary seaside, backed by sand dunes and a cemetery. I quickly found that so lots of the seashores on the islands are regarded down upon by a cemetery, scenic locations to be interred and laid to relaxation. The explanations for such picturesque burial websites are, nevertheless, considerably darker.

One of many walks on Harris is named “The Coffin Route”, a stroll that begins on the east coast of the islands and heads to the west coast, earlier than returning to the jap shores. Because of the “clearances” within the nineteenth century, people who selected to remain on the island had been pressured out to the rocky and inhospitable jap shores. So poor was the land on this facet, that they needed to carry the lifeless to the western facet of the island the place the higher floor enabled a grave to be dug.

Let’s lighten the temper slightly now with a picture of Luskentyre seaside.

The skies had been blue, the sands had been very white and our personal figures solid fantastic shadows. Heading straight for Luskentyre had paid off handsomely. We weren’t alone, however with acres of sand, the seaside might hardly be described as crowded.

A stroll alongside the seaside was just about so long as you needed it to be. Toes had been dipped in and sure it was fairly chilly. All that was wanted was a pleasant little bit of consolation meals to switch the numerous energy shed whereas exercising on the seaside. Again we headed alongside the single-track street, with passing locations dotted right here and there. At one among these locations stood a tall slender cabinet.

Our prayers had been answered.