The Northern Lewis Shielings

We encountered a group of these wooden buildings on our walk yesterday, set very remotely in the middle of the peat bog, and with no vehicular access. They are simple huts, known as shielings, where the women and children used to take the animals and live there for the summer months. The shielings are still used by local families as weekend retreats and peat-cutting bases. Some are better maintained than others.

[julia]

Gosh this looks like a Fisherman's hut I have a photo of from a time in the South Island.. @dide reminds me of Falls Dam.

[Dianne]

@julzmaioro This is incredible - you will have to show Issi your fisherman's hut!
Lovely image.

[Christina]

Wow that's such a fabulous shot - it looks very remote!

[Kathy A]

This one looks very well maintained

[Caterina]

I learned something new again from you. The meaning of peat and of peat cutting. Fav

[Valerie Chesney]

Fascinating Issi & so different to here in OZ.

[leggzy]

A lovely looking hut....it would have been a very isolated time spent here

[Babs]

What a great find. fav.

[Casablanca]

Super find though gosh, how isolated that would have been

[bkb in the city]

Very interesting

[Margaret Brown]

This is so interesting, is this what they call But and Bens?

[LManning (Laura)]

A stunning capture. The blue door with that blue sky is perfection.

[Sally Ings]

They look rather remote

[haskar]

Very harsh life

[Pat Knowles]

Just going to say this but reminds me of NZ & then I read @julzmaioro comment….it looks very well maintained!

[Leslie]

very interesting ..not to much to maintain here ...simple times

[Bep]

Interesting capture.

[Ann H. LeFevre]

I love the almost monochromatic feel to this shot. It's beautiful. I can picture the scenario of a mum and her children summering here.

[Judith Johnson]

What a wonderful find on your walk. We're you able to enter the buildings?

[Kathy]

So isolated looking. And an interesting story.

[Islandgirl]

What a great find!

[Tom]

Fantastic photo, and story

[Milanie]

Does look lonesome - very nicely captured

[Shutterbug]

Love the comp and interesting narrative.

[Issi Bannerman]

@caterina Yes, still done on the western isles and in the northern isles of Orkney and Shetland.

[Issi Bannerman]

@busylady No - they are now privately owned and still used, to a certain extent, I believe.

[Issi Bannerman]

@craftymeg Not really - I think they might be either a but or a ben, but not both. I suspect these are one room only - the but and ben had a lounge and a bedroom.

[Sarah Bremner]

Oh....this makes me feel very nostalgic! Dad used to talk about the fun he and his pals would have out there, with no facilities to speak of!!! But when we were there they were too full of sheep droppings etc to appeal to me!!
If you were near Callanais.....the next village, Breasclete is where I spent every summer until I was about 14!

[Issi Bannerman]

@sarah19 Never got to Callanais or Breasclete, I'm afraid. We had a very short time in Lewis as we were heading south to meet up with the kids in Scarista. A lovely area though.