Garenin blackhouse village, Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland

Details

Accessibility

Brief description

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garenin

2024: "Garenin (Scottish Gaelic: Na Gearrannan) is a crofting township on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Garenin is in the Carloway municipality and has a population of about 80 people. It is also within the parish of Uig.[1] Today, the village is most famous for the "blackhouse village", which consists of nine restored traditional thatched cottages. The village is found at the end of the Garenin road beside the village bay. These houses were lived in until 1974 and were the last group of blackhouses to be inhabited in the Western Isles.[2] Piped water was not available in the village until the 1960s.[2]

In 1989, Urras nan Geàrrannan (The Garenin Trust) was established by the Western Isles Council to restore the houses. Over a decade later, on 5 June 2001, the project was complete and the restored village was opened by Princess Anne.[2]

The village is managed by Gearrannan Village Ltd. There was a youth hostel (opened by Magnus Magnusson on 3 July 1991;[2] managed by The Gatliff Trust), but this closed in May 2011. There are four self-catering cottages, a museum (a blackhouse set in 1955, three years after electricity arrived on the island)[2] and a resource centre; a café and a small gift shop are open in summer.

The Hollywood drama film The Road Dance was filmed there in 2020."

Address

Gearrannan Blackhouse Village

5A Garenin

Isle of Lewis

HS2 9AL

Email

Phone

Website

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/gearrannan-blackhouse-village-p255451

https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/see-and-do/gearrannan-blackhouse-village-p523651

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g551856-d584916-Reviews-Gearrannan_Blackhouse_Village-Carloway_Isle_of_Lewis_Lewis_and_Harris_Outer_Hebrides_Th.html

Directions

Opening Times

Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change

Transport

Amenities

Toilets

+ Garenin Village Viewpoint

Isle of Lewis

HS2 9AL

+ Gearrannan Car Park

2

26 Garenin

Isle of Lewis HS2 9AL