I have driven quite a number of times past the end of the road that goes to Rhenigidale, when we've been travelling on the main road between Stornoway Isle of Lewis and Tarbert Isle of Harris.
This trip having previously read a book written by the local postman (who still lives in the village) on the struggles that the people living there had to put up with before their sixty year campaign for a road to the village was actually agreed and road construction started.
The road was finally officially opened in 1990. Rhenigidale was I believe the last place in Scotland to be connected by road to the outside world. Prior to that all supplies were delivered by boat from the Isle of Scalpay. However the local postman walked from and to the village and Tarbert via a path that is now a heritage walking path named "The Postman's Path" it is approximately a four mile walk that the printed guides suggest timing your arrival at Rhenigidale to be able to catch a bus back to Tarbert, next time I visit I must do the walk as apparently it has excellent views.
I hope you enjoy this little road trip to Rhenigidale, as always your thoughts and comments welcome.
#1 Image taken from a viewpoint on the road, note the village (Maraig) on the far side of the loch was the nearest habitation to Rhenigidale that was connected to the road system on the Isle of Harris. On the left of the image you can see part of the road to Rhenigidale.
#2 Looking down to the end of the road at Rhenigidale with a view to the Shiant Isle (privately owned) on the distant horizon.
#3 The landing place at Rhenigidale the supplies to the village prior to the road being built were landed on the rocks at the left beyond the building.
This trip having previously read a book written by the local postman (who still lives in the village) on the struggles that the people living there had to put up with before their sixty year campaign for a road to the village was actually agreed and road construction started.
The road was finally officially opened in 1990. Rhenigidale was I believe the last place in Scotland to be connected by road to the outside world. Prior to that all supplies were delivered by boat from the Isle of Scalpay. However the local postman walked from and to the village and Tarbert via a path that is now a heritage walking path named "The Postman's Path" it is approximately a four mile walk that the printed guides suggest timing your arrival at Rhenigidale to be able to catch a bus back to Tarbert, next time I visit I must do the walk as apparently it has excellent views.
I hope you enjoy this little road trip to Rhenigidale, as always your thoughts and comments welcome.
#1 Image taken from a viewpoint on the road, note the village (Maraig) on the far side of the loch was the nearest habitation to Rhenigidale that was connected to the road system on the Isle of Harris. On the left of the image you can see part of the road to Rhenigidale.
#2 Looking down to the end of the road at Rhenigidale with a view to the Shiant Isle (privately owned) on the distant horizon.
#3 The landing place at Rhenigidale the supplies to the village prior to the road being built were landed on the rocks at the left beyond the building.
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