Occupied until the late 1970s, when the elderly residents were moved to more easily maintained homes, the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village in Scotland is a "gorgeous" island community that has been frozen in time.
Now a conservation area, the community is one of the most authentic museums depicting the daily lives of crofters anywhere in the country.
The coastal village on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, comprises several blackhouses which have been painstakingly restored.
Blackhouses are a style of home which survived for centuries before almost disappearing in the latter half of the 20th century, according to the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village website.
Visit Scotland states that the village has now become a popular location for those coming to the island and has a number of family cottages available for self-catering accommodation, the nearby Dalmore and Dalbeg beaches and opportunities to observe traditional activities like the weaving of the famous Harris Tweed.
See the 'gorgeous' town on a stunning Scottish island that is frozen in time
The Gearrannan Blackhouse Village in Scotland has received much praise from visitors over the years, with Tripadvisor users giving the site a 4.6/5 out of 182 reviews
One person said: "A really great museum and living blackhouse community to visit.
They added: "The staff are helpful and willing to explain so much. Other blackhouses in that village are for holiday rental and a great way to sustain the museum and the Trust that runs it. Well worth a visit."
A second visitor said: "Loved it here... Gorgeous views and lovely staff at the tea room... We visited with the dogs, and this was no hassle at all, which makes travelling with dogs so much easier... Great gift shop and great tea room."
Recommended Reading:
-
The 'extraordinary' Neolithic village in Scotland that's older than the Pyramids
-
Why this 'breathtaking' and 'otherworldly' beach is named the best in Scotland
-
See the 'incredibly beautiful' castle which once housed Scotland's crown jewels
Another added: "Such an excellent little place to stay. Stunning views. Very cosy. Clean.
"Lots of supplies for self-catering. Close proximity to excellent walks. Great cultural/historical experience of living in a blackhouse, except with modern luxuries, of course. Close to the Callanish stones and Dun Carloway Broch, and Iron Age sites."
One penned: "If you're on the Isle of Lewis, many stop by Gearrannan Blackhouse Village because it is the oldest surviving blackhouse village in Scotland. Very few visitors who pass through, however, realise that in addition to being a museum, it operates as a hostel and has its own set of self-catering cottages."
