Garenin
Encyclopedia
Lewis
Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is ....
in the Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
of Scotland. Garenin is in the Carloway
Carloway
Carloway is a district situated in the parish of Uig on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides. The district has a population of around 500.- The District :...
municipality and has a population of about 80 people. Today the village is most famous for the Blackhouse Village, which consists of 9 restored traditional thatched cottages. The village is found at the end of the Garenin road beside the village bay. These houses were lived in till 1974 and were the last group of blackhouse
Black house
A blackhouse is a traditional type of house which used to be common in the Highlands of Scotland, the Hebrides, and Ireland.- Origin of the name :...
s to be inhabited in the Western Isles.
In 1989 Urras nan Geàrrannan (The Garenin Trust) was established to restore the houses. Over a decade later the project was complete and the restore Blackhouse village was opened by HRH Princess Anne.
The Blackhouse Village is managed by Gearrannan Village Ltd and offers a wide range of services to both tourists and the local community. There was a Youth Hostel (managed by The Gatliff Trusthttp://www.gatliff.org.uk/)but this closed in May 2011, however there are still four self-catering cottages. There is a Café, a museum (a blackhouse set in 1955), a resource centre and a small gift shop. The Village is open all year apart from the gift shop and café which are open during the summer months.
The Blackhouse Village has a website which allows you to book one of the self-catering cottages online.