Tràigh na Beirigh

On the west coast of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, a two kilometre stretch of golden sands with hardly a footprint on it. ‘S math sin.

‘S math sin is a Gaelic phrase that found its into English. ‘S math sin is pronounced smashing and that exactly what it means.

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Lazy beds at Losgaintir

Lazy beds or feannagan in Gaelic are an ancient method of cultivation. Similar to ridge and furrow except lazy beds were dug by hand usually on the steepest slopes. The peat sods were cut into blocks and piled up in ridges inter-layered with seaweed fertiliser. Potatoes were the staple crop until the potato blight of the mid 19th century after which lazy beds fell out of fashion. These beds are looking over Caolas Tharasaigh or the Sound of Taransay on Harris.

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Burghead Bay

On the coast of the Moray Firth this week. This is Burghead Bay with Roseisle forest beyond the dunes on the right. The bunker and concrete blocks are WW2 defences. There was fear that the beach was vulnerable to a German invasion. Shifting sands have tilted the bunker. The beach was also used for landing practice for D-Day.