Geàrrannan Blackhouse Village

About the museum

Geàrrannan, also spelled Garenin, is a village of traditional blackhouses on the Atlantic coast of Lewis. Its houses were built in the 1800s, after crofters gained more security of tenure, and replaced an older settlement on a nearby hill. Life here centred on crofting, fishing and weaving, and in the 1920s women from the village travelled the herring ports processing fish. Harris Tweed weaving grew after five Hattersley looms arrived in 1936, electricity came in 1952 and piped water in the early 1960s.

Population fell as young people left, and in 1974 the last residents moved to council houses nearby. The village was designated an outstanding conservation area in 1976 as the only surviving blackhouse village in the islands. In 1989 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar set up the Garenin Trust, Urras nan Geàrrannan, to preserve and develop it. The first restored blackhouse was completed in 1991, and a final phase from 1999 added self-catering houses, a cafeteria, an interpretation building and a working blackhouse set in the 1950s.

Today visitors can walk through the village, see the museum exhibition and a furnished blackhouse, watch Harris Tweed weaving on a single-width loom, and hear storytelling. A cafe and shop are in the first blackhouse at the entrance. The trust also lets cottages and a hostel in the village all year round.

Highlights

• Restored blackhouse village on the Atlantic coast
• Museum exhibition and working blackhouse set in the 1950s
• Harris Tweed weaving on a single-width loom
• Cafe and shop in the first blackhouse
• Self-catering cottages and hostel in the village

Permanent exhibition

• Museum exhibition and working blackhouse – An exhibition on village life and a furnished blackhouse set in the 1950s, with Harris Tweed weaving and storytelling.

Founded

1989

Operated by

Urras nan Geàrrannan (Garenin Trust)

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The village has gravel paths and historic buildings; the team is happy to answer questions about accessibility on 01851 643416 or info@gearrannan.com. One self-catering cottage, Taigh Glass, and the hostel are marked as adapted houses.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The village is signposted and is about 45 minutes by car from Stornoway, about 20 to 25 minutes from the Callanish Stones and about 1 hour 15 minutes from the Tarbert ferry terminal.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Cafe and shop in the first blackhouse at the village entrance. Picnic tables are available.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit