21st Century Mark II Black House In the Western Isles. Scotland - Full Plans Available

Great Bernera, Isle of Lewis. In the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. This 21st century house copies some of the design details of the original Black House which was the standard Island type of house until the 1850s which was then replaced by the White House. The original Black house layout used space in an economical way with no corridors and few amenities. This Mark II Blackhouse has been updated with modern materials, good facilities and fantastic insulation to future proof it against expected energy cost increases. The site for this new house is unique in that an existing derelict white house and black house are also there and ripe for future restoration.

The Isle of Lewis..........no yellow lines on the roads to stop you parking the car, free parking, beautiful scenery, uncongested roads, fresh and clean air, clean seas, fresh fish, lovely silver beaches Kirkibost is on the Island of Great Bernera, connected to the mainland by a bridge on the west coast. Its not to be confused with another Kirkibost on the Isle of Skye

People have asked about the name ‘estate’…………I don’t have a better answer than ‘why not’

Building Land in Isle of Lewis. 0.53HA............see link

If you would like to build a house similar to this - Detailed Plans on Autocad are available

If you would like to receive periodic progress updates of the build, including pictures, just email your contact details 

Land can be viewed on UK Land Directory

Luxury detached single story house and garage for sale along with approximately 9 acres of land with own bay/beach/waterfall. Excellent opportunity for anyone wanting to purchase their dream home in this sought after area of the Western Isles. Designed with a very high degree of insulation in walls (390mm/floors250mm/ceiling 400mm plus Traryd Fonster triple glazing and multifuel woodstove. Pictures show a sample of Siberian Larch intended for the external cladding. Registered farm with business reference number offers possibilities for small holding or other business use. Spacious 25 x 11 metre / 275 square metre 2 bedroom bungalow with two large ensuite bedrooms, large central open plan kitchen/lounge/office (11 x 10 metre) and two utility rooms. Space for 6 cars. Land also contains stone house and Black House which can be restored with the help of 75% grant (ask for details) - survey report and draft project plan available on request. Area behind stone house has been excavated to facilitate future restoration. Beautiful views over East Loch Roag and not far from Bosta beach and Callanish stones.

Stone houses can be converted to rented holiday accommodation or other commercial use for additional income and land can be used for agricultural purposes. Reeds growing on site can be harvested for sale to reed bed owners. This house and land has some wonderful views, is a good place for a family home and also represents an ideal investment opportunity. If all aspects are developed properly the purchaser could substantially increase its value. Part of this land has received offers to purchase, which have been declined so that new owner can decide either benefit from or decline. Services to the stone houses will be laid on to allow easy connection. Survey and conversion plan for stone houses is available
 
25 miles from Stornoway. Local community centre, primary school and post office/shop/petrol station.

 

What is a white house and black house? The black house is a long single story dry stone structure which was the main Isle of lewis house design that predominated on the Island up until the early 1900’s. It had an open hearth for cooking and heating, a turf roof with one end for human habitation and the other end for the family cow. I presume it was called a black house because the inside was covered in soot. Wall thickness could be up to 2 metres. The white house was a two story structure and the dry stone walls were held together with lime mortar and the outside was rendered with lime mortar, hence the name ‘white house’   Great Bernera has many small villages such as Bosta, Croir, Tobson, Breaclete, Valasay, Hacklete, Barraglom, Earshader, Kirkibost, Totarol, and surrounded by sea lochs East Loch Roag, Loch Roag, West Loch Roag. To the west is Uig and the north is Little Bernera seperated by a water channel. Callanish (or Callanais) and Gearrannan is a short drive away.  Great Bernera is joined to the Lewis mainland by the Great Bernera Bridge. Alistair Darling has a house on the Island and Prince Robin or Count Mirrlees the Island landowner is situated in Kirkibost. I will add details, pictures and pdf downloads over time.

Alistair Harley

Callanish or Calanais Standing Stones 

Gearannan Black House Village

Bosta Iron Age House on Great Bernera

 see directions from Stornoway to Kirkibost

see directions from Tarbert, Harris to Kirkibost

How to get to the Isle of Lewis - Fly from Gatwick and other airports to Inverness, and direct flight to Stornoway or bus/ferry to Stornoway

EasyJet                        Flybe 

by train to Inverness, book with Raileasy and bus to Ullapool and ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway

Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry service from Uig on Isle of Sky to Tarbert on Harris

Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry service from Ullapool to Stornoway

National Express Bus service to Inverness and choice of fly or bus/ferry to Stornoway

Bus service timetable between Ullapool and Inverness

please see