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Gruban

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Ross-shire

Scotland

Gruban

Restored Blackhouse at Arnol
Restored Blackhouse at Arnol Credit: David Martin

Gruban is a stunning coastal feature located in Ross-shire, Scotland. It is a headland that extends out into the North Sea, forming a prominent point along the coastline. With its rugged cliffs, picturesque scenery, and rich biodiversity, Gruban has become a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and tourists alike.

The headland is characterized by its steep cliffs, which rise majestically from the crashing waves below. These cliffs provide a nesting site for various seabird species, including puffins, guillemots, and razorbills. It is a haven for birdwatchers, who flock to the area to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

Gruban also offers panoramic views of the surrounding coastline, with its elevated position providing an ideal vantage point for taking in the beauty of the sea and the neighboring landscape. On clear days, visitors can even catch a glimpse of the distant mountains.

In addition to its natural beauty, Gruban is steeped in history. The headland has archaeological significance, with ancient ruins and artifacts dating back centuries. It is believed that the area was once inhabited by early settlers, leaving behind traces of their presence.

Access to Gruban is relatively easy, with a well-maintained walking trail leading visitors to the headland. The path meanders through breathtaking coastal scenery, allowing individuals to fully immerse themselves in the area's natural splendor.

Overall, Gruban is a must-visit destination for those seeking a combination of scenic beauty, wildlife observation, and historical exploration. Its captivating cliffs, diverse birdlife, and rich cultural heritage make it a truly remarkable coastal feature in Ross-shire.

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Gruban Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 58.351934/-6.606179 or Grid Reference NB3049. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Restored Blackhouse at Arnol
Restored Blackhouse at Arnol
Fuel supplies A stack of peat behind the Black House in Arnol.
Fuel supplies
A stack of peat behind the Black House in Arnol.
Central heating Black houses were heated by a peat fire on the floor of the living room. The smoke escaped through a hole in the roof. This example in Arnol village of a black house, which was lived in by a crofting family until 1966, is now maintained by Historic Scotland who still keep the home fires burning in the traditional way, with peat.
Central heating
Black houses were heated by a peat fire on the floor of the living room. The smoke escaped through a hole in the roof. This example in Arnol village of a black house, which was lived in by a crofting family until 1966, is now maintained by Historic Scotland who still keep the home fires burning in the traditional way, with peat.
Road junction The A858 where it passes the side road from Arnol.
Road junction
The A858 where it passes the side road from Arnol.
Loch na Muilne RSPB reserve Just so that Anne <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1344584">NB3149 : Loch na Muilne</a> doesn't feel too deprived, you can see red-necked phalaropes on the loch, if you're very lucky! A family who had been sharing the hide with us had almost reached their camper van a quarter of a mile away when two birds appeared from out of the bogbean and swam across several yards of open water to the next patch. If you zoom in and look to the near side of the flat water off the further mat of bogbean, you can just about make out the birds - honest!
Loch na Muilne RSPB reserve
Just so that Anne NB3149 : Loch na Muilne doesn't feel too deprived, you can see red-necked phalaropes on the loch, if you're very lucky! A family who had been sharing the hide with us had almost reached their camper van a quarter of a mile away when two birds appeared from out of the bogbean and swam across several yards of open water to the next patch. If you zoom in and look to the near side of the flat water off the further mat of bogbean, you can just about make out the birds - honest!
Scottish Salmon Fish Farm Fish farm situated on Abhainn Èirearrigh where it flows out of Loch Urghag.
Scottish Salmon Fish Farm
Fish farm situated on Abhainn Èirearrigh where it flows out of Loch Urghag.
Fish Farm Sales hut
Fish Farm Sales hut
Arnol, East Road End The junction of the road from Arnol with the A858.
Arnol, East Road End
The junction of the road from Arnol with the A858.
Derelict House at Arnol Arnol (Scottish Gaelic: Àrnol) is a small settlement on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. Once a thriving township with over forty crofts, it now has a much lower number of active crofters and several ruined houses can be seen in the area.
Derelict House at Arnol
Arnol (Scottish Gaelic: Àrnol) is a small settlement on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. Once a thriving township with over forty crofts, it now has a much lower number of active crofters and several ruined houses can be seen in the area.
Local Road at Arnol Arnol (Scottish Gaelic: Àrnol) is a small settlement on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. Once a thriving township with over forty crofts, it now has a much lower number of active crofters and several ruined houses can be seen in the area.
Local Road at Arnol
Arnol (Scottish Gaelic: Àrnol) is a small settlement on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. Once a thriving township with over forty crofts, it now has a much lower number of active crofters and several ruined houses can be seen in the area.
View towards Eilean Arnol Looking across the fields from the Arnol Blackhouse car park.
View towards Eilean Arnol
Looking across the fields from the Arnol Blackhouse car park.
The Arnol Blackhouse (taigh-dubh) Arnol (Scottish Gaelic: Àrnol) is a small settlement on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. Once a thriving township with over forty crofts, it now has a much lower number of active crofters and several ruined houses can be seen in the area. Taigh Tughaidh Àrnoil (The Arnol Blackhouse Museum) is at the north end of Arnol township on a site managed by Historic Environment Scotland and designated as a scheduled monument (SM90022 <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM90022" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM90022">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Historic Environment Scotland). The site comprises a group of domestic buildings including two traditional blackhouses and two stone-and-mortar-built croft houses (whitehouses). The two blackhouses were both built around 1880. Blackhouse no 42, on the east side of the road, is one of the best preserved blackhouses anywhere. It was one of the last to be built without windows or a chimney, linking it to medieval buildings that used an open hearth. Since being taken into state care in 1962, it has been restored to give visitors a sense of rural life over the last century. The byre roof was rebuilt in 1990. Adjacent to this, is a single-storey croft house into which the inhabitants of the blackhouse moved around 1962. This building is now uninhabited and has been refurbished internally for use as a visitor centre. On the western side of the road, Blackhouse no 39 was abandoned much earlier and now stands roofless. The croft house associated with this blackhouse was built in the 1920s and lies next to the road. It has two storeys and is covered by a pitched roof covered with felt. More information can be found in the Historic Environment Scotland Statement of Significance <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://app-hes-pubs-prod-neu-01.azurewebsites.net/api/file/e6e95e8d-991d-4204-b53a-b08800e28117" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://app-hes-pubs-prod-neu-01.azurewebsites.net/api/file/e6e95e8d-991d-4204-b53a-b08800e28117">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> (pdf file).
The Arnol Blackhouse (taigh-dubh)
Arnol (Scottish Gaelic: Àrnol) is a small settlement on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. Once a thriving township with over forty crofts, it now has a much lower number of active crofters and several ruined houses can be seen in the area. Taigh Tughaidh Àrnoil (The Arnol Blackhouse Museum) is at the north end of Arnol township on a site managed by Historic Environment Scotland and designated as a scheduled monument (SM90022 LinkExternal link Historic Environment Scotland). The site comprises a group of domestic buildings including two traditional blackhouses and two stone-and-mortar-built croft houses (whitehouses). The two blackhouses were both built around 1880. Blackhouse no 42, on the east side of the road, is one of the best preserved blackhouses anywhere. It was one of the last to be built without windows or a chimney, linking it to medieval buildings that used an open hearth. Since being taken into state care in 1962, it has been restored to give visitors a sense of rural life over the last century. The byre roof was rebuilt in 1990. Adjacent to this, is a single-storey croft house into which the inhabitants of the blackhouse moved around 1962. This building is now uninhabited and has been refurbished internally for use as a visitor centre. On the western side of the road, Blackhouse no 39 was abandoned much earlier and now stands roofless. The croft house associated with this blackhouse was built in the 1920s and lies next to the road. It has two storeys and is covered by a pitched roof covered with felt. More information can be found in the Historic Environment Scotland Statement of Significance LinkExternal link (pdf file).
Blackhouse, No 42 Arnol The roof is made from heathery turf, which is weighed down by rocks and ropes. Few trees grow in the area because of the boggy landscape and high winds; islanders needed to be resourceful with what was available
Blackhouse, No 42 Arnol
The roof is made from heathery turf, which is weighed down by rocks and ropes. Few trees grow in the area because of the boggy landscape and high winds; islanders needed to be resourceful with what was available
Taigh-Dubh Arnoil Blackhouse Museum The restored blackhouse, 42 Arnol.
Taigh-Dubh Arnoil Blackhouse Museum
The restored blackhouse, 42 Arnol.
Arnol Blackhouse, Byre The building consists of a byre-house, laid out north-south, with a central lobby dividing the byre from the living room and bedroom. A barn is attached to its east side. The people who lived in the blackhouses also kept animals for the household. These might have been sheep, goats, cows or horses. The animals were kept in a separate room, but still under the same roof which meant that they could be kept safe from the wind and the weather, and could also benefit from the warmth of the house. The animals kept in this room, also called a byre, would have eaten their meals here in winter. This might have been hay or other cereals, or it might have been seaweed, harvested from the rocks on the nearby shore. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://artsandculture.google.com/story/life-in-the-black-house-arnol-isle-of-lewis/qQXxNvHzGfyRFg?hl=en" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://artsandculture.google.com/story/life-in-the-black-house-arnol-isle-of-lewis/qQXxNvHzGfyRFg?hl=en">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Life in the Black House: Arnol, Isle of Lewis
Arnol Blackhouse, Byre
The building consists of a byre-house, laid out north-south, with a central lobby dividing the byre from the living room and bedroom. A barn is attached to its east side. The people who lived in the blackhouses also kept animals for the household. These might have been sheep, goats, cows or horses. The animals were kept in a separate room, but still under the same roof which meant that they could be kept safe from the wind and the weather, and could also benefit from the warmth of the house. The animals kept in this room, also called a byre, would have eaten their meals here in winter. This might have been hay or other cereals, or it might have been seaweed, harvested from the rocks on the nearby shore. LinkExternal link Life in the Black House: Arnol, Isle of Lewis
Arnol Blackhouse (interior) The design of the blackhouse is similar to houses found in stone-age settlements, suggesting that little had changed in the lifestyle of the islands for many years. When it was inhabited, a whole family would live in this room, making the most of the warmth of the fire. The fire burns peat and was kept burning all through the day and night. It was the way to cook the family meals, as well as being the gathering point during the long evenings. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://artsandculture.google.com/story/life-in-the-black-house-arnol-isle-of-lewis/qQXxNvHzGfyRFg?hl=en" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://artsandculture.google.com/story/life-in-the-black-house-arnol-isle-of-lewis/qQXxNvHzGfyRFg?hl=en">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Life in the Black House: Arnol, Isle of Lewis
Arnol Blackhouse (interior)
The design of the blackhouse is similar to houses found in stone-age settlements, suggesting that little had changed in the lifestyle of the islands for many years. When it was inhabited, a whole family would live in this room, making the most of the warmth of the fire. The fire burns peat and was kept burning all through the day and night. It was the way to cook the family meals, as well as being the gathering point during the long evenings. LinkExternal link Life in the Black House: Arnol, Isle of Lewis
Inside the Blackhouse at Arnol Arnol (Scottish Gaelic: Àrnol) is a small settlement on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. Once a thriving township with over forty crofts, it now has a much lower number of active crofters and several ruined houses can be seen in the area. Taigh Tughaidh Àrnoil (The Arnol Blackhouse Museum) is at the north end of Arnol township on a site managed by Historic Environment Scotland and designated as a scheduled monument (SM90022 <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM90022" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM90022">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> Historic Environment Scotland). The site comprises a group of domestic buildings including two traditional blackhouses and two stone-and-mortar-built croft houses (whitehouses). The two blackhouses were both built around 1880. Blackhouse no 42, on the east side of the road, is one of the best preserved blackhouses anywhere. It was one of the last to be built without windows or a chimney, linking it to medieval buildings that used an open hearth. Since being taken into state care in 1962, it has been restored to give visitors a sense of rural life over the last century. The byre roof was rebuilt in 1990. Adjacent to this, is a single-storey croft house into which the inhabitants of the blackhouse moved around 1962. This building is now uninhabited and has been refurbished internally for use as a visitor centre. On the western side of the road, Blackhouse no 39 was abandoned much earlier and now stands roofless. The croft house associated with this blackhouse was built in the 1920s and lies next to the road. It has two storeys and is covered by a pitched roof covered with felt. More information can be found in the Historic Environment Scotland Statement of Significance <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://app-hes-pubs-prod-neu-01.azurewebsites.net/api/file/e6e95e8d-991d-4204-b53a-b08800e28117" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://app-hes-pubs-prod-neu-01.azurewebsites.net/api/file/e6e95e8d-991d-4204-b53a-b08800e28117">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> (pdf file).
Inside the Blackhouse at Arnol
Arnol (Scottish Gaelic: Àrnol) is a small settlement on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. Once a thriving township with over forty crofts, it now has a much lower number of active crofters and several ruined houses can be seen in the area. Taigh Tughaidh Àrnoil (The Arnol Blackhouse Museum) is at the north end of Arnol township on a site managed by Historic Environment Scotland and designated as a scheduled monument (SM90022 LinkExternal link Historic Environment Scotland). The site comprises a group of domestic buildings including two traditional blackhouses and two stone-and-mortar-built croft houses (whitehouses). The two blackhouses were both built around 1880. Blackhouse no 42, on the east side of the road, is one of the best preserved blackhouses anywhere. It was one of the last to be built without windows or a chimney, linking it to medieval buildings that used an open hearth. Since being taken into state care in 1962, it has been restored to give visitors a sense of rural life over the last century. The byre roof was rebuilt in 1990. Adjacent to this, is a single-storey croft house into which the inhabitants of the blackhouse moved around 1962. This building is now uninhabited and has been refurbished internally for use as a visitor centre. On the western side of the road, Blackhouse no 39 was abandoned much earlier and now stands roofless. The croft house associated with this blackhouse was built in the 1920s and lies next to the road. It has two storeys and is covered by a pitched roof covered with felt. More information can be found in the Historic Environment Scotland Statement of Significance LinkExternal link (pdf file).
Blackhouse No 39 Arnol Blackhouse no 39 lies west of the road, but unlike no. 42 it was already abandoned as a house by the 1960s. It is now roofless. It consists of three parallel units built with random rubble walls packed with earth and clay; a central byre-house, lying east-west, is flanked on the north and south by shorter annexes.
Blackhouse No 39 Arnol
Blackhouse no 39 lies west of the road, but unlike no. 42 it was already abandoned as a house by the 1960s. It is now roofless. It consists of three parallel units built with random rubble walls packed with earth and clay; a central byre-house, lying east-west, is flanked on the north and south by shorter annexes.
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Gruban is located at Grid Ref: NB3049 (Lat: 58.351934, Lng: -6.606179)

Unitary Authority: Na h-Eileanan an Iar

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///buzzards.elders.furnish. Near Carloway, Na h-Eileanan Siar

Nearby Locations

Sgeir a' Chubhaig Geodh'an Tuill Rinn nan Gruban Geodha nan Còin Eilean Àrnol Mol a' Chladaich

Related Wikis

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 58.351934,-6.606179
Turning Circle
Lat/Long: 58.3503121/-6.5989906
OpenStreetMap
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Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.3502228/-6.5990024
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 58.3497056/-6.5989531
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Sgeir Ruadh a' Churachain Argyllshire
Rubha a' Bhuic Argyllshire

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