3 Best Sights in The Northern Highlands and the Western Isles, Scotland

In the small community of Arnol, the Blackhouse is a well-preserved example of an increasingly rare type of traditional Hebridean home. Common throughout the islands as recently as the mid-20th century, these dwellings were built without mortar and thatched on a timber framework without eaves. Other characteristic features include an open central peat hearth and the absence of a chimney (hence "blackhouse," from all the soot). Inside, you'll find half the house designated for family life, complete with many original furnishings, and the other half a stable for animals. Opposite is the White House, built later when houses were no longer allowed to accommodate humans and animals together.

Situated at the end of a side road north from Carloway, Gearrannan is an old coastal crofting village that has been brought back to life as a living museum with excellent guided tours evoking its past. You can stay in one of the restored blackhouses here if you want a unique (if no-frills) stay; it's £20 a night for a hostel bunk or £65 for a family room. There is also a small gift shop and café.

Billed as "a museum without walls," this collection of 13 open-air, geological and social exhibits dots the landscape of the peninsula. Follow the map along the coastal route, and you will discover dinosaur footprints, a healing well, a deserted village, and more.