Dalmore - Tales of a Lewis Village - Paperback

by Donald John MacLennan (Author)

Donald John Maclennan was born at 5 Dalmore on the West coast of The Isle of Lewis in The Outer Hebrides in a 'modern' version of a traditional black house and was the only child to have been born at No. 5. Although he returned to his parents' home in Renfrewshire he spent much of his childhood visiting his grandparents and relatives 'back home' in Dalmore. Dalmore is known today for its picturesque tourist beach but has a rich history of its own and was once home to a vibrant village community. This book contains a series of tales from that time together with personal reminiscences of growing up in Dalmore. A time of black houses and great stories, ghost stories, war stories, stories of the hills and stories of the seas. It records that thriving rural life and the characters and language inhabiting it. The old highland life, its food, the moors, the shepherds, the peat and the wild beauty all around all have their part to play in the story of Dalmore. Donald retains fond memories of his life in Dalmore and is now, probably, the only person alive who can remember the 'old' days. No 5 Dalmore was abandoned in 1974 and little remains of the old village today.

Author Biography

Donald John Maclennan was born in a traditional Hebridean blackhouse in the village of Dalmore on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis during the Second World War after his mother returned home to escape the dangers of bombing in Glasgow. Although the family returned to the mainland Donald spent all of his boyhood summers back 'home' in Lewis and witnessed the last days of traditional crofting in Dalmore. Donald now lives just outside Glasgow but continues to visit his spiritual home on the Isle of Lewis.