We woke on Lismore to pouring rain and a very blustery wind whipping up white topped waves along Loch Linnhe.

After a long breakfast and a morning of catching up on administrative tasks we drove to Lismore’s Heritage Centre, a lively islander and visitor resource with its community run museum, library, gift shop and cafe.

Alongside the centre stands a rebuilt 19th century ‘cottar’s house’ which shows off the old island skills of building as well as the furnishings and goods necessary for day to day crofting two to three hundred years ago.

Today, it’s dark presence appeared in keeping with the stormy sky.