Lochs
Ravenspoint Centre operates a community shop and cafe. The attached hostel is an excellent base to explore the wild and rugged landscape where sea eagles and golden eagles soar. Wild deer roam over the hills and the fresh water lochs are excellent for fishing brown trout.
Aline Forest on the main Lochs to Harris road is a community owned woods. There is an ongoing initiative to develop trails, horseriding, and biking within the forest. Cailleach na Mointeach, the Sleeping Beauty associated with the moor-rise at the Callanish Stones is seen at her best profile from Balallan.
St Columba
Ruins of a circular external stone wall is remaining evidence of a broch on an islet in Loch Cromore. Originally Dun Cromor was a galleried broch with 17 large steps rising to an upper level.
Lower sea levels some 2000 years ago allowed its occupiers access off the islet at low tide over a narrow causeway which can be spotted underwater. However, it is now inaccessible without a boat but the ruins can be properly seen from high ground by the shore.
Nearby, the ruins of a church dedicated to sits on a small island which takes the saint’s name. In the 1500s islanders looked upon Eilean Chaluim Chille (St Columba’s island) as a localised focal point for Celtic Christianity.
There is no record of St Columba himself being here and it is thought that a church was first built here, years after his death, around 800AD by Celtic pilgrims who followed his teachings.
Worship may well have taken place on the island about 800AD and people were still buried there until the late 1800s. Access is from Crobeg via a semi-submerged stone pathway which dries at low water.