A very sad event has propelled the island of Lewis, and specifically the beach at Tolsta to international headlines. Fifty-five pilot whales beached themselves on the one-and-half mile long beach, 15 miles north of Stornoway, early on Sunday morning. All but one died. It was thought that one female became distressed whilst giving birth, and ended up in shallow waters as the tide went out. Fifteen survived the intial strandings, one was helped back out to sea, but the others had to be euthanised. It is thought to have been the biggest stranding of whales in the United Kingdom for 70 years.
I love Tràigh Mhòr Tolastadh, to give the beach its Gaelic name. The cetaceans appear to have come aground on the southern portion of the beach, near the cemetery. Many's a time I've ambled down its sands, head in the wind - and in company as well. But there will now be a sad edge to a future revisit.
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