Peter May's Lewis Thrillers - Tobson

About

The image on the cover of The Black Loch is the house at Tobson where Peter imagined Caitlin to live.

Tobson is the village on Great Bernera near the salmon cages where Caitlin, the murdered girl in The Black Loch, lived with her mother Ailsa. Fin visits this throughout The Black Loch to unravel the truth behind Caitlin’s parentage.

This is also where Peter May partly based the fictitious location of An Loch Dubh ‘The Black Loch’, unspecified exactly where, but near East Loch Roag, and possibly on Great Bernera – this is where Caitlin’s body is found at the beginning of The Black Loch. The cottage that Caitlin and Fionnlagh use to conduct their affair sits atop the black rocks above (see the book cover).

“The handful of houses at Tobson clustered around a small bay on the west coast of the island, and were reached by a single-track that left the main road north to Bosta. Set on cliffs looking towards the scattered islets of Fuaigh Mòr, Bhàcasaigh and Pabaigh Mòr, the house that Niall Black had built for his family boasted one of the most breathtaking sunset views on the island.”

Extract from The Black Loch by Peter May. 

Things to do around Great Bernera

There are several things to do around Great Bernera. You can visit Bosta, where you'll find a beautiful beach and the reconstructed Iron Age house. Enjoy the circular Great Bernera walk, which offers scenic views of the island’s landscape. A visit to the Bernera Museum is also worthwhile, providing fascinating insights into the local history and culture.