The 44 best things to do in Lewis and Harris

Came here 4 years ago and I loved so knew I had to come back especially when i learnt there was a hostel on site. We stayed a couple weeks ago at the hostel with my girlfriend and we had the BEST time. Amaizng staff showed us around. Hostel inside the black house is really nice. Lovely to walk around the village after it is closed. 10/10 so clean, so friendly so modern too. I have told all my friends to stay here. The village is also a must see. We loved our stay! It was £35 each for the night and we also had the place to ourselves. Did I mention the kitchen is crazy good??

It was interesting to see the replica village and mode of built structures from the outside. The place offers accommodation but little else. Almost a form of glamping. There were no historical examples set up of the interior of a black house which was disappointing and entry to most places was off limits due to paying guests. Was not deeply satisfying.

This is a beautiful black house village. There is one set up as a museum, so you can get an idea of how life was. The rest have been converted & you can stay in them. I actually stayed here a few years back & it was one of my most treasured stays ever! Loved it. So this holiday, I went back for a visit to reminisce

Fantastic experience if visiting the area. Plenty of parking The black house village is so well preserved and has some wonderful exhibitions/ videos. The volunteers were very welcoming and happy to answer questions when Inside and gave some great family history to the previous inhabitants.

If you want to Experience Life as it would have been, out on the Wild Atlantic Coast, I Highly Recommended a Visit to the Blackhouse Village, The Beautifully Thatched Blackhouses, gives you the opportunity to see and Feel what people of that Generation, had.... Situated on Dramatic Coastline, there are people on hand to tell you all about how Life was in those Days...its a Fascinating place....There is a Small cafe, serving Hot & Cold Drinks, Homemade Baking and small selection of Snack meals and a Special, which when we Visited was Herring in Oatmeal ( Traditional 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿) Some of the Cottages are Available for Self-catering Accommodation, PLEASE check the Website for the Detail on Prices and Booking.... I really Loved the Atmosphere of the Blackhouses...Highly Recommended... Enjoy ☀️ 😉

Reconstructed black houses (taighean dubha) like the one in Glencoe are all very well but these ones were actually lived in until relatively recently. There is a small entrance fee to be paid as you go through the gift shop and in return you get to wander through this little hamlet if traditional Hebridean black houses. More interestingly you get access to the museum house and the helpful guides inside; one in the furnished room and one in charge of the weed loom. I had enjoyable conversations with both despite the steady trickle of other visitors (it was raining a fair deal do the village wasn't that full - although the car park was!).You can visit two of the houses but remember the others are holiday lets with guests in them. This was a really enjoyable visit and is well worth making a detour to visit.

Was very busy, but seeing a blackhouse that was only vacated in the 70's was a wow moment. Most of the village is now holiday lets etc so you can only get into 2 of the blackhouses. Parking is not easy as the car park was very busy. There's a café on site, the soup was gorgeous, but it's also quite expensive compared with other places we visited. The floors are very uneven and the doorways are quite small, but what a brilliant experience.

Amazing Broch tower which was built around 7BC, a wee display before going up the hill to the Broch gives an idea of how the inside might have been. Be warned it is very windy up on the hill but the views are amazing. Nice wee gift shop there too with a lovely helpful proprietor.

2000 year old fortress from the iron age. Beautiful and inspiring ruin. You really feel the history and it starts to move your fantasy. Impressive how well it stood the test of time. You can enter it if you can bend down far enough to fit through the small gate. The site has nice info that shows a reconstructed variant and some history.

A visit to the Broch is a step backwards into history. With a little imagination you can picture how it looked in the past. An easy walk up a short hill on a well tended path will allow you to even step into its structure. Beautiful views from where it rest on the top of the knoll.

Unassuming but quite fantastic piece of history. Amazing such a structure is still standing. The visitor centre is a must visit to explain the origins of the Broch. Well worth the time to visit.

Dun Carloway Broch is an easy stop on any drive around the western loop of Harris. No entry fee but donations can be made inside the small information centre which also has decent toilets. Walk around, walk inside and up the stairs, but watch your head in the very low entry points. But for the best pictures walk up the hill opposite and look down.

Beautiful place with lovely views around. Parking nearby, with informative signs about the history od the Broch. Short walkie to the actual tower ruin. Apparently it is one of the best preserved brochs in Scotland. Worth visiting!

This impressive ruins of an iron age Broch is one of the best preserved in the Western Isles. Brochs and wheelhouse are unique ro Iron Age Scotland and this one allows a glimpse into how they were constructed with a stairway between the outer and inner walls. Access is free and there is a small information xentre maintained by the local Urras or trust (you have to pay yo use the toilets though). Parking is sufficient and free and there are a couple of tourist shops on the other side of the road.

Harris is an absolutely stunning place, between the mountains and the most beautiful beaches you'll ever see it's hard to beat.

Beautiful place. Amazing experience

What can I say but beautiful sandy beaches. Not a lot open while we were there except Sam's Seafood Shack which is in Rodel, a must if you are near. The harbour was just lovely, traditional and tranquil with at least 3 places to pitch up for the night. All and all an amazing part of Scotland.

One of the most stunning and spectacular places in the world. Lots of white sandy beaches and clear blue seas. Most famously known for Harris Tweed and more recently Harris gin. Both distillery and tweed shops in Tarbet are worth a visit. There are no ammenities anywhere on a Sunday. Would advise to stock up on provisions and arrange any transport such as car or bike hire on the Saturday. Some areas can be very windy, warm clothing is a must. Locals are very friendly and welcoming and advise hitch hiking if no transport available. Each time I visited somewhere staff went out their way to help. From the Tarbet hotel, when we arrived late and the kitchen was closed the chef reopened and prepared a meal, to the tweed shop where they advised on tweed cutting service at no additional costs, the hostel staff who spent their own time pouring over maps to show us where to go and the Harris distillery staff who gave out free samples. There is lots of driving.Would recommend a full week to see most of the sights here, however it it definately worth it.

One of most beautiful islands. Wildlife, history, fishing galore and most amazing beaches you could ever wish to see.

The Isle of Harris and Lewis is a breath taking part of the Scottish Highlands with a dramatic landscape made up of ancient mountains and long white sand beaches that have been untouched by the hands of time it has alot of interesting things to do and is rich with history and culture some of these places you can visit such as the standing stones and the black Houses provide a deep insite to the history of the island and there is plenty of modern convenients that are situated in the town of Stornoway such as a tesco and co-op and a cinema there is also a sports centre that have indoor activities such as swimming and climbing for the whole family it truly is a good place to visit.

What a beautiful island. The beaches are spectacular, the scenery is fantastic and the gin is great too, will be back next year

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Move over Stonehenge — the Callanish Stones make you realise what a tourist circus Wiltshire has become. Here on the Isle of Lewis, you get the real deal: raw, mystical, and totally unspoiled. No barriers, no gift shop frenzy, no queues — just ancient stones, wild skies, and the sound of the wind whispering through 5,000 years of history. It’s genuinely awe-inspiring and a bit haunting too. Standing here feels spiritual, almost otherworldly — you can sense the past breathing around you. Forget Stonehenge’s selfie sticks — this is where the true magic of ancient Britain still lives. Absolutely phenomenal.

A must for anyone visiting the Isle of Lewis and Harris. Stunning location and wonderful stones. Takes a bit of planning if going on public transport. Top tip - go on a day when the Alpacca farm is open as there's nowhere else nearby for coffee and snacks

The Calanais Standing Stones are a very impressive sight, far more impressive than the pictures here led me to believe. There’s no visitor centre here at the moment, so just park at the top of the hill next to the ruined building marked as “Fairy Freak Designs” and it’s a very short walk in. There’s great views from close up, right inside, or a little further away, and good information boards.

Many more stones than I expected and bigger! Just loved this place. A bus load just left so we almost had the visit to ourselves at 4 o'clock under a moody sky...

When the visitors centre is finished this will be an even fabulous experience. I sincerely hope it won’t be something that is chargeable. It appears that all the money for the centre was from funding so no capital needed. ANYWAY the stones……brilliant information boards and such a magical place. Was windy on the day we visited as demonstrated in the flappy ears in Beau.

The stones are worth seeing if you're on Harris. The homes directly around it make it less scenic than I imagined as does the construction of the huge visitor center. The views would be lovely otherwise.

Great for history lovers, remarkable how they seemingly blend into the surroundings. It was fairly busy when we arrived, so taking photos without people in the background was challenging but expected. You only need to spend 15-20mins to see it.

Really nice castle with the ground floor open for tours. Upper floors are private residences. Interesting museum on site with a history of the island and culture. Small gift shop and café with coffee and light snacks.

A lovely castle and grounds. The attached museum is a fantastic place. At the time of our visit six of the Lewis Chessmen were on display. The cafe is also lovely. We had lovely soup served by young, friendly people.

We walked to the Lews Castle from Stornoway and spent longer there than we had intended walking around the vast gardens. The Castle was setting up for a wedding so we had a quick look inside. It looked very nice with huge rooms. The grounds are extensive and really well maintained for their size. Highly recommend visiting.

Stayed here for two nights on Stornaway. A little separated from the rest of town it is connected by a short but lovely walk through the grounds. The rooms are spacious and well furnished. Breakfast is not included but there is a cafe on the ground floor open most days. Parking is plentiful. The castle itself is beautiful inside and out. It's lit up nicely at night making a good beacon to walk home from one of the many good restaurants nearby. It also doubles as an event, including weddings, and the rooms used are gorgeous.

A beautiful bit of architecture situated in a fascinatingly beautiful non-native area. There's a cafe inside, though I can't attest to its food. I was slightly dissapointed by the interior of the Castle itself (which this review is for) since its all converted over to a venue. Its still nice to look at though!

Went for park run and grounds are a fine walk. The castle itself is a hotel, cafe and function hire place. Not really a castle that you can tour round. It's free to go in to the cafe and shop so you can see a little bit of it.

Although there is no furniture inside it has a beautiful watercolour painted either side of fireplace in one room and lovely views from the windows. The grounds are lovely too and cafe worth a visit. Owned by Lever of domestic washing products in its heyday.

Not open for the public. Some nice views on the way.

Should you put this place on your list? Obviously. Is it worth it? Yes! Breathtaking nature. And if you go (very) early in the morning, it's gonna be just you and the ocean.

45 minutes drive from Stornoway. Roads that go to the Horizon for miles. Once there , marked parking bays . Benches for picnic. Great views of the sea .

Very clean and does not smell of fish or salty air. It's Free of trash and other foreign objects. We went during a full moon and had a blast.

Deep cliff with beautiful views. Just beware of flies which sting. Take precaution while wandering around.

End of the Hebridean Way Cycle route

Great place to visit. Lovely lighthouse, cliffs, sea birds, sheep and weather!

Lovely beach. Again, been here in all weathers and is absolutely stunning. Everyone flocks to this beach, however, there are alot of just as nice, if not nicer, beaches in Lewis too, this one i think seems to be everyone's "to do".

Absolutely breath-taking! Very serene and peaceful! We could have spent all day just taking in the views! The water is stunning and with the mountains in the background, it’s just gorgeous! There are toilets available by the parking lot.

Absolutely stunning beach on the west coast of the Isle of Harris. I visited recently with my daughter on a beautiful 27 degree sunny day and have to say we were blown away by the beauty. I've been to alot of beaches in Scotland but this has to be the best, truly outstanding! We both went for a swim, but I had to put a wetsuit on as the water was pretty cold! Get there early as the car park fills up very quickly.

The most beautiful beach I've ever seen. Dramatic light, landscape, and weather. Stunning.

Absolutely fantastic beach, just as was expected, big waves and water so clear it's crazy, luskentyre beach car park is small, if you can't park, head further around the bay, seilebost beach was quite quiet when we passed by.

Amazing beach with a hardly a soul around because they had all been taken by the wind to Norway. Bring protective glasses and wing proof clothes,if you don't need them ,then you've had an exceptional time. Diving birds are a joy to watch.

This is one of the most beautiful and stunning beaches that I've ever been to and was fortunate to go there again last week. The views are gorgeous and the pale coloured sand and turquoise sea are just sublime. Not a big parking area, but there are toilet facilities and not far up the road, a little place to get refreshments. Please respect this place and leave no trace of your visit.

Feel the mighty power of the Atlantic ocean as it crashes into the millennial rocks here, as a variety of seabirds swoop and soar before settling on the cliffs below. There are no facilities other than community-funded toilets which are just fine, but pack a lunch and some waterproofs for a satisfying wander over the machair tracing the northwestern tip of the British Isles.

Amazing scenery looking out from the lighthouse area. Not sure if the lighthouse open to public as well were there on a Sunday. Stunning beach on left as you leave on exit road

Brilliant place. Be careful of the sheer drops over the cliff edges. No protection and little warning so if you have kids be extra careful.

This is a spectacular place which should be visited . It's free of charge including car parking. It is also easy to access for wheelchair and elderly people. The seagulls are everywhere and now with their little ones🤩🤩🤩🤩 you can also see some shags, gannet and Atlantíc grey seals 🦭 Additionally, bench with wooden table is here for picnic if you want to bring your own food and public bathroom. I am highly recommending visiting this fabulous beautiful place. And the sheep are all around walking freely.

The Butt of Lewis Lighthouse is absolutely stunning! The dramatic cliffs and endless ocean views make it one of the most breathtaking spots on the Isle of Lewis. Even on a windy day, it feels wild and powerful, and you really get a sense of the edge of the world. The walk around the area is beautiful, with seabirds soaring and waves crashing below. Definitely worth the trip if you’re exploring the Outer Hebrides!

First off, it is just a lighthouse at the far end of the Isles of Lewis and Harris. You cannot enter the lighthouse, you cannot go up to the top. That said, it is in a terrific location (down a single track road) and we were lucky enough to be there on a lovely sunny day when it wasn't too windy. The coastline is suitably rocky so when the waves are up for it, it is enthralling to watch them smash on the rocks. Some days there is a coffee truck there which is pretty good value for money.

I was there in the daytime in some really bright sunlight so I unfortunately didn't get to see the lighthouse with its lights on. I couldn't possibly review it fairly from a daytime visit and not even on the sea. Sorry. Im sure it's a very helpful lighthouse in a storm.

The Thai Cafe uses the restaurant space in the evening between 1600 - 2200 on Tues - Sat. A great selection of menu options and such a great view over the harbour when you're having your meal. An Lanntair Arts Centre is a great facility to have in Stornoway and is improved by having this dining option available. Book a table though!

Lol velt art gallery downstairs and a shop with a cafe and more artwork upstairs. Only thing is that the artwork upstairs is behind where people sit to eat and drink so you have to peer over them to see the art. Not ideal. No parking so find a roadside space or park at Tesco only a 3 minute walk. All free

Beautiful modern venue with large capacity and current streaming technology for large events. Very friendly staff at the café, Thai restaurant open in the evening.

Art gallery and creative space - certainly the largest such space in the Western Idles. Downstairs is an art gallery along with a gift and bookshop. There is a good cafe upstairs. There aren't any parking facilities but Stornoway does have a fair amount of parking spaces.

Another visit to The Thai Cafe now in An Lanntair. Food wonderful as usual with friendly prompt service. The new location adds to the experience. Will hopefully be back before going home. Recommended

A wonderful, creative, multi functional place. Gifts, crafts, food, music. Theatre and film

Lovely cafe! Staff are soo friendly! View of harbour. Very warm and sunny! The art shop gets so many cool stuffs. Bought quite a few items

The distillery is set within a beautiful building in a nicely set location close to the Skye ferry. We arrived near closing when the staff were trying their best to serve everyone left in the shop. Yet they took the time to offer a sample and I also was able to buy a dram at the bar and enjoy it by their lovely welcoming peat fire. In the shop they sell their whisky releases and their wonderful gin as well as the sugar kelp that makes their gin taste uniquely delicious. Tours are available but we arrived too late. Hospitality was generous despite the hour, and the elderly members of our party were welcomed to sit inside while we fetched the car. The sample was served without water and to me the spirit still seemed pretty young and a touch too hot. I think the bar staff served the dram with tap water rather than spring water but maybe the local water is just that good. Whatever, the water did the trick, unlocking clean malty grain flavours in their bourbon cask offering. The whisky's finish is long and warming, like the sound of a bell that resonates long after it strikes the hour. (It is still ringing in my memory.) I didn't buy a bottle only because I found out that it was available at my local spirits shop. According to what I've read, this distillery has done everything right - serving the community, adhering to natural processes and flavours, building their whisky business on their gin business, and sticking to a strategy without gimmicks. It is difficult to judge the price, which is higher than Ledaig 10, and might strike some as unreasonable, but I think this unique whisky will compete very well once it reaches its first decade, if not before. When I returned home I found a delicious gift someone got for me: the Isle of Harris' first sherried whisky. This and the Cotswolds are now among my favourites of the "newer" distilleries along with Arndamurchan and Wolfburn. Among these, the Isle of Harris distillery stands apart in its laser focus on a smaller set of varieties rather than producing various special releases in a multitude of different casks. I appreciate this old school approach.

The distillery was a destination for me and I was happy to purchase a limited edition ceramic bottle. I only wish there were some small bites available and more cocktail options. They have a beautiful store. Definitely a place to stop by on the way to Stornoway.

Exceptional whisky tour, learnt a huge amount about Harris’ history and the distilling process thanks to Jackie’s expert guided tour. The shop is fab and worth a visit even if you can’t get a tour - loved hearing about Burr Bakewell and the legacy of founding a distillery by and for the people of Harris.

Had an excellent time here doing the Haerach tour. Our guide Mary was a wealth of information. I can highly recommend the tour, even if you have done a few already. The stills are something you will not see in other distilleries, and this is the only distillery using an abacus :) There's plenty of parking available, and you can get drivers drams should you be the unfortunate driver doing a distillery tour. As far as I can tell the tour is accessible. There is a lift , and the tour takes place on even floors, unlike in older distilleries where you'd walk up and down stairs.

LOVED visiting the Isle of Harris distillery was so quaint, warm and friendly. They have a lovely coffee shop that serves the drinks distilled there. The real fire was a welcome site. They have amazing tours to see what they do there and explain the processes of distilling the gin and whisky.

We enjoyed the stories and history behind the distillery on the whisky tour. Not big whisky drinkers but really liked to try both whiskies for the first time.

Thoroughly enjoyed our gin tour. Mary was a fabulous guide and provided all kinds of interesting information about how the gin is made and the impact of the distillery on the local economy. We had not had Harris gin before and were struck by how good it was (and how beautiful the bottle is!). Facility is absolutely lovely with a comfortable place to sit before a real fire. Highly recommend!!

A small free parking then follow the nicely laid path to the 2 old houses and inside you will see the kiln and mill. A folder inside provides more information on how these worked. Site unattended but open

Nice short walk to the site, small but perfectly lovely

Access from the roadside car park is on a well prepared path, the site is not visible from the car park. Takes a few minutes to walk out to, a little gradient in places but well worth the short walk. Access to both renovated buildings is possible revealing their original purpose in this beautiful tranquil location.

Two thatched roof reconstructed Norse buildings. One features a mill, and the other a kiln. It is situated in a really pretty/ atmospheric location with a gorgeous little stream running by. I've taken a star off because there were no information boards and I think those are a must have for tourist sites to understand what you are seeing. Tip: go around the back of the bottom house and look under it at the base of the mill to see how it all works.

Small carpark just off main road. Arrived to a sign saying it was closed due to repairs. It was a lovely day so we decided to walk to it & see it from outside. It's a short walk over a small hill. We had good weather so it was very pleasant. Relatively easy walk, not suitable for wheelchair users. Got to the mills, right enough they needed repair! The thatched roofs were full of holes. You could go inside & you could also have a good clamber around the outside. Don't expect a traditional mill. These are small thatched huts built over a small water course with paddle underneath the building. There was one grinding stone in position. They are authentic norse mills & wonderful to see. You can feel the history. As it was officially closed, there was no guide. Assume when it's open, there might be someone there to chat to & ask questions, but I don't know that. You can see where they've cut channels for the water and trace them upstream to the water next to car park. We enjoyed it because we'd seen the same in Shetland, the click mills, so we knew how they worked & what to look for underneath the wee building. The two wee, not so thatched, buildings are a wonderful piece of Scandinavian history on the islands. We thoroughly enjoyed it, just don't expect too much.

These buildings have been well maintained. The carpark is a short walk over the hill and it's uneven ground to get there, but definitely worth it.

Be ware the midges in June. Nice hit of a walkout. However the mill and kiln have fallen into disrepair l, quite a shame. Needs a bit of investment, perhaps national trust or a heritage charity could take it on. There is a danger that if it is left much longer there will.be nothing to save

Fantastic and scenic isles

The Outer Hebrides is one of my favorite place I've ever been too. Everyone who goes to Scotland needs to go there. The nature there is great and the people are friendly. Take a camera there and if you have a RV, go there. Sleeping in one of them is incredible! A must visit place 5/5

I haven't had the pleasure of going there,yet!! But had the pleasure of seeing all the beautiful photos on here!👌♥️Well done! I didn't get through them all.But Wow!!👏👏👏🤗♥️♥️♥️

Amazing hebrides. Loved the wildlife, the nature, the locals. One thing I felt was lacking toilet facilities. It's July and we had to drive around looking for toilets some weren't open. Other than that abundance of midges. Great experience of the adventures and history. Will definitely be coming back very soon.

Heaven on earth, stunning scenery, stunning beaches, sea has the most spectacular clarity and colours, wildlife, at least marine and bird life in abundance, peace, solitude, warm , friendly locals. Be aware you can have virtually all seasons in one day but that's what makes these islands so special, certainly I regard both the Isle of Harris and the Isle of Barra as my spiritual homes.

Stunning islands, plenty of things to see and do. Friendly locals. Felt very welcome.

Could someone pay for my travel, and a cottage, I would like to go please. I think they speak Gaelic here, or about 50% if Google is correct other providers are available Alexa.....🙏🙂

Beautiful Hebridean island. What a view the people who lived here thousands of years ago had! With standing stones and iron age buildings to wander around as well as the beaches you can let your imagination take you back in time. Marvel at how our ancestors interpreted their reality.

An amazing island off Lewis with beautiful beaches and a lovely walk. Also saw two golden eagles on the drive over.

Stunning!

Peace and beautiful places to stop and see

I'm moving there next month because it's remote and stunning. Can't wait!! :-)

Absolutely stunning. Would love to go back again, but getting to old now.

Absolutely beautiful. Amazing scenery.

A really interesting insight into historical island life, however £9.95 for entry is beyond ridiculous. This seems to be a common theme in Scotland these days and is being used to exploit tourists. If it was even £5, local tourists like myself would be more prone to going into the museum, instead we took some photos from the road and left.

This site should not be missed as it highlights the hazardous living conditions suffered by crofters ie breathing the choking fumes of burning peat. The building and exhibits show how black houses were eventually replaced by ‘white’ houses. A reference no doubt to the move away from the ‘black’ house, tar coated ceilings, walls, floors, furniture and more endured by residents. In addition the information boards and exhibits give a detailed overview of the way of life and the background and history of the area. Well worth a visit. 👍👍👍

Amazing place, very interesting history. They had a fire going in the main room when we were there, so be prepared to be smelling of smoke for the rest of your day. Be sure to cross the road and visit the White House as well.

Interesting visit but only 2 houses to see and a gift shop. Quite expensive for what's on offer but enjoyed our visit

Interesting to see but 10-15 minute visit is sufficient in my opinion. Cute but small gift shop. Lots of small bugs around made it almost unbearable to walk around any longer.

Really good visit, the inside is amazing! And you can read lot of story from inside the visitor room, and also a video

Excellent place to learn about the history of the islanders. Lovely short film to watch. Very helpful shop where we got our pooch a book, learning Gaelic for dogs🤣🤣. Good parking

Arrived early to beat the queues and find a parking space. Currently there is a 2 year construction and remodelling of the visitor centre ongoing so amenities very limited but friendly staff and good coffee available. Standing stones are impressive with food history /context available on info boards and online websites.

If you are into stone circles and things of that ilk then these will be right up your street. The visitor centre wasn’t open when we went so can’t comment on that but we visited all 3 sets of stone circles which are literally in walking distance of each other. It was very boggy as you will find a lot of the area is in March but be worth taking good waterproof footwear. All the photos are of all 3 circles.

Stunning.... truly outstanding ancient monument set in incredible scenery, you are caught between the mesmerising beauty of the scenery around you and the awe of how millennia ago it was possible to create this awe inspiring construction, a must see if you visit the island.

A fascinating site - the stones are accessible with a short walk from the car park and even though we visited in mild drizzle the site was peaceful and you can only begin to imagine how different the world was when these stones were hauled up the hill and set in place. A word of warning though - everything here is closed on a Sunday, including the toilets, and it's about an hour's drive back to Stornoway, so please bear that in mind - the drive back to our cottage was slightly more spirited than the journey out!

Always a high point of the Isle of Lewis calendar. Very tranquil and views over stones and Loch Road, truly stunning. Cafe team always pull out the stops for a strupag and scones for the travellers, great team great service.

A magical and enchanting place set in a magnificent landscape. The visitor centre has an excellent cafe with a good selection of drinks and homemade cakes. There is also a good gift and souvenir shop with lots of interesting local arts and crafts. You don’t have to pay anything to see the stones but there is a small charge to enter the museum. I highly recommend taking an hour or so to walk to the other surrounding sites at Callanish II and III, which are just a couple of kilometres away. It is also easy to catch the W2 bus to and from the centre.

Stones are beautiful, just awestruck of the how much of history they've seen. Really is so impressive. If you catch them when the sun's going down it's one of the most beautiful places on earth. Cafe in the visitor centre is awesome, the vegan+gf chocolate cake was delicious!

We visited 1st of march and the weather was nice for the first hour so managed to get to see the Callanish stones.. but then the rain and wind came in, so we drove to the northern point of lewis. The sea was wild and little hidden coves everywhere with white sand beaches and blue sea.. absolutely stunning! But there was no paddling for us today! But it was a beautiful sight non the less. Driving through the island was very samey.. pebbledashed house after pebble dashed house rusting cars, reminiscent of steptoes yard.. Pete bogs and barrenness.. That said its dotted with a lot of lochs.. which I would think are good for a wild swim.. it was so quiet on the island when we visited on the west side. But we had people just hitchhiking with their shopping to get home and random travellers. Everyone seems really friendly though.

Visited Isle of Lewis, Balallan, October 2023. Great weather if you know how to layer & like the cold & rain, beaches & lochs & landscape are just gorgeous. Got Covid 19 during visit.

Wonderful and at times wild atmosphere and brooding weather made this an exceptional autumn visit. The ancient feel to parts of these islands is incredible and spirit lifting !

A beautiful spot with the houses so well cared for. Some are rented out. One still in the original condition as it was when lived in the 70s. A working weaver too. A must on your places to see.

Let's start by saying that nobody comes to Lewis/Harris for the weather.If you have a kite bring it! Been twice.First week 2 good days,second time the weather was wet and windy practically all the tim.That said ,still come as the weather changes by the hour.There are tropical (looking) beaches totally unspoiled,you can have them all to yourselves as they seem unchanged since time began.Rugged mountains on Lewis and unspoiled little islands like Scalpay only accesible from Lewis by a bridge.The village at Arnol and the Callanish stones are a step into the past. A different world if you need a change

Lewis has my heart! A memorable trip that will stay with me for a long time. Great for wilderness, the rough seas (and stunning beaches!), the welcoming people and the locally sourced food.

Sir James Matheson, who purchased the Isle of Lewis, amassed his fortune through the opium trade, enriching himself at the expense of countless lives-a stark reminder of greed and moral corruption woven into this land's history.

Beautiful little church that for centuries served as clan MacLeod chapel and has been restored to something approaching its original form. Reputedly this is one of the most intact medieval buildings in the Hebrides and contains several magnificent tomb slabs and 15 C niche tombstone considered to be amongst the finest in Scotland.

An amazing medieval church well worth a visit. Carvings date back to the 1500’s and the church itself feels ancient. Parking is in a lay-by right in front and entry is free. Information boards explain the history inside.

A haven of peace & tranquility, historical reference information once inside & various information sheets in different languages are also available inside. A beautiful location overlooking the local area. Limited on road parking at gate, access a little steep once through gate. There are public toilets 🚻 just at the cattle grid at the roadside.

A stunning church in a stunning location. Secluded and quiet, lots of history well preserved and maintained. Please bring some coins for a donation!

The Golden Road Drive is super exciting and fun and starts at this landmark spot.

Church was started in 1520, has the tomb of Alexander MacLeod. Beautiful inside, the MacLeod tomb is also very beautiful.

Amazing place, great views

I do really loved the place. So much to get to know about people themselves (Islanders). Eeach person = one story. If you have some time to spare, definitely worth going there. Btw no need to follow google maps route to the roundabout when walking, there is a direct shortcut with signs straight to the castle museum few meters before.

The Museum & Tasglann nan Eilean in Stornoway features background and history of the culture of the Outer Hebrides. It also features artefacts dating from prehistory to the present day, and a public archive. It is situated in the grounds of Lews Castle, in a building inspired by the former glasshouses. The museum introduces life in the Outer Hebrides from prehistory to the present including archaeological finds on loan from National Museum Scotland. The gift shop has a small range of individual replicas of the Lewis Chessman available for purchase.

A wonderful, quiet and insightful muesum focusing on the way of life of Gaelic people in the Isle of Lewis. It focuses mostly on the people themselves, and their way of life during a transitionary period in history. It was insightful, but I personally found the lack of coverage on historical events and other time periods a bit lacking. If you are, however, interested in the Gaelic way of life and language then this is the best place in Stornoway for it!

Fairly small but very well presented museum with lots of multimedia exhibits telling the fascinating story of island life, the highlight being some of the famous Lewis chessmen. Entry is free and includes access to the downstairs rooms of the adjacent Lews Castle. There’s also a cafe. Staff are super friendly and welcoming. If you have time, the castle grounds make for a lovely walk - climb up to Gallows Hill for some nice views over the water to Stornoway town and port.

We went in Sunday when the museum is closed. The ground floor of the grand house was open and we had lunch there. I was told there were no more eggs but later discovered someone receiving scrambled eggs. Disappointing. Food was fine but not exciting. You order and it arrives at your table. Staff are young and enthusiastic. Coffee was ok but not great. But I guess it was good it was open on a Sunday.

Not a large museum but a "boutique" exhibition that shows a snapshot of life on Harris and Lewis. The individual rooms are well put together with both visual and audio information. The Lewis Chessmen were,of course,a highlight. The background information on their discovery was well presented. Guides are on hand for any questions.There is a small gift shop and admission is by donation,a suggested £5. There is also a cafe.

We had a lovely time at the museum and loved how immersive the experience was, especially the film at the beginning. It was also brilliant to see and hear so much Gaelic all around - chòrd sin rinn glan! Would absolutely recommend a visit, followed by some coffee and cake in the castle.

Parking limited but found a spot by cemetery Stroll to Iron house Stroll along the beach ⛱️

Stunning remote unspoiled beach. The bell can be clearly seen on the rocky outcrop.

Super beach, Norse hut, Interesting cemetery, large car park and overnight campers honesty box. Lovely walks, clear waters and white sand.

Stunning beach beautiful clear water, great location and an iron age house near the beach

The main reason for our return visit to Harris. Love the seclusion and peace. The beach is stunning and a quiet park up for our campervan.

Hidden Gem! Beautiful crystal clear waters, white sand, so quiet and peaceful. Less that a 5 minute walk from carpark, toilets are open. Picnic area overlooking the beach.

Beautiful beach! check the weather, as it may be very windy (we had a bit of rain and a lot of wind), but if you wait a while you can enjoy lovely views. Worth to drive there

Parking is down the road marked school, although this is a gallery now. Plenty of grassy spaces. A short walk takes you to a stunning beach which if the tide is out offers long walks. Beautiful views to the South Harris hills and beyond.

Great beach, even better when the tide is out! Lovely soft sand, water was warm when we went in. Shallow as well so good for the kids! Parking is less than 5 mins walk, at the old school. Quite a few spaces and we had no issues finding a spot but could be an issue if busy. You can walk for miles in either direction along the beach. One of many fabulous local beaches. No toilet facilities here.

Possibly one of the best beaches on Harris. The beach itself is a stunner, but as you drive the road and ascend to the viewpoint, it just gets better and better. Clear waters, white sand, and we managed to even see a rainbow too.

Yet another of Harris's stunning beaches whose shades of blue are breathtaking and whose white sands seem yo stretch gor miles. South West Harris is definitely the place for beach lovers and photographers to come

Couldn’t believe we are on Harris! The beach is like a Caribbean paradise. Only the mountains in the far distance reminds one of being in the North. Conflicting information in our brain made us breathless!

There are undoubtedly countless beautiful beaches on the isles of both Lewis & Harris but Seilebost is so special. Getting there early meant it was completely empty. A beach this spectacular and entirely for yourself. What a great! I highly recommend you check this one out if you’re in the area, you won’t be disappointed!

Stunning stunning stunning. White sands green waters comparable to tropical beaches. You would never guess it was the UK. Here in August with persistent rain and intense winds while it's 30 degrees in the North West uk. Was a few large jellyfish in the water a variey of different ones washed up on the sands. The views of the beach are ever changing due to the rain fall, tides and peat running into the waters. Crazy to be on such an amazing beach, alone in August. You will not be disappointed whatever the weather with this beautiful place.

Fantastic value for only £3 very informative and friendly staff and an excellent wee cafe next door

Disappointingly, after a long drive from Stornoway, this museum was closed today for a funeral in which the wake was being held.

A fantastic small community run experience. Really glad we stopped at it. Cafe is also very good and supports the local community. Highly recommended.

Very informative and well laid out. Definitely worth a visit then head to the cafe next door 👌

Friendly and very informative museum about this northern part of Lewis and its history.

A small well laid out museum with interesting exhibits from the past. After purchasing an item the assistant gave my foreign friend an old five pound note that was later refused in another establishment as it was no longer accepted as legal currency.

The cafe does some lovely food. Salmon paté particularly recommended, and the flapjack. Very reasonably priced and good service, and good disabled facilities. The museum is a reasonable job at attempting to make something relatively interesting. Good stuff about the chess pieces and St Kilda All volunteer run.

This is a beautiful lookout spot, and the Sea Stacks are cool to see. There are a few trails to hike around and see different spots, lookout points.

Without a doubt one of my favorite places I visited during my recent vacation in Scotland. Recommend plugging in the map coordinates 58°09'02.3"N 7°06'01.4"W to get to the small side of the road informal parking spaces by the cattle grid, on the opposite side of the road from the shore. Then face the road/shoreline, turn left, and walk along the road until you see the sign pictured below. From there head towards the headlands ahead. Had a wild and fun experience there, as the weather was a little wild, which made the wave action far below even more powerful. I had a couple steady sheets of fine rain come in and soak me pretty good, staying until I was literally the only one on the headland. The wind got up so much that I moved away from the clifftops, just to be safe and careful. Beautiful, amazing views!

Little hard to find (there’s a small track sign visible from the street), even more challenging to park (…because at this point you’ve passed the parking already and there’s almost no place to turn). But once you’ve managed this two tasks you’ll get rewarded by a picturesque, majestic landscape, approx 10-15min walk included. Really worth to visit!

Absolutely breath taking...probably one of my favorite spots the entire trip.

The drive out to Mangersta was very scenic but the coastline there is just stunning! There is easy pull-off parking across the road and then just cross over to see the jagged rocks and the sea stacks with the swirling ocean spilling its fabulous blue colour all over them! There is a wire fence along the cliff top but do still be careful and keep youngsters close! A great place to visit :)

Lovely spot, very steep cliff, not for a windy day!

A beautiful place to visit. Park just past the cattle grid on the side of the road and walk up the hill a short distance to see the stacks. A bit boggy in some places but not a problem for walking boots or old trainers! Make sure to keep away from the edge as there is a fence but it does not go all the way (so keep dogs and children very close by) Enjoy the views!!!

Amazing sand dunes and beaches with beautiful clear blue water, stunning views all around

After a week staying north of the Hebrides and making our way down. Myself and my husband were fortunate enough to have some of the best weather recorded on the islands for years (June 2018) we’ve stopped and wild camped in some pretty amazing places, but this was definitely one of ours favourites! A quiet beach with white sand which we had all to ourselves for the night, we set up on a little grass hill overlooking the whole beach, saw an amazing sunset and enjoyed a walk along the sand at 11pm at night while it was still light!

The island is pretty small but ery beautiful ant it offers three white sandy beaches, one of them very long.

This island is fantastic, there is a hostel, and the wild life is amazing. There are a lot of holiday lets on this island, the island has a causeway to it from North Uist

Great wee island. Lovely beaches, nice hill to climb for stunning views. Local shop and cafe for supplies, nice wee gift shop worth a visit. Little bit of paradise right here in Scotland.

Highly recommend I stayed in a crofters cottage that’s been converted into a hostel you just turn up and sleep such a great experience

Small but very beautiful island. In the summer you can always spot seals or dolphins. I would definitely recommend the 3 mile long beach on the west. It has soft white sand and blue sea. However the beach isn't great for rockpooling as there are barley any rocks. East beach has more rocks and has brilliant rockpools. It is great for crabbing and fishing. A brilliant farm shop and cafe is right on the island with a delicious variety of food.

Excellent! Would thoroughly recommend. Neil and Nicola are fantastic and experienced guides. I appreciated that sightings are not guaranteed but conditions were perfect today and we saw a large pod (maybe 60) of Common dolphins - who played around our rib for around an hour. We were also lucky to see Minke whales, porpoises and lots of birds. The dolphins were the highlight for me. Lots of interesting information provided on the mammals and the geography - all very professional. Super safe - with great safety gear provided - and excellent value too.

Best thing we did on Lewis! Nicola knows a lot about the sea life and is very enthusiastic to share it with you. We saw many dolphins (including Risso's dolphins!), a minke whale, and where stalked by a seal for half of the trip :).

Immerse Hebrides Mull & Iona trip..AMAZING! Norma is a very experienced open water swimmer and qualified coach who makes these swim holidays just spectacular. Taking you to places you would never see or experience on your own creates very special memories. Swimming in crystal clear blue waters around white sandy beaches, knowing Norma has picked the best spot for that day for you to experience is just magical. A great balance of swimming, walking, some local history and interesting facts and of course the best cake spots. I would highly recommend booking a tour with Immerse Hebrides.

Unforgettable Whale and Dolphin Watching Experience! We had an absolutely incredible time on the whale and dolphin watching tour from Stornoway. The crew was professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly passionate about marine life. Their enthusiasm was contagious and made the experience even more enjoyable. We were lucky enough to see a pod of dolphins playing alongside the boat and even spotted a minke whale in the distance. The scenery was breathtaking, and the boat was comfortable and well-equipped. The guides also shared fascinating insights about the local wildlife and conservation efforts, which added real depth to the trip. This tour was truly a highlight of our visit to the Outer Hebrides. Highly recommended for nature lovers and anyone looking to experience the wild beauty of Scotland from a unique perspective!

Our second trip with Immerse Hebrides. Absolutely amazing wildlife- pod of 50 common dolphins and several minke whales. Lots of seabirds. Fantastic knowledgeable friendly crew. Very safe and warm in overalls provided. Thank you Neil and Nicola for a great trip. We’ll be back!

We had a great boat tour where we saw lots of dolphins and whales, Neil and murdo were very friendly, engaging and knowledgeable! Would highly recommend

I’ve had such an amazing holiday with Immerse Hebrides. It was the 5 day Lewis and Harris tour and Norma and her lovely team looked after us beautifully. Fantastic swims and saunas, lovely walks, great accommodation and amazing food. If you’re thinking about going on holiday with Immerse Hebrides don’t hesitate to book, you’ll have an amazing time in a wildly beautiful place, being looked after every step of the way. Thank you!

Very nice setting and great food. We had the shrimp cocktail for an appetizer which was perfect. The Lamb entree was great. The view of the bay and sunset is just beautiful. The room was hot as they could not control the thermostat and it was a warmish September day. However, that just made us go outside during our dinner and enjoy the views and take pictures for a bit.

We loved our first meal here so much that we went back as soon as they opened the following evening. The specials menu has a great selection of local produce cooked beautifully, and the views from the restaurant towards Taransay are simply magnificent. Make sure you book in advance - surely one of the best places to eat on the Isle of Harris.

Great lunch & coffee! Very nice place and a fantastic view!

Great location, great kitchen, reasonably priced good quality food - I'd give it five stars but thought the drinks a little on the dear side. Had a table with a great view of the sea, and watched a Gannet fishing. Service is very good, I'd definitely return!!

Great ambience, breathtaking view and good food!!

It was the last night of the season and we were the only guests. Our waiter Voy, was friendly and attentive. We chose the duck appetizer and the lamb and cod dishes. All were absolutely delicious. I chose the Cheesecake with gin, grapefruit and pecans. Oh, sooo good. Machair offered the best service, the best food and the best views during our 3 eerks in Scotland. Congratulations.

What a wonderfully warm welcome we've received everywhere we've been in the Outer Hebrides... except here. It looks like a great spot that you've secured for your business but what a pity that we were 'greeted' by an incredibly rude young man working there who spoke to my girlfriend tersely and ignored the rest of us. We felt compelled to leave immediately, instead taking our custom to the friendly wee van down the road instead and would encourage others to do likewise.

Views were amazing ...i thought it would be more challlending. But took a round 2 hours or less to reach the summit. It is a strit line route to the top. Boggy at the beggining. * keep to the left side of the stream as you are facing Clisham. Paths run from both side of the stream. Reasonably clear paths at the beginning and midd section is not very clear.but if you look deep you should be able to navigate easily. Top section has ckear tracks. Steep climb towards the top but not scarry. I enjoyed evry bit of it. You might spot an eagle if you are lucky look towards the west side of the peaks. Good luck

Parking available on A859. It can get very boggy lower down, so be aware. The ascent is clear, but is steep in places. Lovely views from the top, not the most challenging climb ever, but well worth it. Be aware parking at the bottom is limited. As with every climb, let someone know what time you are leaving and what time you will return. Ensure you have suitable clothing and footwear and a means of communicating in case of emergency.

WARNING This hike should not be attempted by anyone below upper-moderate hiking ability. There are bogs, heavy winds, no discernible paths. The ascent is much harder than Snowdon (the UK’s highest mountain) where at least a train and cafe can assist the climb. Would not recommend. Views are good though.

Chimb Clisham, it was a boggy walk to start with, not really much of a path and then quite steep and rocky. About 3/4 of the way up there is a path (of sorts...maybe best described as a sort of trail :-) . I really enjoyed it but quite hard graft not an "easy relaxing" walk. The views were absolutely stunning though....I would say not for the complete novice hill walker but if you are willing to put in the work the views are amazing!

Stunning hike. Quite boggy, smidgy and foggy but still awesome

Seriously muddy on the lower 2/3s. There are plenty criss-cross paths to follow until nearer the top where there is a fairly well defined path to the trig point (top). I did this in trail running shoes but wish I'd used my hiking boots due to the mud. Great views from the top. Parking area is available at the start of the hike. I was up and back in 2 hours, 2 minutes. Distance was 6.16 km. Route includes the drive from Tarbert.

This is a fantastic walk with beautiful scenic views. There is a path to start but it disappears half way and at some stages there is definitely a lot of clambering over rocks. The last 25% is very steep and you have to scramble over a dirt and gravel path for much of it but the views at the top are amazing...it's like middle earth at the top with huge rocks that look like they've been thrown there by giants and an amazing fog which seems to mysteriously cloak just the top peak of the hill. We managed to find the car park using Google maps but we weren't sure if it was the right hill as there were no signs whatsoever. There's a sort of ruinous bothy just before the top which is great for a roll and a cup of tea and to shelter from the elements if needs be.

Really beautiful place and definitely worth visiting. Loved it. We walked a way from a beach named dhail beag. The way was 1 mile or 1,6 km (so much shorter than the way from the Norse mill). We needed a bit less than half an hour for the way. There’s a place to park your car too. The way is a little bit steep and boggy but it gets better along the way

Not really sure why no clear instructions exist on the internet for how to get to this fantastic natural gem! So I'll do my best here and include pictures of where to go. Follow it at your own risk! 1. Park at Norse Mill Car Park, it's paved and has space for maybe three motor homes. Wear wellies or HIGH waterproof hiking boots. It's very boggy in places. 2. Walk a little ways down this gravel path before veering off into the heather. 3. To begin with there is no sign of a path or even trodden down heather/grass but if you come off where my first picture is you can go wrong. 4. Keep the wind turbine behind you and the small loch ahead head across the heather. 5. You will eventually a well trodden trail that heads over toward some rocks. This will have the loch to your right 6. If you look hard enough you'll be able to follow this trodden path a ways. It'll take you to breaks in the fence. 7. You'll come across a wider path. Maybe quad bike wide that leads down to the loch shore. 8. This then turns toward the coast. 9. Be very careful here especially if you've dogs or children. You're on a high cliff. 10. Once you've reached the coast here turn left (south) and follow the green markers until you see and outcropping with cairns marking the top. 11. Head across the narrow join and look south. You'll see the Arch! Hope this helps some folk. But again all at your own risk for safety/legality :-)

Looks like you’ve found one of these hidden gems! I highly recommend to visit Stac a‘Phris Arch, it‘s absolutely magnificent! There is no parking spot, I just left my car on the side of the nearest road, from there it was about 25 min of walking West along the coast. There is no path, but there are wooden posts to help you keep on track. How I stumbled upon this place: I saw a photo of this in an old landscape photography book from the 1950s, and it took me quite a lot of effort to find out where this is. Actually a small miracle that this place is still pretty unknown, especially in the age of Instagram. So if you go, make sure to leave nothing behind to keep this place as untouched as it is now.

West coast walk between Shawbost and Dalbeg on Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides. Stacy a' Photos Arch.

Short walk over the hills rewarded with a beautiful view.

Amazing, worth the effort

Lovely views & a nice walk along the cliffs and over heathland, can be a bit boggy in places. Beware if you have a dog as the stiles are over barbed wire & you’ll have to lift them over!

Parking area by the school, amazing sand, dogs on lead though because of the sheep etc

We visited recently on a trip over to the Isle of Harris, we were actually camping at the Horgabost campsite, so had easy access to this beach. It's a lovely beach, and was not too busy, full of families and outdoor people. The water is crystal clear.

A lovely beach with plenty of parking in the campsite during off season. Sitting in a bay opposite Luskentyre, you still have the hills as views but a completely different feel to this beach.

Lovely beach with salt box sauna

A superb location with stunning views. A beautiful restaurant with friendly staff. An awesome menu with a great drinks card. A great dining experience and value for money. We can‘t wait to return! Highly recommended

The steak was exceptional—the best one could ask for. It had a wonderful texture, and I enjoyed every bite. I would gladly visit again. I personally left a tip because I was truly delighted by the quality of the food. The dessert was the perfect finishing touch, truly the icing on the cake.

Another lovely experience here, this time extra special as the first with our toddler. The staff were so accommodating of her and luckily she behaved herself. The food was excellent, atmosphere unbeatable and staff friendly and warm. Even on a dreich Scottish day with minimal views, it was wonderful.

Honestly the best restaurant we have ever been to (and we've been to A LOT!). The setting is exceptional, the service is incredible and the food is some of the best food we have both ever eaten. I can see this place winning awards! We will both be back hopefully soon and would happily travel all the way back to the island JUST for this! I had the vegan options as well and can confirm they are as equally exceptional as the non vegan options which, in itself, is a rarity. I can't stop recommending this place!

This is more a dining experience than a place to eat. The food was outstanding at my time of life I thought I had enjoyed most things good. Apparently not, this was the best I've ever tasted. Don't hesitate to book a table here it is worth every penny!

I highly recommend! The view was stunning, and the food was impressive — not at all cast under the shadow of the spectacular scenery and beautifully curated interior design.

This is one of the best restaurants in Scotland. We were visiting from the United States and enjoyed the a la cart menu in October 2025. Starters included very tasty smoked salmon and seafood chowder with fresh sourdough. Main courses included a perfect tender venison dish and local cod that hit the spot. Local gins topped off our meal. Staff was very welcoming and the view is breathtaking. We’ll be back!

Can I give it six stars? Or ten? Situated a short walk from Scarista beach, and as full of character as the island itself, it is the epitome of the term “boutique hotel”. Add in the superb set-menu food and really personal service, it is well worth the money. Chatting with fellow residents and visiting dinner guests over canapes and gin or whisky before dinner is always enlightening. The cracked glass panes in the lounge window from winter storms or the slightly dated bathroom fittings just add to the coziness. Remember, you're in the Outer Hebrides where it is tremendously hard to do anything, let alone run a gorgeous hotel. After an amazing day out walking the nearby ridiculously lovely beaches or going up the hills for views of a lifetime, Scarista House is a warm, friendly, welcoming home from home. Highly recommended, just don't tell anyone else and let it remain our secret.

The food here is excellent, quite special, and with a good wine list. Nice distant views of the beach. The rooms and bathroom (ours anyway, Lily) are very old fashioned. I thought it overpriced for the basic and not particularly great facilities.

I booked dinner on recommendation and review by renowned food critic. It was my wife’s significant birthday and the whole team were outstanding. Food was glorious; local fresh, simple ingredients assembled with aplomb. Pre dinner canapés served in the library, burst on the palate and making us eager for the main event. The dining rooms are tastefully done, with old world charm and elegance, making the whole experience memorable. Delightful serving staff are helpful and attentive and engaging. It’s refreshing to have such thoughtful hosts, and a set dinner menu that reflects the spirit of the island. Well done Tim and Patricia, you deserve the accolades.

We visited the Scarista House for having a tea and a coffee on a evening while we were on foot at the Hebridean Way. And camping in the nearby dunes. With smelly shirts and dirty boots we were invited in a room and despite the difference in public and ambiance for hikers very good coffee and tea was made for us. With a very warm welcome. Thank you very much! With love from the Netherlands.

We had a very special time at Scarista. The standout is easily their team, who are a credit to them. The manager(?) is superb, welcoming us from a cold cycle with tea and a fire, waiting staff are professional and attentive, and most of all their young team are fabulous and deserve a shoutout: courteous, polite and professional despite their young age. Well done! My partner loved it so much he chose this place as the spot to propose on our Hebridean journey, and although we didn’t tell anyone, we didn’t need to as they made us feel special in any case. Now we have an excuse to return in a few years for an anniversary! We also made friends with other guests and enjoyed drinks with them, which was a bonus. Well done Scarista, what a heavenly place.

Lovely place. Not an international chain hotel but instead a small family run place with amazing rooms and one serving for dinner. The food is amazing; there is not much choice for dinner but they will go out of their way to meet dietary restrictions. Breakfast is great with plenty of home made options. The location is incredible with views over the beach and to mountains in almost every direction. We had a very happy time there and cannot recommend it highly enough.

Ate dinner here on 01/11/22 on the recommendation of a friend. Odd set up of being escorted to a drawing room with other guests before being seated at your table. We personally found this slightly awkward and felt like we were intruding on other families' conversations. Absolutely stunning setting albeit slightly outdated interior. Food was tasty, however presentation was somewhat lacking. We felt that the meal was grossly overpriced. Waiting staff were friendly but not particularly proactive when it came to replenishing drinks or taking drink orders (waited an hour before being asked if we wanted another drink). Atmosphere was lacking and I feel that background music would have been a nice touch to dull out the surrounding conversations. Overall, pretty good food but comes at an unjustifiably high price. We feel pretty robbed on leaving this evening. Think the restaurant facilities and procedures need a bit of modernisation.

Very good small museum which shows how the life used to be on the isle of Lewis. Definitely worth a visit. There is also a nice gift shop.

Very good museum with some interesting and unique historic exhibits from the local area. Local guide was extremely helpful. Fascinating history of the Guga hunters, Harris tweed weaving and even a full Decca Navigation exhibit. Some delightful local arts and crafts, with great selection of gifts in the shop. Cafe was good, including good selection of cakes and food. Well worth the visit!

Insightful visit to Comunn Eachdraidh Nis. A lovely and enriching experience that offered a meaningful glimpse into the local Gaelic community and its heritage. The exhibits and atmosphere reflected genuine care and pride, making the visit both informative and heartfelt. Absolutely worth stopping by for anyone interested in the culture and history of Lewis.

Very interesting museum, mostly around the social history of the local area. Worth going to visit, entry is a suggested donation of £3 per person. Visit the on site coffee ☕️ shop. They have an extensive menu, better still the salad and veg is growing behind the museum, can't get any fresher than that.

We loved our visit here. Excellent, welcoming cafe, well-stocked, quality shop and informative museum.

Brought my Dad here as his father was originally from Ness. We thought it was fantastic, items were displayed well and with great thought, the whole place was immaculately clean and the staff were wonderful. The coffee shop was well laid out, menu choices were very good, the staff were lovely and the service was swift. Would highly recommend a visit to this place.

The food here was okay... The soups was supposed to be scotch broth but was definitely either tomato or minestrone. The toasties were nice and the staff were friendly enough, apart from the older woman who was rather rude to us when we first came in. Seemed to be very busy with bus tours so the cafe can either be rammed full, or pretty dead.

So worth the drive out to this magic spot. Marco is such a lovely guy, making top quality produce. Thankyou so much for your hospitality! We will be back!

We had such a lovely experience visiting Abhain Dearg. It’s unassuming from the outside but don’t let that deceive you. We turned up and bumped into Marco who took us into the tasting room and we spent a lovely time learning about the distillery and the unique whisky. Over a dram or two we also chatted about the local area and footy! But the highlight was meeting the real workers, 2 gorgeous and very friendly cats, Tiger and……you’ll have to visit to learn the other cat’s name! If you’re on the island this is definitely a place worth visiting, the drive alone is breathtaking and the surrounding area just stunning.

Booked this for my father (who is a real whisky enthusiast)while we were on a visit to the island. I then read a few bad reviews and started to regret it. We arrived ( party of four) and met a lovely Dutch woman and her son who were also on the tour . We stood and waited till the allotted time and Marko appeared, right away he chatted away and even before the tour started everyone was laughing and joking. The tour was superb. Yes it’s not your usual slick presentation of a spotless distillery and yes the operation has not been running or some time however what we got was a down to earth conversation about the trials and tribulations of a small business trying to survive/ succeed in a market full off investment and expensive marketing. Marko and his family/team have got something that is different and to be admired in todays mass produced homogeneous world . My dad who it has to be said has been on many distillery tour thought it was one of the best and the every one of us enjoyed the visit very much . You only get out what you put in and if you go with the right attitude you will find this tour superb and Marko a thoroughly decent bloke who really goes out his way to make this an unforgettable trip. We wish him all the best for the future. If you love your whisky then make an effort to get to Abhainn Dearg . Yes it’s different but that’s what makes it so good . Last but certainly not least the ten year old PX and bourbon are honest decent whiskies ( not chill filtered and no colour added at at least 46 % .There are more than a few companies who charge far too much for what they offer could learn something from that alone )

Wow, wow, wow. This is like the whisky industry of old, and yes I am old enough to remember. Much of the industry has moved to a whisky 'experience' with blingy expensive visitors centres, and tours run by staff who have little knowledge of whisky or the distillery itself and then charge you the cost of a bottle for the privilege. Not Here. Yes it is off the beaten track and doesn't look like the traditional multi-million pound distilleries. What you do get is HEART AND PASSION, in absolute bucket loads. And reasonable size taste, not a finger wetting. We arrived on damp dank day and was greeted with a huge smile. We were taken into the shop, which is also the bar and seating area this leads into bottling plant( well a room where they do the bottling) You don't need to pay for an expensive tour when you speak to someone who has the knowledge, experience and passion. He was actually waiting for and them taking a delivery whilst he took the timw to engage with us. He told us about everything you needed to know and more. The water is local. The barley is locally farmed. They malt the barley on site. The yeast can't be local cos they can't produce enough locally 50kg per mash. The warehouse on site, not sent away like the big boys, bottling on site unlike the big boys A Truly local spirit. Each 10 year bottling is from an individual cask, and therefore slightly different each time, again different to the big boys who try and turn out the same each time. All my questions answered, why bottled at 46%, how many bottles produced, what is the capacity of the stills, who is the biggest consumer, etc I tried the 10 and the cask strength, the latter for me was much smoother and creamier. Which I then had to buy!!! Watch out for new expressions. I can certainly recommend a visit, if you are in the area, but don't expect Glenmorangie experience, to me it was better than that.

Though we didn’t take the tour, we had the pleasure of chatting with the welcoming owner, who generously shared insights into their process and products. The distillery exudes the charm of a genuine island operation, nestled in the rugged, remote beauty of Lewis’s western coastline. Even the journey there adds to the experience—scenic and memorable. A visit well worth making.

We had marko take us on the tour. He stated usually he is hidden away in the bowels of the operation and is not allowed to interact with the public as he will barrage you with facts and figures. These facts and figures were raw and fantastic. The tour felt more like a casual chat with an old friend than a rehearsed scripted mass produced money grab. Marco was just as interested in our stories and history as he was telling the story of the red River whisky. Had we not been interrupted by a lost Dutch family I think we might have shared many more drams of uisge beath and ended up fishing with Marco. The whisky and the company was a great crack. The four of us will return.

Amazing small scale distillery with a beautiful story and products. Highly recommend the tour and tastings.

Beautiful views beyond the bridge and an interesting plaque beside the bridge about the history of how it was built. Definitely worth the visit but definitely do the walk to the waterfall because it's amazing.

Really interesting and the walk along the road was great 👍

The Bridge to Nowhere is at the end of the road! However, it's the start (or end) of the walk between Port Nis and Gless Beach. It has history, it has views, and it is a surprise at the end of the road!

Quite an impressive structure - only space for 1 car really at the bridge itself but nearby Garry Beach has parking and bins that you can walk from. The story behind it is quite interesting and there is a good information board about the struggles with Lord Leverhulme. Nice piece of history off the beaten track here - fascinating cliff top walk that is well worth taking the time to stroll along.

Interesting bridge daubed with "the Pies", graffiti that can be seen on motorway bridges throughout the North West of England. We cycled another mile beyond it to a lovely waterfall. Lovely views.

A fascinating relic of abandoned engineering in a stunning location. Park by the beach and it’s a 10-minute walk up the hill.

There is a story behind this bridge. Making it short, the road after the bridge, meant to end in Ness, hence merging the western road to the north of the island with the east coastal road was never completed due to fights between the islanders and the hence owner of Lewis and Harris. Once more, a place making you feel like in some kind of frontier. The world at the end of the world.

Beautiful building. Amazing acoustics for a concert.

What a beautiful building inside & out.

There is nothing here other than this monolith, the standing stone is at the side of a house with no information of what it was or any insights into it. This is, however, the tallest standing stone in Scotland. One of the suspected uses of it is a Sea marker to mark a place where it is safe to come ashore via the nearby beach. There are no toilets or other services and just a gravel parking bay for maybe 2 cars. Only really needs a 10 min view if you're passing or interested in these types of things

Stonehenge has nothing on this place, Feel the energy and get your new age vibe on with spectacular views...

Lewis isn't exactly short of standing stones and Neolithic monuments but this one is definitely worth a short stop given that, at 19ft tall it is the largest free standing stone in Scotland. The route to the stone is fairly well laid out and there is a small car park for visitors but incredibly the stone is right next to a modern house (try not to inconvenience the householders when visiting)

Incredibly tall stone with beautiful lichen on it. Easy access (please use the path away from the nearby house). Small amount of parking but a visit doesn’t take long so a quick turnover . Definitely worth a visit if you are passing .

Very cool massive standing stone. It's easy to park.

Great short stop. It's crazy that this stone is next to some family's house.

Worth a stop and short walk up the hill to see it. Don't just drive up, glance and go. Huge, towering stone, great views, and absolutely no one around. A must see on your drive around the island.

Danny was welcoming and had a wonderful way with our usually terrified and stubborn Dachshund Darcy. He won her trust immediately with his gentleness and managed to stroke her straight away without her recoiling! I highly recommend these folks as their facilities are secure, well-cleaned and run efficiently for the best interests of all their guests, canine and feline. They also walk the dogs weather conditions permitting.

The lighthouse is very photogenic even if its a private business and not accessible. The views of the coast and rocks are spectacular. It was a calm day when we were there so not much wave action. On a stormy day it must be spectacular. Well worth a visit.

Quite the journey to arrive here, but it was a very special place for my wife, and to reason for our trip to Stornoway. She was born there and lived at the lighthouse until she was 3yrs old! Her father was the lighthouse keeper, and resided there. Amazing. The views were tremendous. Worth the trip obviously for sentimental reasons.

It is private property. You can't visit it. You can climb the hill nest to it and you can see a nice view but that is about it.

Excellent service. We left our two cats here for a fortnights stay in Hotel Tiumpan, the enclosure where our cats were kept was spotlessly clean with ample space and nice little pods for them to sleep in. The lovely couple who run the kennels & cattery couldn't be nicer. We extended the cats stay by a week as our house wasn't ready and it wasnt a problem. I'd definitely recommend here and we shall be using their service again if we need to. 5 Stars 🌟

If you go to the Lighthouse remember to take your binoculars as you will see if you are lucky dolphins & whales as was watching the dolphins jump out of the sea truly stunning place well worth a visit

Great views out to sea. Apparently a great place to see sea life but I’ve obviously been looking in the wrong direction.

Excellent, highly recommended fishing experience, not the best weather for catching fish when we were there, but probably the nicest place not to catch fish,we had 7 finnock and one seatrout for our day,loch voshmid is something every fisherman should sample 🎣👌👍😎👍🎣

This is on the road to Huisinis and is in a delightful setting. The minibus driver dropped us off by the white gates and we walked down to the house/ castle past the river with waterfalls, which salmon less up in springtime.

The castle is run as an hotel-cum-lodge. We stayed for a week as part of a group of 16. I understand that this is usually how the castle is let out. The day begins with a huge breakfast, following which the staff lay out a cold collation for guests to make up their own packed lunches. Thermos flasks, piece-boxes, crisps, fizzy drinks and chocolate bars are provided along with fruit, meat, vegetables, tuna, bread rolls.... it's a brilliant idea: one can make up a packed lunch that's exactly to one's own taste. In the evening dinner begins with a tiny canape; then a small soup; a generous first course; a huge main course; puddings; and then a cheeseboard. I came home 5lbs heavier than when I arrived. The castle itself is astonishing inside. There is some important art to be found on the walls. The surroundings are delightful. The castle has a full staff of ghillies and stalkers to take guests out to fish on the lochs and streams and on the sea; or to go after the deer. Depending on conditions, there might be grouse and the castle will help if one wishes to attempt a Macnab. Bring stout boots, stamina, DEET and midge nets. I had one of the best holidays that I've ever enjoyed, if not *the* very best, at Amhuinnsuide Castle. I hope that I'm lucky enough to go back one day. If you cannot get a large party to go with you, don't despair. They have "mixed rod weeks" when rooms are let to individuals: but one would have to be prepared to commune with new people to get the most out of the experience. If you get the chance: go.

I didn't stay, just walking through, though what a beautiful place. A stunning building, a real highland castle type, in fantastic grounds overlooking the loch. A really gorgeous location. And a small estate shop selling choc bars, drink and best of all, venison from the estate. Mmm! I spent ages here just watching the tumbling river / stream and looking out over the loch. Maybe save up and stay next time :)

Although I didn't go inside the castle from the outside it is well preserved. The castle grounds are immaculate and there is a large waterfall to the right of the castle. There is an honesty shop just along from the castle on the right hand side that sells the castles own smoked salmon and other delights. If visiting the castle I would recommend a visit to Huisinis beach further along the road. One of the most beautiful beaches on Harris.

Our splurge stay of the trip. More a hunting lodge than a castle. Enjoyable all guests dining as a group. Food very good, but disappointing it was chicken the night we stayed, choice of one of two would have been better.

Take the scenic road to Huishinish on the Isle of Harris, encountering, steep hills, hidden lochs, waterfalls, remote villages, golden eagles and deer. Pass through the white gates to find Amhuinnsuidhe Castle, a spectacular hideaway offering outstanding accommodation, unsurpassed fishing and field sports, good food and Hebridean hospitality. Offers Exclusive Use, or individual rooms for guests who want to make use of our sporting facilities or for guests who want to come and relax in comfortable surroundings amidst a breathtaking wilderness. The focus is on providing a unique and unforgettable experience.