Isle of Lewis Accommodation

Regular ferries run from Ullapool to Stornoway on Lewis

Calanais Standing Stones hewn from Lewisian gneiss

Dun Charlabhaigh Broch - you can still see rooms and passageways within it

The abandoned Blackhouses below the broch - built from stone from the broch

Restored Blackhouse villages show how life was traditionally led on Lewis

North eastern Lewis has some sandy beaches and stunning cliffs

Typical Lewis wilderness landscape of bogs and mountains - and no people!

The northern coast of Lewis is excellent for sufing and coastal walks

Isle of Lewis Tourist Information Outer Hebrides Western Isles Scotland

The Isle of Lewis is the largest island in the Outer Hebrides. It is a remote and ancient landscape with many artefacts still to be found that remind us that the island has been populated for thousands of years.

Many visitors come for the outdoor life and there is excellent surfing and sea kayaking on the north and west coast. Views are stunning in all weathers as you look out from Lewis into the expanse of Atlantic Ocean crashing against the shore.

Getting to the Isle of Lewis - Stornoway Airport Ferries to Stornoway

Increasingly flying to the Outer Hebrides has become an easier option meaning relatively hassle-free travel to peace and tranquillity once you land. Inter-island flights also make it an easy hop across for exploring more of the Western Isles.

Stornoway Airport, four miles east of the town, is the main airport for flights to the Western Isles. Flights to Stornoway run direct from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness. Inter-island flights to Benbecula also fly from Stornoway.

The most popular route from Scotland to the Outer Hebrides is from Ullapool to Stornoway. Day trips are possible but it's best to stay a little longer to explore all the Western Isles have to offer. There are usually two sailings a day and three in the peak season. The journey takes just over two and half hours arriving in Stornoway harbour in the heart of the town.

Hiring a car is the easiest way to explore Lewis and the Hebrides giving you the freedom to explore the many beaches, settlements, coast and countryside at your own pace. Roads are rarely busy and you can see some wonderful scenery on your travels. There are a variety of companies providing car hire. You can pick these up at their offices or pick up from ferry and airport terminals can be easily arranged.

Sightseeing Isle of Lewis Outer Hebrides

Lewis is one half of the largest island of the Outer Hebrides together with Harris in the southern half. There are few roads across Lewis making it seem remote and inaccessible. It is worth exploring the island though as there are beautiful sandy beaches, coastal scenery, rocky hills rising up out of the peatbogs and plenty of archaeological and historic sites that help build a picture of life on the Isle of Lewis since the Iron Age.

Lewis is relatively low lying with lower, more rolling hills and mountains than Harris. Most of the inland areas that haven't been converted for farming or housing is taken up with peat bog - a lovely and rare habitat to those in the know, but is more often important to islanders as a source of fuel. The peat is dug by crofters in Spring who then leave the sods out to dry over the summer so they're ready for burning when it gets colder. The sweet smell of peat-smoke wafts across the island and you can visit blackhouse museums to find out about the traditional life on the islands.

The Western Isles are the capital of Gaelic speakers and many islanders speak Gaelic as their first language. Consequently most of the road signs are in Gaelic and only the main signs have the English spellings underneath. This means it is useful to know the Gaelic names of places you're going before you set off to avoid confusion.

Lewis is also a centre for ancient monuments like the standing stones at various sites around Calanais. These are all remarkably intact considering how many thousands of years they've been stood on the island.

Stornoway Isle of Lewis Western Isles

Stornoway is the urban epicentre for these parts, with a wide choice of shops, both local and independent and national chains, a tourist information office and a museum, a modern art gallery and cinema complex. There are several specialist food outlets where you can purchase the local produce like the excellent Stornoway Black or White Pudding.

Hebridean Outdoor Activities - Lewis Surfing Sea Kayaking Walking

Lewis is great for a wide range of outdoor activities. Walking, surfing and sea kayaking are probably the most popular, but there are opportunities for every kind of activity you can think of, from cycling to climbing.

There are also several companies who run courses, training or who can guide you to the best places for your chosen activity on the Isle of Lewis.

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