Isle of Lewis

The Isle of Lewis is the largest of the Hebridean Isles and home to the Western Isles Council Offices, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar which is located in the main town of Stornoway.

If you enjoy fishing, golfing, or adventure sports this is the place for you.  However there is something for everyone with many more archeological sites, spectacular scenery and walks to suit all it is ideal for photographers.  The island attracts Bird Watchers as it has a huge variety of both water birds, migratory birds and some really rare breeds, Corncrakes for example.

Stornoway is a vibrant town with plenty of restaurants, pubs and cafes.  There are art galleries, museums and a variety of shops to satisfy those who like retail therapy.  An art Centre with cinema, a sports centre as well as a public library.  Stornoway also has a golf course with a large modern club house.

Places to visit include;

- Iron Age houses near Bostadh (Great Bernera)
- The Garenin Blackhouse Village in Carloway
- Black House at Arnol
- Bragar Whale Bone Arch
- St. Columba's Ui Church in Aignish
- Teampull Mholuaidh in Ness
- Clach an Truiseil monolith
- Clach Na Thursa, Carloway
- Bonnie Prince Charlie's Monument, Arnish
- Lews Castle and Grounds, Stornoway
- Butt of Lewis Lighthouse and cliffs
- Tiumphan Head Lighthouse, Point - ideal for whale watching
- Dùn Èistean, a small island which is the ancestral home of the Lewis Morrisons.
- Abhainn Dearg Distillery. First legal distillery on the island in 170 years. Carnish Uig

Travel to the Isle of Lewis

By Sea

Caledonian MacBrayne run a ferry service from Ullapool to Stornoway; you can also get a ferry from Uig on Skye to Tarbert, Isle of Harris: www.calmac.co.uk.

By Air

Stornoway Airport provides flights from Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow.  Stornoway Airport is less than an hours drive away:

• Flybe runs services between Stornoway and Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness, www.flybe.co.uk .
• Eastern Airways runs services between Stornoway and Aberdeen, www.easternairways.co.uk .

Car Rental

There are several car hire options locally:

• Mackinnons Self Drive:
• Lewis Car Rental:

Bus Connections

Citylink Coaches run services to/from the islands further information is available on their website www.citylink.co.uk

In the summer Skye-Ways operates between Kyle of Lochalsh and Glasgow  www.skyeways.co.uk

Local Bus Services

You will find the local bus timetable here on the Council website

The Isle of Harris

Although not an island itself, Harris is often referred to as the Isle of Harris, it is land bridged with Lewis to form the largest island in the Hebridean archipelago.

Harris is very diverse, in parts the landscape is strewn with massive boulders. The director Stanley Kubrick used the Harris landscape to depict  the surface of Jupiter in the film 2001: A Spcae Odyssey.Yet Harris is famed for its beaches, miles of shell white sands with turquoise water that on a really good day would remind you of a tropical paradise.

Wildlife here is in abundance, Red Deer, Otters, Seals, Eagles and Sea Eagles are not uncommon. Migratory birds, ducks and other water fowl visit, whilst the Machair is a haven for all sorts of animals, including our own species of Hebridean Bee.

Places to visit on Harris include;

- St Clements Church, Rodel
- Seallum Geneology Centre
- MacGillvray Centre
- Amhuinnsuidhe Castle
- Skoon Art Cafe

Tourist Information

Please use our links above to source information about our islands and what they have to offer.

Getting to Calanais Visitor Centre from Stornoway.


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