Isle of Lewis Guidebook
Sightseeing
Lews Castle in Stornoway is home to Museum nan Eilean - the island's main museum with loans from the National Museum of Scotland and the British Museum, including the world-famous Lewis Chessmen!
The Castle Grounds are beautiful to walk around and you'll also find a Starbucks concession there (although there are some local, arguably better alternatives elsewhere)
55 locals recommend
Lews Castle
Lews Castle in Stornoway is home to Museum nan Eilean - the island's main museum with loans from the National Museum of Scotland and the British Museum, including the world-famous Lewis Chessmen!
The Castle Grounds are beautiful to walk around and you'll also find a Starbucks concession there (although there are some local, arguably better alternatives elsewhere)
Callanish Standing Stones
Need we say more? The world famous Callanish Stones.
The premier tour company on the islands (in our opinion anyway!) - if you're short on time or genuinely want to visit the gems that you probably wouldn't find online, give Derek or Billy a shout.
HEB360
1 KnockThe premier tour company on the islands (in our opinion anyway!) - if you're short on time or genuinely want to visit the gems that you probably wouldn't find online, give Derek or Billy a shout.
This is an unreal piece of history on the island and well worth a stop when you're touring about.
28 locals recommend
Dun Carloway Broch
Lewis and Harris IslandThis is an unreal piece of history on the island and well worth a stop when you're touring about.
Please consider a visit to our local arts centre in Stornoway to help support the creative industry post-Covid. With a bar, restaurant, cinema, exhibitions and gifts, it's well worth a visit.
53 locals recommend
An Lanntair
Kenneth StreetPlease consider a visit to our local arts centre in Stornoway to help support the creative industry post-Covid. With a bar, restaurant, cinema, exhibitions and gifts, it's well worth a visit.
This community woodland is packed with trails, perfect for nature walks and family bike rides!
8 locals recommend
Aline Community Woodland
This community woodland is packed with trails, perfect for nature walks and family bike rides!
Exactly what it says on the tin. It's a Bridge, and it goes nowhere. Not far from us here and very close to the enormous Tolsta Beach!
7 locals recommend
The Bridge to Nowhere
Exactly what it says on the tin. It's a Bridge, and it goes nowhere. Not far from us here and very close to the enormous Tolsta Beach!
Neighbourhoods
Ness is the most northerly district in the Western Isles and home to an array of beaches and wildlife as well as the island's only bowling alley (Spors Nis), an award-winning playpark (Eoropie), multiple places to eat (The Breakwater, Cross Inn, Wobbly Dog, Comunn Eachdraidh), shops and the famous Butt of Lewis lighthouse.
6 locals recommend
Ness
Ness is the most northerly district in the Western Isles and home to an array of beaches and wildlife as well as the island's only bowling alley (Spors Nis), an award-winning playpark (Eoropie), multiple places to eat (The Breakwater, Cross Inn, Wobbly Dog, Comunn Eachdraidh), shops and the famous Butt of Lewis lighthouse.
Food scene
the blue lobster
Such a lovely cafe and shop on the harbour in Stornoway.
Kopi Java
87 Cromwell StCoffee and cake in Stornoway
We provide you with some goodies but if you want to stock up on some fine foods from the Hebrides and around the world, this is the shop to come to.
15 locals recommend
The Good Food Boutique
59-61 Cromwell StWe provide you with some goodies but if you want to stock up on some fine foods from the Hebrides and around the world, this is the shop to come to.
Tesco Superstore
Ferry RoadNeed some groceries? Here you go!
Co-op Food - MacAulay Road - Stornoway
8 Macaulay RdNeed some groceries? Here you go!
Beautiful restaurant run by lovely people over in Uig. Stunning in every way and worth spending a day in the local area if you're making the trip!
27 locals recommend
Uig Sands Restaurant
Beautiful restaurant run by lovely people over in Uig. Stunning in every way and worth spending a day in the local area if you're making the trip!
Harbour Kitchen
5 Cromwell StArtizan
12 Church StMore amazing coffee and cake in Stornoway, with a great vibe inside.
Arguably the most famous Black Pudding in the world! Look out for the other butchers in Stornoway too as they have black puddings that some would say beats "Charlie Barley" - buy them all and have a taste test!
10 locals recommend
Charles Macleod
Arguably the most famous Black Pudding in the world! Look out for the other butchers in Stornoway too as they have black puddings that some would say beats "Charlie Barley" - buy them all and have a taste test!
Our own personal favourite Black Pudding comes from a humble shop in Ness. In fact, their whole butchery range is hard to beat, so if that's your thing - go here!
7 locals recommend
Cross Stores station
Our own personal favourite Black Pudding comes from a humble shop in Ness. In fact, their whole butchery range is hard to beat, so if that's your thing - go here!
Shopping
Coll Pottery Craft Centre
Down the road from us, Coll Pottery sells....pottery!
Set way back from the road, en-route to Ness, the Morven Gallery is a real gem and absolutely worth a visit! Beautiful works of art to buy, including jewellery and other smaller works. There are toilets and a tearoom here too.
7 locals recommend
Morven Gallery
Set way back from the road, en-route to Ness, the Morven Gallery is a real gem and absolutely worth a visit! Beautiful works of art to buy, including jewellery and other smaller works. There are toilets and a tearoom here too.
A pottery whose work is synonymous with Lewis - there's no mistaking the pottery from Borve and it's absolutely beautiful and worth a stop at the shop.
6 locals recommend
Borgh Pottery
A pottery whose work is synonymous with Lewis - there's no mistaking the pottery from Borve and it's absolutely beautiful and worth a stop at the shop.
A must visit in every way - try and book onto a tour well in advance though! Home of the Isle of Harris gin, you'll want to stock up on a few bottles! If you can't make it to Harris while you're with us, you can buy bottles in some select shops in Stornoway - use the Distillery's website to find out who the stockists are!
48 locals recommend
Isle of Harris Distillery
A must visit in every way - try and book onto a tour well in advance though! Home of the Isle of Harris gin, you'll want to stock up on a few bottles! If you can't make it to Harris while you're with us, you can buy bottles in some select shops in Stornoway - use the Distillery's website to find out who the stockists are!