Located off the north-west coast of Scotland, the Isle of Lewis is the largest island in the Outer Hebrides. It was once part of the Norse Kingdom of the Isles and has a rich cultural heritage, with Scottish Gaelic still spoken by many of its residents.
Things to do in Isle of Lewis
Near the village of Callanish is a collection of 13 standing stones that were used for ritual activity during the Bronze Age. Featuring a central monolith of locally sourced Lewisian gneiss, this stone circle is arranged in a cruciform pattern. Stop at the visitor centre to learn about the site’s fascinating past and the pottery fragments that were discovered here before soaking up the sweeping views across the surrounding countryside.
Clustered on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean is a series of traditional stone cottages that are collectively known as the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village. Each of the dwellings is named after the family that once lived there, with some serving as holiday accommodation and others as museums showcasing island life in times gone by. Nearby is the Calloway Mill where Isle of Lewis wool is transformed into Harris Tweed.
Dominating the northernmost tip of the island is the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse, which was designed by the Scottish architect David Stevenson in the 1860s. Rising to 37 metres in height, it stands atop some of the oldest rocks in Europe. Combine your visit to the lighthouse with a stop at beautiful Eoropie Beach or visit the Iron Age fortified settlement of Dun Eistean.
Getting around Isle of Lewis
Stornoway Airport is the main aviation gateway to the Isle of Lewis and has flights to destinations across the United Kingdom. A ferry connects from Ullapool on the Scottish mainland to Stornoway, from where buses travel to towns and villages across the island.