4- and 5-star hotels in Isle Of Lewis

Lewis is an island of Neolithic monuments, Iron Age brochs and quiet Atlantic beaches, with Harris Tweed woven in the Outer Hebrides and Gaelic still spoken by a significant part of the population. Visitors come for archaeology, walking, birdwatching and the beaches, and travel takes planning: ferries and flights can be affected by weather, and many roads outside the main routes are single-track with passing places.

These properties sit away from Stornoway itself, in crofting townships along the coast. Several are on the west side, at Carnish, Barvas, Breasclete and Shawbost, close to the Callanish Standing Stones and Dun Carloway broch. Others lie to the north, at Ness and South Dell, and to the south-east at Calbost, Gravir, Orinsay and Sandwick. They suit couples and families who want a cottage base and a car, and self-catering stays of several nights rather than a single night in town.

Getting there and around

CalMac ferries run from Ullapool on the Scottish mainland to Stornoway, and from Uig on Skye to Tarbert on Harris, which connects by road to Lewis. Loganair flies to Stornoway from several Scottish airports, including Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Once on the island, a car is the most practical way to get around; buses serve Stornoway and some larger villages, but services are limited, especially on Sundays. Single-track roads with passing places are common outside the main routes, and ferries and flights can be affected by weather.

When to go

May to September offers the longest days and the mildest weather, though rain is possible at any time. Midges and other biting insects are active in summer, especially near still water and vegetation. Winter has short daylight hours and a higher chance of travel disruption, but also fewer visitors. The Callanish Standing Stones are accessible year-round, and some businesses and transport services run reduced timetables on Sundays.