Things to do on the Isle of Lewis
The Isle of Lewis and Harris is Scotland’s largest island and yet one of its best kept secrets. Secluded and unspoilt with breathtaking scenery, it has everything you need for a real adventure. Here’s why it should be on your UK Bucket List.
Where to stay on the Isle of Lewis? Finding the best base.
We spent nearly two weeks exploring this island in August 2021 and one thing we learned was that the right location is key. The Isle of Lewis and Harris is one land mass, even though it is referred to as two separate islands. That said, Lewis and Harris have distinctly different identities, from the landscape to the cultural offerings.
From North to South, the 85 mile drive from Eoropie in the Isle of Lewis to Rodel in the Isle of Harris takes over two hours. And with the smaller roads and hills that make up most of the infrastructure, everywhere is a twenty minute drive away. So if you are looking for one place to base yourself, you need to find the right spot. Here’s our guide to the best spots on the Isle of Lewis.
West Coast
The West Coast of the Isle of Lewis is home to the Butt of Lewis, the most northwesterly spot in the UK. This coastline faces due West to Canada, Northwest to Iceland and North to the Faroe Islands. Standing here, gazing out at the great expanse of the North Atlantic Ocean, gives you a real sense of just how remote this island is.
The West coast is full of stunning, deserted beaches. Wide beaches with long stretches of white and golden sand, smaller secluded bays and black cliff faces which tower over the most spectacularly clear turquoise waters.
Even in the summer months, these spots remain quiet and it is not uncommon to get a whole beach to yourself. When the sun comes out (and it does!), there are no better beaches in the world than the ones dotted along this coastline. In fact, they are still magical on a cloudy day.
The surf breaks here are among the most consistent in the UK. Even in the busy summer months, when other shores lie flat, they remain blissfully uncrowded. With plenty of sandy breaks and empty line ups, there are waves for experienced surfers and beginners alike – it is the perfect spot to get in the water.
Tip: Don’t forget your wetsuit as the sea temperature rises to just fifteen degrees in the height of summer. You can hire wetsuits and boards for a good price at Hebridean Surf or book a full surf lesson with the local instructors.
Northwest or Southwest?
The Northwest section of this coast offers quicker access to Stornoway and the Butt of Lewis, and also to the larger A-roads that lead you around the island. Whilst the South West section is equally beautiful, it is more remote, and a longer journey away from the rest of Lewis and Harris along the winding B8011.
Great Bernera on this coast is even more cut off from the main isle, so if you truly want to escape and shut yourself off from the world, nestled among some of the best beaches and coastal hikes around, take a look at this spot. Just be mindful that it is quite a trek to the rest of the island, and it’ll take you longer to get the the best spots on the Isle of Lewis. Its neighbour, Little Bernera is an uninhabited island and is visible from the northern tip of Great Bernera and also from the pier in Carloway.
East Coast
The East Coast of the Isle of Lewis is home to its busiest spot, the capital, Stornoway. Here you can find multiple supermarkets, dining options and shops as well as the ferry port and airport, which is also used as an RAF base. It is definitely busier here, with more going on at night and in the day.
Tip: If you are staying outside of Stornoway, make sure you stock up in the supermarket here on arrival. Outside of the capital, shops are smaller and more expensive.
The beaches are equally spectacular here and this side of the island gives you access to the Eye Peninsular, or Point. With easy access to the West coast and the Isle of Harris, this is a great spot to stay if you want to be closer to the capital and its amenities, and you can make a few longer trips to explore those more remote spots.
Where to Stay on the Isle of Lewis: Accommodation
The Isle of Lewis has many accommodation options for all budgets and whatever your desired level of luxury or need for adventure. Once you’ve figured out where you want to base yourself on the island, dive in and check out the range of places to stay.
Tip: Book early – the best places, including campsites, fill up quickly.
Self Catering Houses and Cottages
There are so many self catering holiday lets on the island, of all styles and for all budgets. We stayed in Carloway Self Catering and our hosts, Calum and Valerie really were amazing and went the extra mile to make us feel at home bringing freshly baked cakes and locally caught lobster. Carloway was an ideal location for us, being close to some perfect surf spots and about a 30 minute drive to both Europie and Stornoway. An Taigh Clach (the stone house) was a real home from home, surrounded by nature with stunning 360 views. The cottage was incredibly well equipped and had everything we could possibly need.
Can I Wild Camp on the Isle of Lewis?
This was one of the most asked questions about our trip, as we travelled up to Lewis in our VW campervan. The Isle of Lewis and Harris does not enjoy the freedom of wild camping that mainland Scotland offers. However, there are several small, simple campsites on the island such as Eilean Frach Campsite and Ardroil Campsite which are uncrowded and offer spectacular locations and views. There are also many designated overnight parking spots in great locations, usually with an honesty box for your donation (usually up to £15). You just need to keep your eyes peeled to find them.
Tip: Make sure you have cash for the overnight parking spot donations and change for things like chemical waste disposal and water fill up points.
Best Things to do on the Isle of Lewis and Harris
Get Outdoors
Hiking, cycling, surfing, SUP-ing, fishing, this island is perfect for outdoor adventure and exploring. We used this brilliant guide to help us pin down our local walks, like the Butt of Lewis coastal walk, but you can also search online to find a good hike and there are many of them to choose from.
Tip: If you’re keen on a spot of fishing, make sure you stay on the right side of the law when it comes to fishing those rich local lochs. Check out Stornoway Angling Association for the T’s & C’s of the local waters.
Surfing on the Isle of Lewis
With consistent year round swell, uncrowded waves and plenty of sandy beach breaks, these shores are perfect for surfers of all ability levels. One thing to note is that these crystal clear waters are icy cold, and you’ll need a warm wetsuit even in the height of summer when the sea temperature warms to 15 degrees. But even our girls weren’t deterred by the cooler waters. And with wave after wave to themselves, they made incredible progress surfing here for two weeks. It is every surfer’s dream.
Want to learn to surf or perfect your technique in these uncrowded waves? Book a surf lesson or hire boards and wetsuits at Hebridean Surf.
Beaches on the Isle of Lewis and Harris
The beaches on this island are amongst the most beautiful we have seen in any country around the world. Long swathes of white sand cupped by the clear blue waters of Harris, and golden bays with the most spectacular turquoise waves are dotted all along the coastline of Lewis.
There seems little sense in making a list of the best beaches to visit, as it would surely list every single beautiful cove on this coastline, which stretches out to 940km. Just get out exploring and try to see as many as you can. You will not be disappointed.
The Wildlife of Lewis and Harris
The Isle of Lewis and Harris is rich in wildlife and if you keep your eyes open, you’ll be amazed at what you can see. We saw Orca Whales, many species of dolphin, porpoises, wild salmon, sea otters, seals, birds of prey including golden eagles, deer roaming wild and of course, many sheep and Scotland’s famous highland cows.
The Hebridean lifestyle is very much in tune with the nature and wildlife that is part of daily life, and it is certainly one of the key ingredients in this winning island recipe.
Best Sights to visit on the Isle of Lewis.
There are many sights to see and places to visit on the island, here is a round up of our favourites.
1. Tiumpan Head Lighthouse
It’s not so much for the lighthouse as the incredible sightings of whales and dolphins that make this site a must. We packed a picnic and spent three hours gazing out at the North Atlantic and were well rewarded with a plethora of sea life that came out to play.
Tip: Pack binoculars and your best camera gear and be patient.
2. Butt of Lewis, Lighthouse and Eoropie Dunes Playpark.
Proudly standing on the most northwesterly point of the UK is the Butt of Lewis rock formation and its lighthouse. We walked the coastal loop starting at the Eoropie Dunes Playpark, over the cliffs to the Butt of Lewis and round to the lighthouse. Then back to the sprawling playground for a much anticipated play (best avoided on a Sunday). The beach at Euorpie is also worth a visit.
3. Callanish Standing Stones.
Dating back a staggering 5,000 years, and predating Stonehenge, these monoliths are jaw-droppingly magnificent.
Tip: Don’t forget the midge spray and be sure to check out the visitor centre and delicious food options in the cafe.
4. Isle of Harris
Luskentyre Beach, Harris Tweed & Distillery
If you are based on Lewis, a trip to the Isle of Harris is well worth the hour or so drive. The beautiful beach of Luskentyre, on a sunny day, will transport you to the Bahamas and even the icy waters won’t deter you from taking a dip! The car park can fill up quickly, so be prepared to take a bit of a walk down the hill to get there, but believe me, it is worth every step when you first peer over the top.
Tip: Best visited on a sunny day, if possible. Check out that forecast and plan your trip to be here in the sun.
The famous Harris Tweed factory is also located here. In 2021 you needed to pre-book, just as you did for the distillery and a tasting of the fine Harris Gin.
This is just scratching the surface of Harris, there are plenty of stunning beaches on South Harris and impressive cliff formations on North Harris.
5. Gearrannan Blackhouse village & Norse Mill and Kiln
A chance to travel back in time and see the historic blackhouses in Gearrannan, which included a museum and an old house to view. It wasn’t really worth the £11 fee for a family, as we we’d seen all the open houses in 30 minutes, but the view from the top is lovely and it does help you get a sense of the rich history of the island.
Tip: Drive a few miles south along the same coast, and you can park and walk up the hill to a norse mill and kiln, for no fee.
Know before you go: The Sabbath
The Isle of Lewis is a bit like travelling back in time thirty years. This is one of the reasons we loved it, but you can get caught out if you’re expecting life and all its amenities to be on demand 24/7. For example, all shops close on Sunday and locals ‘respect the sabbath’ by taking a day of rest. Just make sure you stock up on the essentials (including fuel), so you can fully take advantage of the peace and relaxation. And maybe keep the little ones out of the playground…and send them to play on the beach instead!
We really had the best trip to the Isle of Lewis with so many things to do and explore and so much stunning natural beauty. If you’re planning a trip, don’t forget to check out our other guides on Lewis…
Want to find out more about how to get to the Isle of Lewis? Check out our ‘Travelling to the Isle of Lewis’ guide here.
Worried about those infamous Scottish midges? Check out this blog for the lowdown.
