If you had requested me a number of years in the past about my favourite a part of Scotland, I’d not have hesitated to inform you about how a lot I like the Isle of Skye, the wing-shaped island within the Inner Hebrides that captured my coronary heart on my first journey to Scotland.
But when you requested me right now about my favourite a part of Scotland? I would really must shift it to the Outer Hebrides and the Isle of Lewis and Harris.
I knew precisely two issues concerning the Isle of Lewis and Harris earlier than I visited in for the primary time on a tour with Haggis Adventures: I knew that it had a reasonably well-known circle of standing stones, and I knew that it was speculated to have good seashores.
I did not know that it required a virtually 3-hour ferry trip to get to. I did not know that it is kind of two separate islands with very totally different landscapes (Lewis is the northern a part of the island, and Harris is the southern half). I did not know something about its inhabitants, traditions, or different landscapes.
And I had no clue that I’d fall head over heels for it.
Traveling to Lewis and Harris
The journey to the Isle of Lewis and Harris began out a bit rocky – actually. The ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway was lurching this fashion and that in tough seas, making strolling round and maintaining down meals a problem for a lot of. It was additionally raining once we made it to our small hostel in Stornoway; not the welcome any of my Haggis Adventures tour mates had been hoping for for our introduction to the Outer Hebrides.
I used to be being cautious to maintain my expectations low. I wasn’t anticipating solar on this wild a part of Scotland in late September, and I informed myself I’d be completely satisfied to easily see the sights I used to be most trying ahead to.
So when the subsequent morning dawned cloudy, I wasn’t too let down.
But then one thing occurred on our option to Abhainn Dearg Distillery (essentially the most westerly distillery in Scotland): the quickly-moving clouds started to interrupt up and the solar started forcing its method by way of.
By the time we started our afternoon of sightseeing round Lewis, the solar was overtaking the clouds and everybody was in an excellent temper. And, fortunate for us, the solar adopted us round Harris the subsequent day, too!
While I do know the great climate undoubtedly had an have an effect on on my enjoyment of the island, I’ve a sneaking suspicion that I’d have beloved it anyway, rain or shine.
Here are all of the highlights from the Isle of Lewis and Harris that made me fall in love with it and be satisfied that it’d, the truth is, be one among Scotland’s best-kept secrets and techniques.
The finest issues to do on Lewis and Harris
1. Callanish Standing Stones
Probably essentially the most well-known sight on the Isle of Lewis is the Callanish (or Calanais) Standing Stones. Located on the west coast of Lewis, the stones date again to the Neolithic age – that means that they are about 5000 years previous!!
The standing stones encompass a major stone circle and rows of stones branching off from this in a tough cross form.
If you’ve got ever visited Stonehenge in England (particularly just lately), extra standing stones may not sound that thrilling. But whereas Stonehenge’s well-known stones at the moment are roped off and normally very crowded, the other is true at Callanish.
We had been kind of the one individuals there, and you’ll stroll proper as much as and round all of the stones.
It’s very seemingly that these stones impressed writer Diana Gabaldon in her creation of the Craigh na Dun standing stones within the “Outlander” sequence.
There had been loads of Outlander followers in my tour group, and so in fact all of us took turns stepping as much as the middle stone of the circle to see if we’d be capable of fall again by way of time and discover our personal Jamie Fraser. Sadly, none of us turned out to be time vacationers.
2. Dun Carloway
After the excessive of visiting Callanish, I did not actually care what else we noticed on Lewis and did not trouble to learn up on the opposite stops we had been making that day. Which meant that I spent the remainder of the day being completely delighted by the whole lot.
Our subsequent cease was at Dun Carloway, the remnant of a stone broch (small tower) that is roughly 2000 years previous. The broch itself is extremely spectacular, and the views of the close by countryside had been past lovely.
We walked as much as the tower spoil, and spent a while having fun with the view.
3. Gearrannan Blackhouse Village
Next we headed to the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, which right now is a cross between an open-air museum and vacation spot. The village consists of restored blackhouses – lengthy stone cottages with thatched roofs – and presents up each trip lodging and historic demonstrations.
If you’ve got ever been inquisitive about what a peat hearth smells like (many Scots used to and nonetheless do burn peat as an alternative of wooden), they normally have not less than one burning right here.
4. Butt of Lewis
Our final cease of the day on the Isle of Lewis was on the very northern tip of the island, AKA the Butt of Lewis. We went on a brief hike right here alongside the coastal cliffs, taking within the wonderful views out over the North Atlantic and maintaining heat in opposition to the biting Scottish wind.
5. Luskentyre Beach
The following day noticed us crossing over to Harris, the southern a part of the island. Our information, Mahri, informed us that many individuals suppose Lewis is called after the Gaelic phrase for “marshy,” whereas Harris means one thing alongside the traces of “higher,” since that is the place you discover mountains.
Our main cease of the day was at Luskentyre Beach, which has been named top-of-the-line seashores within the United Kingdom. And I can undoubtedly see why.
We had free time on the seashore to splash within the waves, frolic on the sand, and climb the rocky hill above the seashore to get higher views and go to with some bushy hielan’ coos (bushy Highland cows).
This in all probability would not look something just like the Scotland you’ve got imagined – however that is what makes it so particular.
6. St Clement’s Church
Our remaining cease on Lewis and Harris was at St. Clement’s Church within the tiny city of Rodel. The church itself is not significantly wonderful, however the surrounding surroundings undoubtedly is. If you stroll up the highway from the church and climb a hill, you may see the Isle of Skye on a transparent day.
Is Lewis and Harris price it?
Knowing how a lot I like the Isle of Skye, I used to be actually (pleasantly) stunned to like the Isle of Lewis and Harris simply as a lot, if no more. Part of it comes all the way down to the wonderful landscapes and historic websites on Lewis and Harris, and the opposite half I attribute to the truth that this island is not almost as well-visited as Skye.
Since it’s a must to take a ferry to Lewis and Harris (and since you simply do not hear as a lot about it because the well-known Isle of Skye), you may discover far much less guests right here than on a few of Scotland’s different islands. There had been undoubtedly locations the place we noticed no different vacationers, and we had been just about the one individuals staying at Heb Hostel in Stornoway.
So if you wish to expertise the very best of the Hebrides withOUT the crowds, undoubtedly head to the Isle of Lewis and Harris. It’s 100% well worth the effort to get there.
How to go to Lewis and Harris
The Isle of Lewis and Harris is not as straightforward to go to because the Isle of Skye, however you may 100% do it by yourself as a part of a Scotland highway journey.
To do it by yourself, you may must take the Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) Western Isles ferry service from Ullapool on the mainland to the principle port of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. From Ullapool, this journey usually takes slightly below 3 hours.
You also can sail from Uig on the Isle of Skye to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris in 1 hour and 40 minutes.
The ferries do accommodate automobiles, however you may need to ebook them as far upfront as potential! Find extra data and ebook right here. Once you are on Lewis (or Harris), you may drive from one a part of the island to the opposite, after which take the ferry again or onward.
If you do not need to self-drive, there are some tour choices to get you to Lewis and Harris. I traveled on a backpacker-style tour with Haggis Adventures (this one), however listed here are some extra tour choices, relying on how a lot time you might have:
Where to remain on Lewis and Harris
I do really suggest visiting Lewis and Harris on a tour, because it means not having to emphasize about driving on the slim island roads your self. And when you do that, your lodging can be taken care of for you.
But, if you wish to go by yourself, that is completely nice, too! If you are doing this, then the simplest place to base your self can be in Stornoway, because it’s the biggest city on the island. Places to remain right here embrace:
Have you ever been to any of Scotland’s isles? If not, do you need to head to Lewis and Harris now?
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Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to greater than 60 international locations on 6 continents from her house base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by way of the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas primarily based on her private experiences and locations she’s really traveled!