Top Things to do in Isle of Lewis
10 Sights & Landmarks in Isle of Lewis That You Shouldn't Miss
A visit to the Isle of Lewis is like stepping into the pages of a Scottish fairy tale. Everywhere you look, medieval structures remind you of the island’s remarkable history. The legendary Callanish Standing Stones poke up from the ground like a strange and massive stone city. The Blackhouse, the Shawbost Norse Mill and Kiln, and the Carloway Broch all offer insight into what life on Lewis used to look like. Cheerful Stornoway boasts a charming, colorful harbor and several lovely restaurants and pubs.
Restaurants in Isle of Lewis
1. Isle of Lewis Cheese Company
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
2. Callanish Alpacas
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 31 reviews
Callanish Alpacas remains open for drop-in visits/informal tours but not currently any booked feeding slots for practical and safety reasons. We have 6 female alpacas and are expecting baby alpacas between mid-April and early June! We also have 32 unusual looking chickens, a peacock and peahen, 7 rare breed four-horned Hebridean sheep, Dougal “the tour guide” sheep, 3 smiling goats and 55 ducks of various comical and striking breeds! All 100+ animals have names! Please note that the whereabouts of the animals is weather-dependent. There is no charge but a voluntary donation towards the cost of keeping the alpacas and other animals is welcomed. Mollans Takeaway and Craft Shop are on site. For further details and opening hours search Mollans.
Reviewed By Hereward102
Finally made it out to Callanish Alpacas with the family. A really great experience. A warm welcome and tour of the mini-farm, the kids loved feeding and petting the animals. We then had a delicious lunch at the Mollans shed with an equally warm welcome from Rachel and Julie. Highly recommended and a great way to spend a few hours with the kids.
3. Callanish Standing Stones
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,608 reviews
This ancient monument is one of the most significant archaeological spots in Scotland's Outer Hebrides.
Reviewed By naturequeen - Huddersfield, United Kingdom
The time to visit this if it were possible would be alone in the evening with you and the stones for company. Set in beautiful scenery and quite extraordinary it is well worth a visit when you are in this part of Scotland. Don't go to Scotland and not visit here. Great gift shop but the cafe was packed and very long queues because of its popularity so would suggest an "out of season" or out of school holidays if you don't want to be squeezed out by the other tourists visiting here.
4. Butt of Lewis Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 483 reviews
Reviewed By PatriciaBremner - Gryon, Switzerland
This was a spectacular visit and well worth the drive to reach it. The coastline is amazing and full of bird life and the cliffs and rocks are breathtaking. If traveling with children it is worth noting that this is a dangerous location and children should not be allowed to run around unsupervised because of the easy access to cliff tops and steep falls.
5. Carloway Broch
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 501 reviews
Reviewed By 788cissac - Glasgow, United Kingdom
The best conserved Broch in Scotland, definitely worth seeing as it's more than just ruins. Short walk up a hill and toilets in the visitor center.
6. Norse Mill and Kiln
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 106 reviews
Reviewed By binapiraeus - Holyhead, United Kingdom
This is REALLY worth the walk from the car park - such a stunning sight when you get over that hill and see the two old huts! They're perfectly reconstructed like a little museum, you can go inside and admire the medieval tools, and there's an information folder as well that tells you all about them. The Norse mill and kiln were one of the MOST fascinating things we saw on the Isle of Lewis - and there's a lot of competition there; Callanish Stone Circle, Carloway Broch...
7. Gearannan Blackhouse Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 566 reviews
Reviewed By paultJesmondUK
Small community of crofting houses locate on a bay someway out of Stornaway.Life as it was lived until quite recently on the island.Well worth a visit to soak in the atmosphere.
8. Callanish VIII
9. St Columba's Chapel
10. The Blackhouse, Arnol
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 572 reviews
This site is closed for now. We’re working hard to gradually reopen the places you love while making sure the experience is safe for everyone. Gain a unique insight into island life at no. 42 Arnol. This traditional, fully furnished thatched house once sheltered a family and its animals under the same roof. The ruined blackhouse at no. 39 can also be seen, together with the 1920s ‘white house’ that replaced it. White houses – in which a wall separated byre and dwelling – replaced many blackhouses around this time. Gaelic-speaking members of staff are usually on hand to answer queries about the crofting life on Lewis. Smell the peat smoke – even today the fire at the heart of the blackhouse is never allowed to go out. Peek inside the cosy box-beds in the bedroom, still complete with their original fabrics and furnishings. See the byre just as it was left in 1966, only without the cows.
Reviewed By alisonj231 - York, United Kingdom
Beautifully restored traditional stone houses, lots of information and early Harris tweed looms in show. Loved it the best thing we visited on our holiday. Cracking location and we also had a nice scenic amble up the hillside which is full of wild flowers.
