Discover Stornoway

Stornoway combines culture, landscapes and special island experiences in an unusually diverse way. Anyone looking for holiday accommodation in the Outer Hebrides will find a starting point here for museum visits, walks, local traditions and activities on the water. At the same time, the trip can be shaped in very different ways: with art and history, with expansive routes through the landscape or with insights into the region’s craft and culinary culture.

Culture, history and Gaelic tradition

An Lanntair is a venue for several art forms. The centre includes a contemporary art gallery, theatre, cinema, dance studio, concert hall, a platform for poetry and literature, and a studio. An Lanntair also hosts the Hebrides International Film Festival and regularly holds special film screenings and Q&A sessions. Its location directly beside the central bus station on South Beach Street makes it easier to find your way around Stornoway.

The Museum nan Eilean is located in the purpose-built modern extension of Lews Castle. Significant loans include the Lewis Chessmen from the collections of National Museums Scotland and the British Museum. Anyone interested in the history of the islands can also visit exhibitions by the Stornoway Historical Society in Stornoway Town Hall. A winter lecture series focuses on local topics.

Living traditions also have their place in Stornoway. The Harris Tweed Story Room explains the history and handcrafted production of the fabric, shows a short film and a live demonstration at the loom. Visitors can make their own tweed there. An Taigh Cèilidh is a Gaelic community and cultural centre with a café and shop. Events include live music sessions, discussion groups, talks on culture and the environment, and film screenings.

Routes through parkland, moorland and the harbour

The Lews Castle Grounds cover more than 270 hectares of woodland, parkland and the gardens belonging to Lews Castle. The extensive network of paths leads through open moorland, along the coast, over wooded hills and beside the river. This allows you to plan your days in different ways: perhaps with a longer exploration on foot or by bike one day, and a more relaxed walk on another.

The River Creed is a pleasant, level walking route along a working salmon river. The Shore Road Walk passes Stornoway’s Inner Harbour and ends at the River Creed. Anyone who would also like to visit a historic site will find a Neolithic burial monument at the top of Gallows Hill; a heron colony lies on its slopes. The free, self-guided Stornoway Sculpture Trail connects the town and harbour area with sculptures, carvings and public art.

Special experiences for different kinds of days

Stornoway also offers activities that go beyond classic sightseeing. At Stornoway Distillers Gin School, participants develop their own recipe from more than 50 botanicals and distil it using mini stills. The experience combines a guided tasting with a personalised 70-cl bottle to take home. For a trip on the water, Immerse Hebrides offers two-hour boat tours from the Inner Harbour to observe whales and dolphins with a wildlife guide.

Stornoway Golf Club is located in the woods of Lews Castle; from there, the course rises towards the moorland to the west of the town. Visitors are welcome. Anyone wishing to explore the islands with expert guidance can also consider the services of Landstory or the Western Isles Tour Guide Association. Landstory specialises in archaeological tours of the Hebrides, while the Tour Guide Association offers professional guided tours for visitors to the Outer Hebrides.

Stornoway as a base for your holiday accommodation

When choosing your accommodation, you can consider whether culture, walking routes, harbour activities or excursions should be the main focus. Stornoway is home to the islands’ main ferry terminal, an airport and a deep-water harbour that receives cruise ships from around the world. For a trip involving a range of interests, the town therefore offers many practical starting points, without every day of the holiday having to follow the same pattern.

Events also shape the character of the place. The HebCelt festival site is located on Lews Castle Green in Stornoway, around a ten-minute walk from the town centre. Holiday accommodation in Stornoway is therefore particularly suited to travellers who want to combine museum visits, local culture, routes through the landscape and special experiences in one trip. For more ideas for places to visit, you can also look at Borve, Garrabost.

For the main travel overview: Hebrides.