Rosewell guidebook
Sightseeing
Walk among the megaliths at one of Scotland’s most magnificent and best-preserved Bronze age monuments. Being over 5,000 years old, they predate Stonehenge.
81 locals recommend
Callanish Standing Stones
Walk among the megaliths at one of Scotland’s most magnificent and best-preserved Bronze age monuments. Being over 5,000 years old, they predate Stonehenge.
The beautiful long beach of Traigh Mhor (big beach in Gaelic) is a must visit beach about 15 minutes drive from Tong.
You'll most likely have the beach to yourself, or with a very few people.
21 locals recommend
Traigh Mhòr
The beautiful long beach of Traigh Mhor (big beach in Gaelic) is a must visit beach about 15 minutes drive from Tong.
You'll most likely have the beach to yourself, or with a very few people.
The Carloway Broch is one of the best preserved in the Hebrides and dates back over 2000 years.
A Broch is an Iron Age structure designed to impress and defend.
28 locals recommend
Dun Carloway Broch
Lewis and Harris IslandThe Carloway Broch is one of the best preserved in the Hebrides and dates back over 2000 years.
A Broch is an Iron Age structure designed to impress and defend.
A small beach tucked away behind a headland with rock fortresses in the sands and a bridge to nowhere.
18 locals recommend
Garry Beach
A small beach tucked away behind a headland with rock fortresses in the sands and a bridge to nowhere.
A view into the past, you can see how islanders used to live in traditional black houses.
45 locals recommend
Gearannan Blackhouse Village
5A GareninA view into the past, you can see how islanders used to live in traditional black houses.
Built in around 1880, No.42 Arnol gives a special insight into island life. This blackhouse was once the residence of a Hebridean crofting family and their animals, who moved out in 1966, and today it is preserved almost as the family left it.
36 locals recommend
The Blackhouse, Arnol
Built in around 1880, No.42 Arnol gives a special insight into island life. This blackhouse was once the residence of a Hebridean crofting family and their animals, who moved out in 1966, and today it is preserved almost as the family left it.
Regularly rated in the top ten beaches in the world, this is both a stunning and popular beach.
Expect the car park to be full, but it's worth waiting for a space.
Aim to be there are low tide to really enjoy the sheer size of the golden sands, and walk along the beach away from the car park to get to best views, most people stay around the car park area of the beach.
42 locals recommend
Luskentyre Beach
Regularly rated in the top ten beaches in the world, this is both a stunning and popular beach.
Expect the car park to be full, but it's worth waiting for a space.
Aim to be there are low tide to really enjoy the sheer size of the golden sands, and walk along the beach away from the car park to get to best views, most people stay around the car park area of the beach.
Including a café and museum, it's a pleasant place to visit.
The extensive castle grounds are very popular with walkers, cyclists and mountain bikers.
55 locals recommend
Lews Castle
Including a café and museum, it's a pleasant place to visit.
The extensive castle grounds are very popular with walkers, cyclists and mountain bikers.
Tuck away in the north west of the island, with giant sand dunes and golden sand this beach makes the perfect spot to watch sunsets over the sea. There's also an outdoor assault course with a zip line, it's meant to be for the kids, but we love playing on it as well.
15 locals recommend
Eoropie Beach
Tuck away in the north west of the island, with giant sand dunes and golden sand this beach makes the perfect spot to watch sunsets over the sea. There's also an outdoor assault course with a zip line, it's meant to be for the kids, but we love playing on it as well.
Aline Community Woodland
Great nature spot with walkways through the woods.
Originally planned to be a road from Tolsta to Ness, building the bridge is as far as they got.
But for the more intrepid walker, there is a walking route over to Ness, with an abandoned village on route.
7 locals recommend
The Bridge to Nowhere
Originally planned to be a road from Tolsta to Ness, building the bridge is as far as they got.
But for the more intrepid walker, there is a walking route over to Ness, with an abandoned village on route.
A firm favourite with everyone, islander and visitor alike!
48 locals recommend
Isle of Harris Distillery
A firm favourite with everyone, islander and visitor alike!
Arts and crafts are popular on the island with small galleries and potteries around the island.
6 locals recommend
Borgh Pottery
Arts and crafts are popular on the island with small galleries and potteries around the island.
Food scene
HS-1 Cafe Bar
Cromwell StreetA relaxed bistro style restaurant, serving good food.
Pleasant atmosphere and good food with a dual menu including traditional food and an Indian menu.
14 locals recommend
County Hotel
12-14 Francis StPleasant atmosphere and good food with a dual menu including traditional food and an Indian menu.
This is a fantastic little Thai Restaurant in the centre of Stornoway serving very good Thai food.
Makes sure to phone in your order first if ordering takeaway.
Thai
27 Church StThis is a fantastic little Thai Restaurant in the centre of Stornoway serving very good Thai food.
Makes sure to phone in your order first if ordering takeaway.
An Lanntair
Kenneth StreetArts centre with a gallery, cinema and café.
Great place to drop off for a light lunch or a coffee before or after a walk in the castle grounds.
17 locals recommend
Woodlands Centre
Great place to drop off for a light lunch or a coffee before or after a walk in the castle grounds.
Fantastic locally caught seafood.
You'll need to order in advance on Facebook or you'll face a long wait when you get there.
Usually open from Wednesday to Saturday.
Pick up your order and eat outside with views over Loch Seaforth.
14 locals recommend
Taste n Sea
A859Fantastic locally caught seafood.
You'll need to order in advance on Facebook or you'll face a long wait when you get there.
Usually open from Wednesday to Saturday.
Pick up your order and eat outside with views over Loch Seaforth.
Fresh baked pizza with fantastic views south towards the mountains, claimed to be the best pizza in the Hebrides.
11 locals recommend
Crust
Fresh baked pizza with fantastic views south towards the mountains, claimed to be the best pizza in the Hebrides.
Island Star
28 South BeachVery popular Chinese takeaway with big portions.
Nice little gift shop with tea/coffee and cake with views over the harbour towards Lews Castle.
12 locals recommend
the blue lobster
Nice little gift shop with tea/coffee and cake with views over the harbour towards Lews Castle.
Nice coffee and cake stop a stones throw from the Castle Grounds, good starting and/or ending point for a walk in the Castle Grounds.
11 locals recommend
Kopi Java
87 Cromwell StNice coffee and cake stop a stones throw from the Castle Grounds, good starting and/or ending point for a walk in the Castle Grounds.
Uig Sands Restaurant
Stunning views and delicious food.
City advice
Getting around
Having a car is the easiest way to travel around the island.
There are bus services around the island, but it's much more convenient to use your own car to travel around.
Customs and culture
Local Sunday traditions
The island observes Sunday as their Sabbath day and you'll find that all the shops, bars and petrol stations are closed and that there are only a few restaurants open. So it's best to plan ahead for Sunday's and make sure you have bought what you'll need on Saturday.
It's also frowned upon to hang out you washing on a Sunday, or play loud music outdoors.
But feel free to visiting parts of the island and go for walks.