It isn't a controversial opinion to say that Scotland is one of the most beautiful places in the world. From the cobbled streets of Edinburgh to the rugged peaks of the Highlands, Scotland is a feast for the senses—and that's just the mainland!
In addition to the mainland—which makes up 1/3 of the UK, by the way—Scotland has nearly 800 adjacent islands! These islands are typically less crowded by tourists for a beautiful, more intimate tourist experience. While Skye is the best known of these islands, there's another spot in the Outer Hebrides that's even prettier: Lewis and Harris.
One Island, Two Parts
Don't be fooled by the name; Lewis and Harris is actually a single island split down the middle by a massive mountain. Located in the Outer Hebrides chain, Lewis and Harris is the largest island in Scotland. Broadly, the north part, Lewis, is flat, while Harris, the southern part, is mountainous.
Lewis and Harris truly has it all, from rich folk traditions and mythology, to rugged mountains, and beaches so beautiful you'd believe you were in the Caribbean. Let's dig into some of the reasons why Lewis & Harris is an unmissable vacation spot.
At first glance, the moorland and boggy landscape of this island—at least the Lewis section—may pale in comparison to Skye or the Shetlands. However, you only need to look closely for Lewis and Harris to reveal its secrets.
Lovely Lewis
Starting at the island's most northerly point, the Butt of Lewis (don't laugh, we're all adults here), the island has rough, rocky landscapes overseen by a lighthouse that has stood without a keeper for nearly 30 years. It's said to be the windiest spot in the UK, and we'd certainly believe that claim. Historians believe that Lewis & Harris have had 8,000 years of human settlement, seeing kingdoms rise and fall across millennia.
Moving south, you have the island's main town, Stornoway. Founded by Vikings in the 9th century Stornoway is focused around a natural harbor that brought visitors from mainland Scotland and beyond. Apart from the introduction of modern technology, Stornoway feels out of time, focusing on fishing and peat farming for commerce.
Lewis even has its own version of Stonehenge, about half an hour west of Stornoway. Built somewhere around 3000 BCE, the Callanish Standing Stones are older than Stonehenge by 2000 years! Standing sentinel above Loch Roag, these massive stones and their unexplained purpose have captivated imaginations for centuries.
Heavely Harris
However, we can't let Lewis get all the credit; after all, the island is Lewis and Harris. Harris is the highland to Lewis's lowland, with craggy cliff faces and far more sun than you would expect from Scotland. Like Lewis, Harris has rich Gaelic history dating back to the Neolithic age, but don't expect it to be a copycat of Lewis.
Where Lewis is rugged, Harris is golden. At Luskentyre Beach, fields of wildflowers give way to white sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters. It's no wonder these golden shores, just a short walk from the center of town, have been voted Britain's best beach.
Harris isn't just brimming with natural beauty, it's got scores of culture. While we're grading islands based purely on aesthetics, we'd be remiss if we didn't miss two of Harris's biggest cultural exports: whisky and tweed. Harris is the birthplace of Harris tweed, some of the highest-quality tweed you can get anywhere. The village of Tarbert is also hole to the Isle of Harris Distillery, producing single-malt whisky and a variety of flavored gin.
Has all this enticed you to visit Lewis and Harris? Car ferries depart daily from the mainland to Lewis and Harris throughout the year. Or, if you'd rather fly, you can catch a plane from Glasgow, Edinburgh, or other cities.
Happy traveling!
