TRAVEL : A staycation to the Isle of Lewis and Harris, Scotland

I find this a bit of a conundrum. We are all craving travel; visits to far flung destinations, experiences of different cultures and quick get aways to somewhere with sun, sand and sangria; yet it almost feels taboo to talk about it.

How many of you click through travel sites online, check out the latest flights deals or see what hotels are available on the likes of hotels.com. I know I do it… and I do it alot!

STAYCATION DREAM - A VISIT TO THE ISLE OF LEWIS AND HARRIS, SCOTLAND

It’s impossible at the moment to make any holiday or travel plans with Covid restrictions in constant flux and we must adhere to these restrictions if we are ever going to beat this pandemic, but we should also dream about our holiday destinations and let our imagination flow. After nearly a year in some form of lockdown, I have to let my mind wander and thinking of my next getaway is one thing that’s keeping me sane.

And so it got me thinking – where oh where would I go?

I’m still slightly cautious about travelling abroad but as I live on one of the most beautiful islands in the world, I’d love to explore what’s in my back garden and visit the Isle of Lewis and Harris.

I too want to create picture postcards of the crystal clear waters surrounding this Isle in the Outer Hebrides and capture photos of the pure white beaches and the rugged mountains.

Besides spamming my Instagram grid with gorgeous photographs, there are many reasons to visit the Isle of Lewis and Harris, but here are my top three:

The Isle of Lewis and Harris boasts a place in the Top Beaches in the World list by Tripadvisor, with stunning Luskentyre the star attraction but Seilebost and Scarista are not far behind. You can count on one hand the amount of beach goers here, if you’re lucky – most of the time you’ll have the beaches to yourself.

Being a Celt with flowing red hair and a love affair with Outlander, I do have a thing for Scottish history and the Calanais Standing Stones or Callanish Stones hold a particular fascination for me. No-one has any clue as to why these monoliths are here or arranged in a rudimentary cross; some believe that it is a place for ritual activities, possibly an astronomical observatory or celestial calendar but I like the lore tale that the stones are petrified giants.

And lastly, I want to visit for the food and drink. Scotland has the best larder in the world and some of my all time favourite products come from the Isle of Lewis and Harris.

  • Stornoway Black Pudding. If you are ever going to try black pudding, this is the one you want to eat and you’ll not taste any better.

  • Hebridean hand dived scallops. Scotland is know for the best seafood in the world and you don’t get better tasting nor better for the environment than hand dived.

  • Harris Gin. The subtle flavours of liquorice and sugar kelp bottled in THE most sought after and beautiful glass bottles.

  • Hebridean Mustard Company. These condiments are small batch and hand crafted from organic mustard seeds.

No doubt I’d have to go for a week - all the history, the beach combing and the eating and drinking!

If like me, you fancy a staycation and the Isle of Lewis and Harris is on your travel radar, then here are some handy links.

WHERE TO STAY ON THE ISLE OF LEWIS AND HARRIS

There are some fantastic places to stay and some great deals to be had on Hotels.com, click here. I really fancy Seacroft B&B

If guided tours are your thing, check out these suggestions from Hotels.com, click here.

TRAVEL TO THE ISLE OF LEWIS AND HARRIS

Getting to the Isles of Lewis and Harris is a little tricky but well worth it!

You can fly with Loganair from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Manchester straight into Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis and then hire a car at the airport to make your way around the island.

If you want to take your own car, you’d drive to Ullapool and then catch the 2h45 minute Calmac ferry to Stornoway.

Have I tempted you to visit the Isle of Lewis and Harris? If no, where are you going for your next staycation or vacation abroad?

This blog post was written in collaboration with Hotels.com, but all views are my own.

 

 

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