Campsites near Stornoway

Lewis, the island on which Stornoway sits, has some of the most otherworldly terrain of anywhere in Scotland: rolling peat bog littered with ancient monuments, spilling all the way to a windswept shore with sporadic dazzling sandy beaches. The best camping is on the northwest coast either side of Lewis’ main attraction, the prehistoric stone monuments of Callanish.

Whilst Stornoway is a more accessible year-round destination than almost everywhere else on the Outer Hebrides, the period of April to October remains best for a visit. This is when bad weather is least likely to cancel transport connections, when wind and rain are likely to be less intense for campers, and when traditional campsites are likely to be open. All the Outer Hebrides are scant on tree cover of any kind, meaning shelter from the elements is limited.

• Stornoway has year-round ferry connections to Ullapool on the Scottish mainland, plus an airport, with regular flights to Scottish mainland destinations including Glasgow and Edinburgh.
• If spending time camping on the Outer Hebrides, Stornoway is the only place where you can count on getting provisions, with a dedicated outdoor store and supermarkets. As good or better for gear and provisions, though, is Ullapool.
• Extreme stormy weather can cancel transport schedules at any time.
• Bad-weather alternatives for campers in the Outer Hebrides are the three simple Gatliff Trust hostels on Harris, Berneray, and South Uist.