Things to Do
Over 70 things to do from 6 Laxay, our holiday cottage in Laxay on the Isle of Lewis, each with its drive time from the house: beaches, history, Harris Tweed, wildlife, walks, food, rainy days and the year’s events. Ten are in the village or a short drive away. Most shops, cafés and attractions close on Sundays, and many shorten their hours from October to March.
There's more to do here than you might think
Over 70 ideas for your stay, ten of them in Laxay or a short drive from the house. Tap a tile to jump to a section.
On the Doorstep
10 ideas near the house
Beaches
12 beaches
History & Heritage
13 places
Harris Tweed & Makers
15 places
Wildlife & Boat Trips
6 ideas
Walks
7 walks
Outdoor Activities & Sport
10 activities
Food & Drink
11 places
Rainy Days & Families
12 ideas
What's On
15 annual events
Suggested Days Out
5 itineraries
Good to Know
Look out for: Rainy dayKidsSeasonalFree
On the Doorstep
You don’t need to drive far. These are all in Laxay or a short drive from the house, and they’re a good place to start on your first day.
River Laxay & Loch Erisort
The river runs through the village into an eight-mile sea loch. Look out for white-tailed sea eagles, otters, seals and red deer.
The last stage of the 156-mile island route passes the door, so you can walk it in short stretches straight from the house.
Local museum, archive and family-history centre in the old school, with a community café for soup, sandwiches and home baking.
Lochs Services
The nearest shop, filling station and post office. The takeaway does fish & chips on Friday nights.
Creagan Café
Friendly community café with soup, home baking and good coffee. Open Wednesdays and Fridays.
The Weaving Shed
Harris Tweed handwoven on an 85-year-old loom. Watch a demonstration and buy cloth direct from the weaver.
Community hub on Loch Erisort with the Pairc history museum, a shop, a café where sea eagles are often seen, and the Bird of Prey Trail.
Wood-fired Neapolitan pizza served from a shipping container on the open moor.
A short but rough walk to a village cleared in 1857, on the shore of Loch Shell. Eagles and otters are possible.
The local crofting show, held each year on a Saturday in late July, with livestock, baking, tweed, sheepdogs and an evening ceilidh. See What’s On.
Beaches
Some of the finest beaches in Europe are an easy day out from Laxay, and the drive there is part of the pleasure. See photos of the beaches.
- West Lewis (about 45–60 min): Cliff, Reef, Uig Sands and Bosta on Great Bernera.
- North Lewis (about 40 min): Tràigh Mhòr and North Tolsta. Surf lessons and beach pony treks run here.
- Harris (about 50–75 min): Luskentyre, Seilebost, Horgabost, Nisabost, Borve and Scarista.
History & Heritage
Lewis and Harris hold 5,000 years of history, from standing stones and Iron Age brochs to blackhouses lived in within living memory.
The 5,000-year-old stone circle, with a new visitor centre (opened 2026) that has an exhibition, café and shop.
Free museum of island life, home to some of the original Lewis Chessmen.
A traditional thatched blackhouse with the peat fire still burning, left as the family had it (Historic Environment Scotland).
Restored crofting village by the sea, with weaving demonstrations, a café and a shop.
One of the best-preserved Iron Age brochs in Scotland. The site is open all year, and the Doune Broch Centre next door opens from April to September.
Accredited museum and archive with the early Christian Ronan Cross and a busy community café.
Small museum near Ardroil beach, where the Lewis Chessmen were found in 1831. It has replica chessmen.
A reconstructed Iron Age house above one of the loveliest beaches on the island, plus the Bernera Museum. Open May to September.
Iolaire Memorial
Memorial to the 201 men lost within sight of home on New Year’s Day 1919.
Lewis War Memorial
A hilltop tower with wide views over the town and harbour.
Bonnie Prince Charlie Monument
A cairn marking where the Prince landed in 1746, looking across the harbour mouth.
One of Scotland’s first four lighthouses, first lit in 1789. Reached by a moorland walk.
The finest medieval building in the Western Isles, with the carved tomb of Alasdair Crotach MacLeod.
Harris Tweed, Crafts & Makers
Harris Tweed is still handwoven in islanders’ homes. Here is where to see it made, meet the makers and buy it. More about Harris Tweed.
Guided tour run by the Harris Tweed Authority with a live weaver. You can try the loom yourself. Spring to early October.
A working tweed mill with machinery from 1892. Tours are by appointment, and there is a mill shop.
The Weaving Shed
Hand-loom weaving demonstrations close to the house.
Husband-and-wife double-width weavers with a shop at their home. Open May to September.
Flagship shop for the Shawbost mill’s cloth and clothing.
Family-run tweed shop selling clothing, bags and cloth off the roll.
Home of Harris Gin and Hearach whisky. Tours run late March to October, Monday to Friday.
Gin distillery with a make-your-own-gin experience, a cocktail bar and a seafood kitchen.
The first legal whisky distillery on Lewis in almost 200 years. Booked cask tastings only, no walk-in tours.
The islands’ arts centre, with galleries, a cinema, live music, a café-bar and a craft shop.
Working pottery studio overlooking the Atlantic.
Small soap and candle workshop where you can see how the soap is made. The peat candles make good gifts.
Community arts centre with artist studios, a gallery and a café above Nisabost beach.
Art gallery and café on the dramatic east-coast Golden Road.
Celtic silver jewellery and local books.
Wildlife & Boat Trips
Golden and white-tailed eagles, otters, seals, dolphins and whales. Some of Britain’s best wildlife watching is on the doorstep, starting with Loch Erisort beside the house.
An easy, flat 2 km track to a glass-fronted hide in golden eagle territory. Free and open all year. The North Harris Trust also runs guided eagle walks on summer Wednesdays.
Two-hour boat trips along the Lochs coastline, including Loch Erisort below the house. Mid-April to mid-September.
Two-hour whale and dolphin trips in the Minch, looking for Risso’s and common dolphins and minke whales.
Two-hour sea-stack trips on a cabin boat with a toilet. Good for otters, seals and sea eagles, and suitable for families.
One of Scotland’s best headlands for spotting whales and dolphins from land.
Loch Erisort
Sea eagles, otters, seals and herons on the loch beside the house.
Walks
From sheltered woodland strolls to the highest peak in the Outer Hebrides. Listed roughly from easiest to hardest.
600 acres of sheltered woodland and riverside paths with Gruffalo, Walrus and Treasure trails for children, plus two cafés. Easy.
A 5.5 km loop past the lighthouse and sea cliffs at the island’s northern tip. Easy to moderate.
A short, rough walk to an abandoned village on Loch Shell. Moderate.
A remote 22 km cliff-top walk past Garry Bridge and Tràigh Mhòr. It can be done in shorter sections. Challenging.
At 799 m, the highest peak in the Outer Hebrides, with views over the whole island chain. Hill walk.
The highest hill on Lewis, looking down over Uig Sands. Pathless and boggy. Hill walk.
Pentland Road (scenic drive)
A 16-mile single-track road across the open moor. Combine it with Calanais for a loop.
Outdoor Activities & Sport
Surfing, pony trekking, golf on the machair, sea saunas, swimming and fishing.
18-hole course in the castle grounds. Visitors welcome and club hire available.
Nine-hole links on the machair above Scarista beach, paid by honesty box. Often called one of the most scenic courses anywhere.
Beginner surf lessons with all kit included, plus paddleboarding and snorkelling. Children welcome.
Beach and moorland rides for all ages and abilities, including on the sands of Tràigh Mhòr.
Wood-fired saunas on the beach, with an optional cold-water dip.
Bike and e-bike hire for exploring the Hebridean Way cycle route (NCN 780).
25 m pool with family fun sessions, a climbing wall, a gym and a café.
Pool, children’s pool, jacuzzi and sauna.
The islands’ only ten-pin bowling, plus soft play.
Visitor day tickets for brown trout lochs, with salmon and sea trout on the Creed from June.
Food & Drink
Stornoway black pudding, kippers, langoustine rolls and good coffee. These are all open and worth the trip. More about Stornoway.
The home of PGI Stornoway Black Pudding since 1947. Take some back for breakfast.
The last traditional kipper house in the Hebrides, selling kippers and smoked salmon.
All-day café-bar looking over the marina to Lews Castle.
Kopi Java
Family-run café known for its coffee and Hebridean brownies.
Café inside the castle, next to the museum.
Café in the woods by the River Creed.
Seventy-seat café at the new visitor centre beside the stones.
Café-restaurant above Port of Ness beach, serving generous portions.
Honesty-box bakery shack famous for langoustine rolls and seafood soup. Arrive early, as it sells out.
Seafood restaurant with views over Uig Bay. Open April to September.
Family smokehouse since 1984. Ring ahead for a tasting.
Plus, near the house:
Kinloch Café, Creagan Café and Crust Like That (see On the Doorstep).
Rainy Days & Families
Island weather changes fast. When it rains, there’s plenty to do indoors.
- Calanais Visitor Centre: exhibition and café (25 min)
- Museum nan Eilean: the Lewis Chessmen, and free (20 min)
- Harris Tweed Story Room: try the loom (spring to early Oct) (20 min)
- An Lanntair: cinema, galleries and family films (20 min)
- Lewis Sports Centre: pool fun sessions and climbing wall (20 min)
- Spòrsnis: ten-pin bowling and soft play (55 min)
- The Blackhouse, Arnol: sit by a real peat fire (40 min)
- Kinloch Historical Society: museum and café (5 min)
- Ravenspoint: museum, café and sea eagles from the window (15–20 min)
- Stornoway Library: free, with a children’s section (20 min)
- Lews Castle Grounds: sheltered woodland trails when it’s windy (20 min)
- Carloway Mill: tweed mill tour (book ahead) (35 min)
Best for children: Calanais, Museum nan Eilean (the Lewis Chessmen), trying the loom at the Story Room, Gearrannan and Arnol, the Gruffalo trail in Lews Castle Grounds, pony trekking at Tolsta, surf lessons, Seatrek boat trips, Spòrsnis bowling and the pool fun sessions at Lewis Sports Centre.
What's On Through the Year
Late July is the liveliest time to stay. HebCelt is 20 minutes away in Stornoway, and the Lochs Show is held here in Laxay the following Saturday.
| When | Event | About |
|---|---|---|
| March | Lewis Local Mòd Stornoway | Gaelic singing, poetry and music competitions (16–19 Mar 2027). |
| May | Stornoway Half Marathon & 10K Stornoway | Island road-and-trail race, run every year since 1984. |
| Early July | Isle of Harris Half Marathon Borve to Tarbert | Point-to-point course past the west Harris beaches, plus a 5K and fun run. |
| July (2nd Sat) | Point Show Aird, Point | Crofting show with livestock and a dog show. |
| Mid July | HebCelt (Hebridean Celtic Festival) Lews Castle Green, Stornoway | The islands’ flagship music festival. 2027: 14–17 July. |
| Late July | Lochs Show Laxay Showground | In the village itself: livestock, baking, tweed, sheepdogs and an evening ceilidh. |
| Late July | Westside Show Barvas | Crofting show with sports, piping and Highland dancing. |
| Late July | South Harris Show Leverburgh | Livestock, dog agility and family entertainment. |
| Early August | Carloway Show Carloway | Highland games, livestock, piping and baking. |
| Late August | Ness Gala Day Ness | Community gala day. |
| Early Sept | Dùthchas: Galson Heritage Week North Lewis | A week of guided walks, ceilidhs, Gaelic and tweed workshops. |
| September | Hebridean Whisky Festival Isle of Harris Distillery, Tarbert | Open days and tastings. |
| Late October | Faclan: Hebridean Book Festival An Lanntair, Stornoway | Author talks, film and exhibitions. |
| Late November | Christmas Lights Switch-On Stornoway | Parades, pipe band, craft fair and Santa’s grotto. |
| 8–16 Oct 2027 | Royal National Mòd Stornoway | Scotland’s national Gaelic festival returns to the island for the first time since 2016. |
Weekly in summer: the Wednesday ceilidh dance at Bays Community Hall in Harris, the Saturday Gaelic Experience at An Taigh Cèilidh in Stornoway, and North Harris Trust guided eagle walks on Wednesdays.
Dates move a little from year to year. Check the organisers’ pages or Visit Outer Hebrides What’s On before you travel.
Suggested Days Out from 6 Laxay
Laxay sits in the middle of the island, so every corner of Lewis and Harris is an easy day trip. Here are five ready-made days.
Close to home
The Weaving Shed at Crossbost → Kinloch museum and café at Balallan → Ravenspoint for the museum and eagle-spotting → Steimreway walk on Loch Shell.
The west side loop
Calanais Standing Stones and café → Dun Carloway Broch → Gearrannan Blackhouse Village → The Blackhouse, Arnol → home across the moor on the Pentland Road.
The beaches of Harris
Over the Clisham pass to Tarbert (distillery and tweed shop) → Luskentyre, Seilebost and Nisabost beaches → lunch at Talla na Mara → Croft36 at Northton → St Clement’s Church, Rodel.
To the far north
Ness Historical Society → Butt of Lewis lighthouse circuit → lunch at the Breakwater → pony trekking or surfing at Tràigh Mhòr, Tolsta, on the way back.
A wet day in Stornoway
Museum nan Eilean and the Lewis Chessmen → lunch at the Storehouse Café in the castle → Harris Tweed Story Room → a swim at Lewis Sports Centre → a film at An Lanntair.
Good to Know
- Sundays are quiet. Most shops, cafés, attractions and both golf courses close on Sundays on Lewis and Harris. Sunday is a good day for a walk or the beach.
- Winter hours. From October to March many places open shorter hours or close. Boat trips and some museums run mainly from spring to September or October. Check before you travel.
- Book ahead for boat trips, mill tours, distillery experiences, surf lessons and pony trekking.
- Dark skies. From September to April there’s very little light pollution around Laxay, and on clear nights the Northern Lights are possible. Gallan Head in Uig and Gravir in Pairc are listed stargazing spots.
We host and manage an information and reference website at www.westernisles.info that covers pretty much anything you’ll need to know.
If you click on any of the links on this page you’ll find more detailed information about each of them. We also use an AI chatbot tool, so you can ask questions and get real time answers.
Questions guests ask
How far are the best beaches from the house?
The beaches of Harris and west Lewis, including Luskentyre, Uig and Reef, are within about 45–60 minutes’ drive of 6 Laxay. Our location page shows where the house sits between Stornoway and Tarbert.
What is open on a Sunday?
Very little: most shops, cafés, attractions and both golf courses close on Sundays on Lewis and Harris. Sunday is a good day for a walk or the beach.
Can we see the Northern Lights from Laxay?
On clear nights from September to April, possibly. There is very little light pollution around Laxay, and Gallan Head in Uig and Gravir in Pairc are listed stargazing spots.
Is there somewhere warm to come back to?
Yes: 6 Laxay has oil central heating, a wood burner and Sky TV, and a washer-dryer for wet gear. See our facilities page.
Next step: choose your week
Plenty to fill a week, so check which dates are free on our rates and booking page.