Discover 5 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Stornoway (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Lews Castle, An Lanntair, and Stornoway. Also, be sure to include Stornoway High Church in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Stornoway (Scotland).
Table of Contents
Lews Castle
Housing. Lews Castle is a Victorian era castle located west of the town of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. It was built in the years 1844–51 as a country house for Sir James Matheson who had bought the whole island a few years previously with his fortune from the Chinese Opium trade. It was designed by the Glasgow architect Charles Wilson.
In 1918, the Lews Estate, including the castle, was bought by industrialist Lord Leverhulme from the Matheson family. He gave the castle to the people of Stornoway parish in 1923.
During the Second World War the Castle was taken over as accommodation for air and ground crew of 700 Naval Air Squadron, who operated a detachment of six Supermarine Walrus aircraft from a slipway at Cuddy Point in the Grounds. The base was referred to as HMS Mentor.
After the war, the Castle was used for accommodation for students of Lews Castle College in the 1950s. After the accommodation closed, the building was left disused for several decades.
The building, which is protected as a category A listed building, is now owned by the local council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. On 22 November 2011 Lews Castle was awarded £4.6 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund to enable it to be converted into a bilingual museum and cultural centre. In 2016, the ground floor of the castle reopened to the public, including a restored ballroom and a cafe. In 2017, Natural Retreats, a luxury holiday property company, opened apartments in the castle.[1]
Address: By Natural Retreats Lews Castle by Natural Retreats, HS2 0XR Stornoway
An Lanntair
Auditorium in Stornoway, Scotland. An Lanntair is an arts centre in the town of Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The centre is home to a cinema, and art gallery. Previously located in the Town Hall, An Lanntair moved to its current new building overlooking the harbour in September 2005. This building features a 50-seater restaurant, art gallery, shop, and auditorium seating over two hundred. The auditorium houses the first cinema in Stornoway since 1995.
An Lanntair is the principal venue for arts and entertainment events in Stornoway and regularly hosts performances by musicians as well as plays, talks, and films. It is a key venue for the annual Hebridean Celtic Festival, and has hosted events for the Royal National Mòd in 2005 and 2011.
Its name is Gaelic for the lantern.[2]
Address: Kenneth Street, Stornoway
Stornoway
City or town hall in Stornoway, Scotland. Stornoway Town Hall is a former municipal building on South Beach in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. The town hall, which was the headquarters of Stornoway Town Council, is a Category B listed building.[3]
Stornoway High Church
Church in Stornoway, Scotland. The Stornoway High Church is a place of worship of the Church of Scotland in Stornoway. The church celebrated its centenary in 2009. There is an English and Gaelic congregation in the church, the English congregation worships in the old church and the Gaelic congregation worships in the 'New Hall'.[4]
Stornoway Free Presbyterian Church
Church in Stornoway, Scotland. The Stornoway Free Presbyterian Church, is a place of worship of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland in Stornoway. The church is built in 1895.[5]