Lewis
Lewis covers a classic mix of diverse sailing and landscape with opportunities for crews sailing round the Western Isles to explore Hebridean culture and heritage.
A pair of binoculars is a necessity to watch life on the water, in the skies above and on the land ashore.
Common and harbour seals, basking sharks, dolphins, porpoises, blue sharks and minke whales populate the waters. Seabird colonies occupy the outlying islands of The Shiants, while migrating birds make temporary visitors to Broadbay, just north of Stornoway.
There are also opportunities to spot otters, red deer, and mountain hares as well as both sea eagles and golden eagles.
Stornoway (Steornabhagh) Moorings, Facilities and Activities
The largest harbour in the Western Isles, Stornoway is well sheltered and easy to enter at all states of the tide. The inner harbour marina has an 80 pontoon berth providing mooring for crews sailing in the Outer Hebrides and also gives walking access to the town with all the facilities you would expect, and more besides. To compliment this a newly installed 75 berth marina at Newton opened in 2021 and is just around the harbour at Goat Island.
Technical repair services, specialist food suppliers and shops, wifi access, post office, cafes, restaurants, bars, showers and toilet facilities are all easily accessible from Stornoway marina.
The annual Heb Celt festival is based in the Castle Grounds beside the marina at Stornoway and coincides with the Sail Stornoway festival each year.
The ferry terminal in town and the airport, only ten minutes drive out of town, give easy access to the mainland, with regular services from both. North of Stornoway is a quiet area for cruising with small council harbours and white sand beaches.
North of Stornoway
The area north of Stornoway is a particularly quiet cruising area with several small council fishery piers at Bayble, Portnaguran, Brevig, and Skigersta with a community pier at Ness, with slipways at all but Bayble.
West Lewis
To the west, there is Loch Roag with harbour facilities and anchorages spread between East and West Loch Roag. The piers and anchorages in the east have the best access to Callanish Standing Stones. The west gives good access to the beaches near Uig and Vhaltos.
Recently a new pontoon opened at Kirikbost pier in Great Bernera. It is the only pontoon on the west coast of Lewis, giving great access to explore this beautiful coast.
Wild Anchorages in Lewis
South of Stornoway are Loch Erisort and Loch Marivg, Loch Shell, Loch Claidh and Loch Bhrollum and finally Loch Seaforth - all sheltered sea lochs with wild anchorages for boats sailing around the Isle of Lewis. This section of Hebrides coastline offers ample opportunities for sailors to explore the wildlife and wilderness of Lewis as well as visit some of the small fishing communities along this shore. Beyond the coast lie The Shiants, and seal and puffin colonies.
Atlantic Coast Outlying Islands
Crews sailing the Atlantic Coast of the Western Isles can explore a selection of the less well known, remote Atlantic islands lying off the west and north coast of Lewis. These include the Flannan Isles, North Rona, Sula Sgeir and Rockhall.
