Hotels and Bed and Breakfast in Stornoway in the Western Isles
For thousands of years a great many of the islands found in the Western Isles of Scotland have been populated but during the last couple of centuries the population has declined drastically leaving only a few of the 200+ islands populated. Found off the west of Scotland in the Atlantic ocean, on the Isle of Lewis can be found the only town in the Western Isles, Stornoway.
At one time Stornoway was one of the busiest fishing ports in Europe but the fishing industry fell into sharp decline after the First World War. The fishing industry had brought the town to life and a small, but highly active, fishing fleet still works from Stornoway. With the fishing boats adding a great deal of interest to an otherwise ordinary highland town Stornoway is considered one of the best places to stay in the Western Isles. Below is an introduction to some of the bed and breakfast accommodation available in the town of Stornoway.
The Caberfeidh Hotel has long been known as the finest hotel in Stornoway and although it looks rather ’70s from the outside inside is luxuriously contemporary. Found on the very outskirts of town the Caberfeidh Hotel has some of the finest surroundings with the densely wooded Lews Castle grounds opposite and some fine gardens of its own.
The Royal Hotel first opened in 1850 and is Stornoway’s oldest hotel. Although the oldest the Royal Hotel is thoroughly modern in it’s outlook having opened the towns first cafe bar (HS1). From the outside the hotel has a gorgeous old fashioned exterior and some of the original features remain in some of their rooms.
The Caladh Inn is Steornabhagh’s most substantial hotel with the most rooms. The Caladh Inn is found just on the outskirts of the town on the road that heads out to the airport. The Caladh Inn is extremely popular with both businessmen and tourists who appreciate the superb hospitality and central location.
Holm View Guest House is a four star guest house offering superb bed and breakfast accommodation about fifteen minutes drive from Stornoway’s town center. Also available is Holm View Cottage which also provides excellent bed and breakfast.
The Thorlee Guest House is one of the most popular in Stornoway due to it’s competitive pricing and it’s most central location. The 3 star Thorlee may not be the most luxurious but it is certainly the most affordable accommodation available in Stornoway and a fine alternative to the much more expensive hotel accommodation.
All of the accommodation in this article can be booked online. This fact is very important as, at certain times of the year, it is extremely common to find many guest houses in the Western Isles fully booked with “No Vacancies” signs displayed. It is always the wisest decision to book your accommodation as early as possible long before your trip. Wherever you decide to stay in Stornoway you can be sure that the hospitality will be flawless as this part of the world is widely known for offering some of the finest hospitality in the country.
