Holidays on the Isle of Lewis
More and more people are looking for something unique be it a designer sofa or designer jewelry. When it comes to vacations most of us are happy to spend time relaxing on the beach but, if you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary then a visit to the Outer Hebrides of Scotland could be just the ticket. The Isle of Lewis is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region and for good reason.
The Isle of Lewis is the largest of the islands of the Western Isles (also known as the Outer Hebrides) of Scotland in the U.K. The west coast of Lewis has, for thousands upon thousands of years, has been shaped by the seas of the North Atlantic Ocean and in the north west of the island the rocky coastline is both rocky and extremely dramatic.
In sharp contrast the south western coast of Lewis is much more gentle and features a number of noteworthy shell sand beaches that rival the best in the United Kingdom. While most agree this is the better looking part of the island the inland ground, which is mainly flat peat bog, is often quoted as being barren and even boring. However this ground is unique and offers the perfect habitat for a number of extremely interest breeds of birds and other creatures.
One of the things the Isle of Lewis is most widely known for is the incredibly important, and numerous, historical sites. The most important site is a group of standing stones found near the village of Calanais. Unusually the circle also has four avenues to form the shape of a crucifix which makes it unique. Many more stone circles and standing stones can be seen around the area and across the islands in general.
To get to the Outer Hebrides/Western Isles you basically have two options. The first is to fly to the airport just outside Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. The other way is to travel by road to either Uig, Ullapool or Oban where you can catch a car ferry across to the islands.
One of the things that sets Lewis apart from the rest of the U.K. is the strong religious nature of the community. The majority of the island follow rather strict observance of the Sunday Sabbath which means that most places are closed on Sundays. Although travel to and from the islands is available it is severely restricted. With most places being closed it is important that you do sufficient shopping on the Friday or Saturday as running out of something be extremely annoying.
Of course the strict Sabbatarianism means that visitors to the Isle of Lewis will have to take care not to offend any of the local population. While the main town of Stornoway may have a slightly more relaxed attitude in some of the more rural locations it can be relatively easy to cause offence (though allowances are made). Take care not to do anything which could be considered work, such things can include working on a car or even washing a car, so take care.
Life in the Hebrides is generally relaxed and from the minute you arrive on the Isle of Lewis you will notice how much cleaner the air is. This, coupled with the fact that you are always relatively close to the sea, seems to create an atmosphere that almost instantaneously calms and relaxes you. Another thing that you will notice is the incredible friendliness of the Hebridean people and their superb hospitality. We have little doubt that you will be so impressed that you will be visiting the Hebrides again one day.
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