Scotland

Lewis and Harris

The largest island in Scotland, with the rolling moorland of Lewis in the north and the rugged hills of Harris in the south.

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Lewis and Harris

Part of the Scotland islands map and the Outer Hebrides collection.

Names

Scottish Gaelic: Leòdhas agus na Hearadh; Scots: Lewis an Harris; French: Lewis et Harris

Geography

A single landmass split by tradition into Lewis (low-lying, peat-covered) and Harris (mountainous, with white-sand beaches such as Luskentyre).

Geology

Bedrock: Lewisian Complex (Gneiss), Archaean–Proterozoic. Superficial deposits: Peat (Peat). Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026, licensed under the BGS Open Data Licence (OGL v3.0). Source: BGS DigMapGB-625 Bedrock & Superficial WMS.

History

Home to the Neolithic Callanish Standing Stones and Iron Age brochs. Norse settlement left a lasting linguistic legacy in place names. Stornoway has been the regional capital since the 16th century.

How to reach it

CalMac ferries from Ullapool to Stornoway, and from Uig (Skye) to Tarbert. Loganair flies into Stornoway from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness.

Accommodation

Hotels and guest houses in Stornoway and Tarbert, plus crofts and self-catering across both islands.

Nearby and related islands

Last reviewed: 2026-08-13.