Useful links
Here is a collection of useful links relating to the Western Isles. There are ideas for things to do, places to go, and local crafts. For more information about travel, see our travel page.
Tourist Information
Visit Hebrides is the website for the Western Isles Tourist Board. As well as the main site, there are sites about Hebridean culture, fishing, golf (including information about Harris golf course), cycling, walking, wildlife of the Hebrides, outdoor activities from surfing to climbing to kiting, Hebridean ancestry, and Hebrides on film.
Winter Harris has information on the activities available in Harris during the winter months.
Harris Arts Festival runs events around Harris, such as Art exhibitions, craft workshops and musical evenings.
Local Crafts and Produce
The Hebridean Soap Company makes handmade soap from
the finest natural ingredients. They are located in Lewis, and their soap is sold in several
craft shops around the islands as well as available by mail order. We use their soap in Croft
Cottage.
Borgh Pottery make a wide selection of pottery from tableware to candlesticks, as well as one-off designs made to order. They have produced a special design of tableware for Croft Cottage.
W J MacDonald produce the world famous Stornoway Black Pudding which you can buy through the web and get delivered to your door.
Salar Smokehouse have won many awards for their smoked salmon and were one of Rick Stein's "Food Heroes".
The Harris Tweed Shop is set just above the pier in Tarbert. They specialise in Harris Tweed clothing and accessories as well as other gifts and souvenirs.
Meals and Eating Out
Scarista House has a restaurant cooking local produce where possible. It is around 20 minutes drive from Croft Cottage.
Ardhasaig House is about 3 miles from Croft Cottage. The Ardhasaig House Hotel has a restaurant that offers a set menu and is open to non-residents.
Harris Hotel is located in Tarbert and has a restaurant available to non-residents.
Pairc an t-Srath is a guest house on the West of Harris. Their dining room is open to a limited number of non-residents, offering dinners sourced, where possible, locally.
Hotel Hebrides has a restaurant near the pier in Tarbert.
Trips and Outings
Kilda Cruises offer day cruises to several of the outlying islands as well as St Kilda. These offer the opportunity to see many species of wildlife mostly undisturbed by human habitation.
Day trips to Taransay, the location of the BBC Castaway series, go Monday to Friday from Horgabost Beach.
Scenic Cruises offer cruises along the east coast of Harris, giving a chance to see the wildlife, and view the island from a different perspective.
Mike and Peggy Briggs offer a hill walking guide service on the Isle of Harris, as well as other sports and fitness activities, e.g. tennis, yoga.
Sea Harris run day trips to St Kilda and shorter trips to other small Hebridean islands starting from Leverburgh or Tarbert.
Other Useful links
Skoon Art Cafe, Geocrab is 8 miles from Tarbert. They offer a variety of non-alcoholic drinks, light snacks along with the chance to enjoy the view to Skye and admire the work of local artists.
Allan MacDonald has painted a set of pictures featuring St Kilda. All his work is done in the North of Scotland and islands, e.g. in the past he has spent a week painting in Luskentyre.
Co Leis Thu is the Genealogy Research Centre for the Western Isles. They have researched both written sources and local oral tradition to give a large resource of family relationships.
Exploring Scotland provides a directory of tourist information around Scotland.
