Monday, June 12, 2017

Lews Castle and Woodland: A Jewel in Stornoway


Lews Castle at sunset

Overlooking Stornoway harbour, the gothic-revival style castle was built in the mid 1800’s by Sir James Matheson. Since then this beautiful building has also served as a hospital during World War 2, a college and a school. Now it is a wedding venue and luxurious self-catering holiday destination. See homepage of Natural Retreats.


Castle park in June


A closer look


Flowers in the ground

Pine trees and rhododendron bushes

Inside Lews Castle


Bathroomdecor inside Lews Castle


Skylight in Lews Castle


Amazing bar


Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, visiting Lews Castle. See more of this event on BBC.


Harris Tweed presentation in Lews Castle

See more pictures of Lews Castle on Instagram



Friday, June 9, 2017

Scarista House - a Paradise for Food and Beach Lovers

See the location on Scarista House Google Map

Picture by marhas

Overlooking one of the most beautiful beaches on the Isle of Harris Scarista House is a small luxurious hotel with a mouthwatering mostly organic haute cuisine and fabulous views, set in one of the wildest landscapes of Europe. "In possibly one of the remotest and inhospitable parts of Britain, it's a joy to discover one of the most comfortable and hospitable places to stay", writes thehotelguru.com.

Picture by marhas
Scarista Beach, more than two miles long


The Georgian house has been built in 1827 as the manse for the Church of Scotland minister. The two-mile long white sandy Scarista Beach (Traigh Scarista) looks out into the Atlantic Ocean and sometimes shows a translucent turquoise, "more reminiscent of the Caribbean than Scotland", as The Guardian noted. At its southwest end Mount Ceapabhal rises to 339 metres. When walking on this beach you often have it just for yourself.

Picture by marhas

Picture by marhas

When the church gave up the house, it was bought by Andrew and Alison Johnson in the mid of the 1990s, they renovated it and opened a hotel. In the book "A house on the shore" Alison Johnson describes how they turned a rat-infested near-ruin into a hotel. Tim and Patricia Martin, today the proprietors, have arrived in 1999.

Picture by marhas
View of Scarista Beach from the garden of Scarista House

When you enter Sacrista House today, you will find yourself in a charming and authentic old house with a lot of old furniture - and a top-notch cuisine. There are three bedrooms in the main house and three suites (each with its own private little sitting room) in the adjacent Glebe House. A library and a first floor drawing room, both with open fires, are also available to guests. The library is a treasure full of books about the Hebrides islands and many more. So you will have no time to miss television and radio in your room. Wi-Fi is available, sometimes the signal can be poor, as Scarista House gets it radio transmitted.

Picture by marhas
Scarista Beach seen through the window of the dining room

Picture by marhas
What's growing in the kitchen garden will sooner or later add flavours to your dinner.

Scarista House serves for dinner a set menu with no choice, but with prior notice it will be adjusted to dietary or vegetarian needs. "We aim for natural, skilled cooking of the ingredients most immediately available, especially the islands' fish, shellfish, lamb, beef and game. We use organic, wild or home-produced ingredients as much as possible", Tim and Patricia Martin, the proprietors, write on their homepage. Bread, cakes, biscuits and ice-creams are made by them, the shortbread and oatcakes are made by Flora MacLeod, the mother of George, the restaurant manager. The restaurant has been featured in Alastair Sawday's guide Eat Slow Britain. In the guestrooms you can read who are the food suppliers.

Picture by marhas
Every day another highlight: The dinner created by Chef Tim Martin. One dessert: Peaches poached in prosecco with strawberry cream. Or look at this gorgeous presentation of beef:

Picture by marhas

Picture by marhas
A library full of surprises instead of TV and Radio in the rooms



You will find excellent reviews by guests on tripadvisor.com.

Picture by marhas
Scarista style in the dining room

Picture by marhas
Scarista style in the suite Flora: bedroom

Picture by marhas
Scarista style in the suite Flora: living room


Picture by marhas
View from the living room of suite Flora


Discover beaches and standing stones near Scarista House: Treasures of Harris Island
Find Walking Tours near Scarista House: Walking and more of the Hebrides


Taxi Services on the Outer Hebrides

Taxi Services in Stornoway:

24:7 Taxis: Phone +44 1851 702424
Alba Taxis: +44 774 711 7870
STS Taxis: +44 1851 704444
Associated Taxis and Couriers: +44 1851 702300


Monday, May 15, 2017

Hotels, Bed & Breakfast and Self Catering on the Isle of Harris

Self catering. Fairways View Lodges: Fairways View Lodges are two newly built houses at the foot of the Harris golf course. There are three bedrooms per lodge.

Picture by marhas

Oran Na Mara: The house with great views of Scarista Beach has been planned as a contemporary space equipped with luxury facilities, but with traditional local features such as marram grass thatch and stone walling - these techniques are over 1,500 years old.








Strathview Harris: Selfcatering holiday cottage.