Bed and breakfast is the most common form of accommodation on the Isles of Lewis and Harris outside the self-catering cottages, and in high summer it is often the only thing still available. Most island B&Bs are small and family run, with three or four rooms, so they fill early and many never appear on the large booking sites at all.
Finding a room on Lewis or Harris
- Book early for summer. June, July and August are busy, and a number of houses take bookings a full year ahead. If your dates are fixed, book before you book the ferry.
- Stornoway, Tarbert and Leverburgh have the most rooms. All three are easy bases if you are arriving by ferry, and all three put you within an hour of most of the island.
- Ask about evening meals. Outside the main villages there may be no restaurant within a sensible drive, and many places stop serving early.
- Check what happens on a Sunday. Opening hours across the islands are still shorter on Sundays than most visitors expect.
- The fullest published list of graded island accommodation is kept by Visit Outer Hebrides at visitouterhebrides.co.uk.
List your bed and breakfast here
We are building this part of the directory and there is no charge to appear in it. If you run a bed and breakfast or guest house on Lewis or Harris and would like to be listed, please get in touch.
If you would rather have a whole house to yourself, see our self-catering properties and our guide to self catering on Lewis and Harris.
In short
Bed and breakfast on the Isles of Lewis and Harris is mostly small, family-run houses of three or four rooms, concentrated around Stornoway, Tarbert and Leverburgh. Summer rooms book up months ahead, evening meals are not a given, and many places close over winter. B&B owners on the islands can be listed in this directory free of charge.
Frequently asked questions
When should I book a B&B on Lewis or Harris?
For June to August, book as far ahead as you can. Island bed and breakfasts are small, often three or four rooms, and the popular ones take bookings up to a year in advance. Outside those months you will usually find something at shorter notice, but choice is limited because some houses close over winter.
Is bed and breakfast cheaper than self catering on the islands?
For one or two people staying a few nights, bed and breakfast is usually the cheaper and simpler option, and breakfast is included. For a family, a group, or any stay of a week or more, a self-catering cottage normally works out better value.
Do island B&Bs serve evening meals?
Some do and some do not, and it matters more here than on the mainland because there may be no restaurant within a reasonable drive. Always ask when you book, and ask what time food stops being served.
Are bed and breakfasts on Harris and Lewis dog friendly?
A number are, but it varies house by house and there is no single list. Say when you enquire that you are bringing a dog rather than assuming, because rooms that take dogs are limited and go first.