The Ultimate Guide to Bosta Beach and Iron Age House
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Looking for an in-depth guide to Bosta beach, Great Bernera? Then you have come to the right place.
There is more to think about when planning a visit to Bosta beach than where to park and how to get down to the beach.
Having been to Lewis and Great Bernera many times I have put together this guide to help you make the most of your visit to the beach and the Iron Age house.
Bosta Beach Map
It is easy to confuse Great Bernera with the island of Berneray. Berneray beach is the main reason to visit the island of Berneray which is south of Harris.
A bridge connects Isle of Lewis and Great Bernera making getting to Stornoway easy since you can drive between the two islands.
Is Bosta Beach Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! Many people say this is their favourite Lewis beach. It is worth mentioning that Bosta beach is on the island of Great Bernera and not on Lewis.
However the two islands are connected by a bridge and Bosta beach is normally talked about in the context of Lewis. Therefore, it is also included on the list of the best things to see in Lewis.
Bosta beach is not the longest or the prettiest beach but it has an interesting history. The history starts 1500 years ago with the Iron Age houses built on the beach. However, recent events are just as fascinating.
The previous owner of Great Bernera is supposed to have been the inspiration for the character of James Bond. His name was Count Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees.
Today his grandson owns the island but he is less popular than his grandfather.
Count Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees used to live on a croft on Great Bernera, his grandson actually lives in Germany.
Over the last few years the number of inhabitants on the island has been falling and services such as the post office and the school have closed. Locals have been trying to buy the island since 2015 but have not managed to buy it yet.
How to Access Bosta Beach
The beach is about 300 metres from the car park. It is a 5-minute walk downhill to the beach, a little bit longer on the way up.
There are two paths to the beach, one either side of the cemetery. The path to the right of the cemetery is the quickest route to the beach and the time and tide bell (see below). For the Iron Age house take the path to the left.
The beach is often surprisingly busy. This is one of the few beaches in the Outer Hebrides that you are unlikely to have to yourself.
How to Get to the Beach and Where to Park
Bosta beach is at the northern tip of Great Bernera, nearly 50 minutes by car from Stornoway or Uig Sands.
The B8059 is the main road from Lewis to Great Bernera but the road to the beach doesn’t have a name on Google maps. Most of the journey is on a single track road.
Phone reception is poor in this area. For directions download a Google map in advance or use an app that has offline maps such as maps.me. Don’t expect to be able to look anything up on your phone whilst driving.
To help you find the parking area the what3words for the location is void.outnumber.yarn. The car park is literally at the end of the road.
Even though the beach is popular the car park is rarely full. Next to the parking area is a toilet block.
Can I Swim at Bosta Beach?
Yes, you can swim at Bosta beach but the water is normally very cold. Other good swimming beaches on Lewis are the beaches near Stornoway.
The beach is also popular with kayakers.
Is the Beach Dog Friendly?
Yes, Bosta beach is dog friendly. You will nearly always meet someone walking their dog on the beach.
Highland cattle and sheep often graze in the area. Make sure your dog doesn’t frighten any animals.
For more amazing beaches read my Lewis Beach Guide
Best Viewpoints
1. Behind the Beach
The best view of the Iron Age house at Bosta beach is the one shown at the top of this post. It is taken from the slope behind the house.
From the car park, don’t start descending before walking to the left. There is no proper path so just walk across the grass.
You can see on the photo above that there are two entrances to the Iron Age house. Either go back to the path or continue past the house and enter from the the left hand side.
2. Looking Back at the Beach
For views back towards the beach walk out on the headland to the left of the beach (when looking out to sea).
There is no path marked but that is not unusual in the Outer Hebrides.
At the end of the peninsula are a couple of smaller beaches and good views out to the islands of Little Bernera and Flodaigh.
Other Things to Do in the Area
1. Visit the Iron Age House
During a winter storm in 1993 a large part of the beach got washed away revealing stonework. Archaeologists spent 13 weeks digging on the beach.
They found the remains of a Norse settlement which is believed to be 1500 years old. In total they found 5 houses that were very well preserved.
The houses are called “jelly baby houses” because their shape is like that of a jelly baby. They have many similarities to blackhouses, such as the ones at Gearrannan on Lewis.
One difference is that the Iron Age houses were built by digging down and the ground floor is below the level of the sand. Only the roof is visible above ground.
For the original houses to remain well preserved they have been buried under the sand again. The house close to the beach is a replica.
How to Visit
From early May to the end of September a guide from Bernera Museum will be at the Iron Age house Monday to Friday between 12 and 4 pm. In June, July and August the house is also open on Saturday from 12 to 4 pm.
A visit takes about 30 minutes. The guide talk about archaeological discoveries made over the past 20 years and how people lived here during the Iron Age.
Outside of the summer months visits can be arranged by emailing berneramuseum1@gmail.com at least one week in advance.
From personal experience I would say that if you would like to see inside the house e-mail Bernera Museum in advance whatever time of year you visit.
I have found that I have been there at the published opening times but the house has not been open.
A small fee is charged to enter the house. For private visits the fee is higher.
There is no electricity or internet connection on site so the only way to pay is using cash.
2. Time and Tide Bell
Time and Tide Bells are large bells that are designed to ring every time it is high tide. When the the tide comes in the waves hit the bell.
Marcus Vergette, who is a sculpturer, and Neil McLachlan, who is a bell designer, created the bell. A total of 12 Time and Tide Bells have been installed in different coastal location around the UK.
The bells are markers of climate change and are used to remind people that sea levels are rising. Many of the bells will likely have to be moved further inland in the future as sea levels continue to rise.
The bell at Bosta beach was the second to be installed in 2010. You can find the bell on the right side of the beach when looking out to sea. To help you find it the what3words for the location is audible.equity.objective.
This is not the original bell. It didn’t survive the first winter storm. What is left of the original bell is in the Bernera Museum.
3. Look for Highland Cattle
There are not many places on Lewis you can see highland cattle but sometimes a few roam close to the beach.
They are not as common as people think. In fact there are only 15,000 throughout Scotland.
One amusing fact about highland cattle is that you are most likely to see a red one. The story is that when Queen Victoria visited Scotland she told a cattle breeder she preferred the red highland cattle.
To please the queen they bred more red animals and that is why even today red is the most common colour.
4. Bernera Museum
Bernera Museum is in Breaclete which is in the middle of the island. You pass the museum when driving to the beach.
Museum exhibits talks about the history of the island and artifacts from the dig at Bosta beach are on display.
The Museum is open Monday to Friday from noon to 4 pm from early May until the end of September. At other times of the year it is possible to arrange a visit by e-mailing the museum in advance.
A small entrance fee is charged. Expect to spend 30 minutes looking around.
5. Callanish 8 Standing Stones
In addition to the Callanish stones on Lewis there are several smaller stone circles on Lewis and Great Bernera.
The Callanish 8 standing stones are close to the bridge which connects Great Bernera to Lewis. When driving towards Great Bernera the stones are located on the hill to the left.
After crossing the bridge there is a car park on the right. A short but steep path on the other side of the road takes you up to the stones.
The stones are often described as a stone circle but they actually form an arc. There are three standing stones and a fourth which is lying on its side.
6. Circular Walk
An 11 km circular walk starts at the Bernera Museum and takes 3 to 4 hours.
The route is along the sea to Bosta beach in the north and back to the starting point past the many lochs on the island.
Way markers mark the route, or for a more detailed description, buy the Cicerone guide to Walking on Harris and Lewis.
Read my post on things to do on Lewis for more ideas of what to do in the area
Restaurant and Cafes Nearby
There are not many options for lunch in the area so bring a lunch pack instead. On Bosta beach there are often dogs running around so it is not the best place for a picnic.
One option is to bring your lunch and hike out to the beaches on the peninsula, described above.
My favourite place is a small beach in Tobson. It is always quiet and doesn’t involve any walking. Next to the beach is a picnic table where you can have your lunch looking out over the beach.
The what3words for the location of Tobson beach is woodstove.scouts.fell.
Bernera Community Café
Next to the museum is a café which is open a couple of days a week. They do great cakes and serve lunch.
The only problem is it is difficult to find out the opening times. You should check their Facebook page for opening times.
Where to Stay
To be able to explore more of Lewis it is better to stay on Lewis and visit Great Bernera for the day, rather than the other way around. Two self-catering options on Lewis are:
- Uig Sands Rooms – Looking for the most romantic place to stay on Lewis? This is it. These luxurious studio flats have fantastic views over Uig Sands. Click here to check prices and availability
- 21 Callanish Luxury Pods – Only a few hundred metres from the Callanish stones this pod is in a great location for exploring Lewis. Click here to check prices and availability
How to Get There by Public Transport
The easiest way to get anywhere in the Outer Hebrides is by car and I strongly recommending hiring a car for your trip.
Book your car hire with Rental Cars
Buses start and end in Stornoway. To travel around by bus base yourself in a hotel in Stornoway.
By bus: The W3 bus route runs between Stornoway and Bernera. Monday to Saturday there is one morning departure from Stornoway that leaves you with about 2.5 hours to explore the beach and the Iron Age house.
That is the only departure that works for a day trip. The bus journey is about 1.5 hours. Driving the same distance takes 50 minutes.
Check the latest schedule before travelling.
By bike: From Stornoway it is 45 km one way and it is nearly the same from Uig so cycling there and back is quite challenging.
FAQs
Where is Bosta beach?
Bosta beach is in the Outer Hebrides. The beach is on the northern end of Great Bernera, a small island that is connected to the Isle of Lewis by bridge. The bridge is called “the bridge over the Atlantic” and is less than 100 metres long.
What is the bell at Bosta beach?
The bell at Bosta beach is a Time and Tide bell that rings when the tide comes in. It was created by sculptor Marcus Vegette and bell designer Neil McLachlan. The bell is to remind people of the threat we face from rising seas due to climate change.
Final Thoughts on Bosta Beach
Plan to spend more time on Great Bernera than what you need to see Bosta beach. Most people come for the beach but it is the Iron Age house, the Bernera Museum and the scenery that you will remember.
LOOKING FOR MORE ON THE OUTER HEBRIDES?
