5 Best Stornoway Hotels
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Stornoway hotels are generally a bit dated and expensive. One exception is Lews Castle. It is a beautiful building in a quiet location a short walk from the town centre.
Best Stornoway Hotel
Don’t have time to read the whole article? The hands down best place to stay in Stornoway is Lews Castle
Another thing to consider is that hotels in Stornoway town centre suffer from noise from boy racers and people on an evening out.
They are fine for a night before the ferry or a flight but for a longer stay think twice about why you are picking Stornoway as your base.
It is not a bad location for exploring the island but personally I would not stay in the town centre.
There are many guest houses and B&Bs both on the outskirts of Stornoway and in more remote locations which would make for a much nicer base. What makes Lewis special are the beaches and the countryside.
If you still think Stornoway is the right location for you then here are the best hotels.
The Best Hotels in Stornoway:
- Best for luxury: Lews Castle
- Best budget option: Crown Inn
- Best for a quiet nights sleep: Lews Castle
- Best town centre hotel: The Royal Hotel
- Best dog friendly hotel: Crown Inn
5 Best Stornoway Hotels
1. Lews Castle Accommodation
⭐️ RATING: 8.9 | 📍 LOCATION: Stornoway | ✅ Book it!
Lews Castle is not just a tourist attraction, it is also the most atmospheric and peaceful place to stay in Stornoway.
There is no getting away from Lews Castle being expensive but you would expect that from staying in a castle!
The building is from 1850, the Victorian period, and it is fantastic both inside and outside. The rooms and public areas are the most high-end you will find anywhere in Stornoway.
The photos speak for themselves how gorgeous the setting is. From the rooms you have views out to sea and of Stornoway harbour.
It is a short walk from the town centre but the castle grounds are quiet and it has a large car park.
If it is within your budget, for me, there is no question that this is the place to stay in Stornoway.
Lews Castle Accommodation Review
Minimum stay: 1 night. During the peak summer months Lews Castle is best for stays of a couple of nights. One-night stays are expensive to encourage people to stay for longer.
Rooms: Lews Castle has single and double rooms and self-catering apartments with coffee machines, large beds and modern furnishings.
Not all rooms have a bathtub. Read the description of each room carefully if it is something you would like.
The description will also tell you where the room is. Some have a lot of stairs to access, other don’t, so book a room that suits your needs.
Public areas: The castle’s interior is as impressive as the outside. The building has a magnificent ballroom, star-lined corridors, a guest lounge and a whisky bar.
Outside there are well maintained lawns and walking paths.
The room was so comfortable and decorated beautifully. The castle has been restored so well and looks gorgeous inside and out… Really can’t recommend this place enough – Jak
Breakfast and dinner: Breakfast is not included in the room rate but the Storehouse Café downstairs is open from 10 am every day during the summer.
In the winter the café is open Thursday to Sunday only. Alternatively start the day at one of the many cafes in Stornoway.
Other considerations: There is plenty of free parking outside the castle.
Right next door is the Museum Nan Eilean where you can see the Uig Chessmen. They are a set of chess pieces from the Viking era, carved from walrus tusk, and discovered in the sand at Uig.
Dogs’s welcome?: No
2. The Royal Hotel
⭐️ RATING: 8.2 | 📍 LOCATION: Stornoway Inner Harbour | ✅ Book it!
The rooms are dated but the Royal Hotel is still the top hotel in the centre of Stornoway. It offers all the services you would except such as a restaurant, room service, 24-hour reception and laundry.
The hotel is gradually getting a face lift. The restaurant is modern and inviting. As the rooms are updated this is only going to become a better option in Stornoway.
The Royal Hotel Stornoway Review
Minimum stay: 1 night
Rooms: The rooms are about to be upgraded and they could do with it. They are clean but dated. Cheaper rooms are small so book a deluxe room if you have a lot of luggage.
Rooms have views of the castle and harbour or the car park at the back. It is clear when booking the room what view you will have. As expected, the harbour view rooms are more expensive. However, they tend to have more noise from the road.
Location is amazing. Staff were very friendly. Breakfast was great. Lovely place to stay. Jenny
Breakfast and dinner: The restaurant at the hotel is called The Boatshed and people rave about the food. Breakfast and dinner are served there.
Breakfast is included in the room rate. You can choose from a menu or have a continental buffet breakfast.
There is a special early breakfast for people taking the ferry to Ullapool.
Other considerations: Free private parking is available at the rear of the hotel.
Should you travel with lots of bags it is worth noting that there is no lift. However, many guests have commented on how helpful the staff are with carrying luggage.
Dogs’s welcome?: Yes
3. The Crown Inn
⭐️ RATING: 8.1 | 📍 LOCATION: Stornoway Harbour | ✅ Book it!
Although it is the cheapest hotel in Stornoway, it is still reasonably expensive.
On a positive note, The Crown Inn is clean and in a central location. It is perfect if you are looking for a basic hotel in a lively location.
Anyone looking for dog friendly accommodation in Stornoway should stay here. The pub has a dog area and they might even have a treat for your dog at breakfast!
The Crown Inn Stornoway Review
Minimum stay: 1 night
Rooms: the rooms are clean but old fashioned.
Being close to Stornoway’s nightlife means that at weekends rooms are best suited for people planning on enjoy an evening out. Should you want a quiet, early night consider Lews Castle or one of the many B&Bs outside of Stornoway.
Very friendly staff, great food, nice bar, comfortable rooms and good value for money. Richard
Breakfast and dinner: Continental breakfast is included in the room rate but cooked options are extra.
Breakfast is available from 5.30 in the morning for guests taking the ferry.
The dog-friendly pub gets good reviews for its food.
The bar downstairs has live music, quiz nights and a wide selection of real ales. It has the largest selection of gin anywhere in the Outer Hebrides with over 100 varieties!
Other considerations: Free parking is offered close by or you can opt for paid parking across the road.
Dogs’s welcome?: Yes.
4. The Cabarfeidh Hotel
⭐️ RATING: 7.9 | 📍 LOCATION: Outskirts of Stornoway | ✅ Book it!
Being on the outskirts of Stornoway the hotel is quieter than the options in the town centre. However, it is expensive and a bit bland.
There is little difference in price between Cabarfeidh and Lews Castle during most of the year. For me, the choice would always be Lews Castle.
The Cabarfeidh Stornoway Review
Minimum stay: 1 night
Rooms: Some of the rooms have been refurbished, others have not. Ask for one of the refurbished rooms.
The new rooms are light and airy with tweed furnishings and modern bathrooms. The others could do with an update.
Public areas: Cabarfeidh is popular with tour groups. As a result the restaurant and other areas are larger than those in most of the other Stornoway hotels.
One benefit of being a larger hotel is that it has a lift.
Our room was large and comfortable. The staff were helpful, friendly and professional. Breakfasts and dinners were of good quality. Robert
Breakfast and dinner: Breakfast is included in the price. It includes cooked options and guests often comment on how much they enjoyed the breakfast.
The restaurant also serves dinner. Being outside the town centre there are limited other dining options close by but it is only a 20-minute walk into Stornoway.
Other considerations: There is plenty of free parking outside the hotel.
Dogs’s welcome?: Yes
5. Caladh Inn
⭐️ RATING: 7.3 | 📍 LOCATION: Stornoway town centre | ✅ Book it!
The Caladh Inn is the largest hotel in Stornoway and is popular with tour groups.
It is dated but clean. Being half a mile from the ferry terminal and 3 miles from the airport it is convenient for anyone with an early departure.
Should you need a last-minute room you can often find it here. Otherwise, its better to try one of the other options above.
Caladh Inn Stornoway Review
Minimum stay: 1 night
Rooms: Rooms are basic and dated. None of the rooms have a view.
Public areas: The public areas are dated. On a positive note the hotel has facilities such as lifts to all the rooms and a snooker table.
The staff were very friendly and helpful, nothing was too much trouble. The room was clean and the bed was very comfortable. Ingrid
Breakfast and dinner: Popular with both locals and tour groups, the restaurant is always buzzing and dining is buffet style.
One plus point is that it is open on Sundays, a day when most restaurants in Stornoway are closed. Make sure you book a table in advance.
Breakfast is normally included in the room rate. Guests who are taking the ferry can either have breakfast from 5.30 am or ask for a packed breakfast (needs to be arranged with the hotel in advance).
Other considerations: Free private parking at the hotel
Dogs’s welcome?: Yes but please let the hotel know you will be bringing your dog
FAQ on Stornoway Accommodation
Quality and Price of your Stornoway Accommodation
Despite Stornoway being the largest town in the Outer Hebrides the selection of hotels is surprisingly disappointing. In total there are 6 hotels in Stornoway and most are dated. The only exception is Lews Castle.
Hotels in Stornoway are also expensive. Value for money for hotels all over the Outer Hebrides is lower than on the mainland. There are no budget chains such as Travelodge or the Premier Inn offering cheap hotel rooms.
In Stornoway and the Outer Hebrides in general it is worth thinking about an alternative to standard hotels. Lews Castle is not strictly a hotel but it is by far the top place to stay in Stornoway.
As an alternative consider staying in a guesthouse or B&B. The best options offer modern rooms, quiet locations and a great breakfasts – more than most of the hotels offer.
Noise levels at hotels in Stornoway town centre
Being on a small island you would expect Stornoway to be a quiet town. That is not the case. Especially not during weekends.
The hotels in Stornoway town centre are on the “boy racer circuit” and late at night you can hear horns beeping and exhausts backfiring.
During weekends people on a night out can keep you up until the early hours.
Hotels in the town centre provide guests with ear plugs. That probably says it all.
The only two hotels that are in quiet locations are Lews Castle and The Cabarfeidh. Again, consider booking a guest house or staying outside of Stornoway.
When to book?
In the spring and summer months demand outstrips supply for hotels in Stornoway. Scotland in general has a shortage of hotels during the peak season but it is more pronounced on the islands than on the mainland. Therefore, book your stay well in advance.
Between May and September book as early as you can, but no less than 6 months before.
There are no last-minute deals at this time of year. By booking late it will be more expensive and all the best places to stay will be full.
During late autumn and the winter months you can book hotels last minute and you might be able to find a special deal.
How many days to stay?
There are a lots of things do on Lewis such as Callanish Stones and the Uig Chessmen. And don’t forget the beaches on Isle of Lewis, they are fantastic.
You can easily spend a week on Lewis and not get bored. On a road trip through the Outer Hebrides spend at least 2 days on Lewis to experience the highlights.
Concluding Thoughts on Stornoway Hotels
Stornoway is a good base for exploring from a logistical point of view. Main roads on Lewis go through Stornoway and this is where all the bus routes start and end.
However, many of the places to stay in Stornoway feel like they are still stuck in the 1980s. Lews Castle is the only exception and by far the best option, but it is expensive.
Even if you usually stay in hotels, the Outer Hebrides is one place where you should consider other options. Some of the guest houses and B&Bs in Stornoway provide better and more affordable accommodation.
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