These sites contain information that we find useful during our times at Ocean View, or which we recommend to visitors:

Travel

Ferry schedules, fares and information: http://www.calmac.co.uk/

Flights to Stornoway from Glasgow or Edinburgh: http://www.flybe.com/
       - From Edinbugh to Stornaway: http://flybmi.com
       - From Inverness to Stornoway: http://www.highlandairways.co.uk

Car rental (we recommend the local agency based in the neighbouring village of Arnol, with pick-up and drop-off service at Stornoway Airport and Ferry Dock): http://www.arnolmotors.com/

NOTE: for non-British visitors planning to rent a car, the UK Highway Code website will familiarize you with the mysteries of single and double yellow lines, mini-roundabouts, and everything else that you need to know: http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk

Local bus service: http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/travel/index.htm

Cycle hire (Alex Dan's Cycle Centre, Stornoway): http://www.hebrideancycles.co.uk/

Coastal boat trips in Bernera area or to offshore islands, with rigid inflatable boat and reliable skipper (a marvellous adventure): http://www.seatrek.co.uk/

Local Community

The local community association (Comann Eachdraidh Bharabhais agus Bhrù) maintains an excellent web site with a great deal of local information:

http://www.barvasandbrue.com/index.htm

Galleries

Oiseval Gallery, located in Bru, features James Smith's striking photographs of island scenery: http://www.oiseval.co.uk/

Morven Gallery, located across the loch in Barvas, has changing exhibitions of art and sculpture, and a wide selection of work by regional artists: http://www.morvengallery.com/

Studio Gallery in nearby Shawbost is Simon Ritter's working studio, as well as displaying a selection of this very talented painter's landscapes and seascapes inspired by the local environment: http://www.simonrivett.co.uk

Harbour View Gallery in Ness displays the paintings and prints of Anthony Barbour, which capture the colours of the islands: http://www.abarber.co.uk/

An Lanntair in Stornoway combines theatre, art gallery, bookshop and cafe in a pleasant atmosphere: http://www.lanntair.com

The Lewis Loom Centre in Stornoway is a unique store demonstrating the heritage of Lewis weaving and selling a great variety of Harris Tweed articles: http://www.lewisloomcentre.co.uk/

Prehistoric and Heritage Sites of Interest

Calanais Stones, a circle of massive standing stones, is one of the most impressive prehistoric archaeological monuments in Britain: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lewis/calanais/

Dun Charlabhaigh Broch, a remarkably well preserved Iron Age fortress-dwelling: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lewis/duncarloway/

Arnol Blackhouse Museum, with reconstructions and exhibits relating to the traditional dwellings that were typical of Lewis during the nineteenth century: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lewis/blackhousemuseum/

Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, a preserved and reconstructed blackhouse village that was occupied until the 1970s: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lewis/gearrannan/

Food

Charles Macleod's meat and local products: http://www.charlesmacleod.co.uk/imdex1.htm

Bonaventure, known as the most remote French restaurant in Britain, is located atop Gallen Head on the west coast of Lewis: http://www.bonaventurelewis.co.uk/

Doune Braes Hotel, near Carloway, serves local produce year round: http://www.doune-braes.co.uk/

General Information

VisitScotland is the official web site of Scotland's national tourist board: http://www.visitscotland.com

Undiscovered Scotland is an excellent source for information of interest to visitors: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/

Fish Hebrides, information and advice on local fishing: http://www.fishhebrides.com/

Walk Hebrides, information on local walking routes etc.: http://www.walkhebrides.com/

Internet Guide to Scotland (Lewis pages) provides a much wider range of information than given here: http://www.scotland-info.co.uk/lewis.htm