Only a hunderd yards or so from Stornoway town centre, the historic Royal Hotel overlooks the marina and the green spaces of Lews Castle grounds. 

The Royal enjoys a great reputation for its friendly, hospitable staff, excellent food and service. It was the first hotel in the Outer Hebrides to receive the Hospitality Assured award. 

There are two eating places in the hotel, the Boatshed restaurant and HS-1 cafe-bar.  Both are popular with local residents  (always a good sign!) and offer you a wide choice. You'll find creative dishes using fresh produce in season, quality meats and local seafood.

For Hebridean Hopscotch clients, the Royal  normally aims to offer the more interesting bedrooms at the front of the hotel, several of which have been the subject of sensitive conservation, to retain historic character.  It's said that Lord Leverhulme used to sit at the window in one of these rooms, watching the progress of building works at the castle, after he purchased it from the Matheson family.

Stornoway airport is around 10 minutes drive and the ferry port is within a quarter mile, so this is an excellent choice of starting or finishing point for your Hebridean tour.  

Active visitors are sure to enjoy walks through the Castle Grounds  and the valley of the River Creed, with its tumbing water falls. An excellent  museum portrays the development of the Hebridean population, while the new arts centre (An Lanntair) stages exhibitions, drama, theatre, music and films. At the neighbouring Lewis Loom Centre, you can buy cloth and finished Harris Tweed products. 

Click here for directions from Ferry Terminal

Click here for directions from Airport

View the hotel's photo gallery (opens in new window).

Suggestion

Pop into Alec Dan's bike shop at the rear of the hotel, where you can rent bikes to explore the extensive castle grounds more thoroughly - please be careful of joggers, children and dogs off  their leads.