Carbost (Isle of Skye) - Stromness (Orkney)
Entry Date: 05.07.2026, at 17:00:00 hrs (local)
Stornoway
| PRID: | 13349 |
|---|---|
| LegID: | 370 |
| LegNo: | 112 |
| Latitude: | N058°12.25' |
| Longitude: | W006°22.90' |
| Day#: | 1737 |
| Log (Day): | 20 nm |
| Log (Leg): | 138 nm |
| Log (Total): | 88214 nm |
The well-equipped harbour provides berths for fishing vessels, cargo ships, yachts and cruise ships. Regular ferry services connect Stornoway with the Scottish mainland, particularly the port of Ullapool, while the nearby airport offers scheduled flights to Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
In addition to its small shops, cafés and bustling waterfront, one of Stornoway´s main attractions is Lews Castle and its extensive surrounding parkland. This impressive Gothic Revival mansion was built in the mid-19th century for Sir James Matheson. The beautiful grounds, with their collection of rare trees, provide a striking contrast to the otherwise largely treeless landscape of Lewis. Today, the castle houses a museum, a hotel and a café.
One fascinating, though controversial, aspect of the castle´s history is how it was financed. Sir James Matheson amassed his fortune as co-founder of the trading company Jardine Matheson, which played a major role in the 19th-century opium trade with China. Using this wealth, he purchased the Isle of Lewis in 1844 and commissioned the construction of Lews Castle and its surrounding estate.
Stornoway´s history, however, stretches back much further. The town was originally founded by Vikings in the 9th century. Thanks to its sheltered natural harbour, it developed over the centuries into an important fishing and trading port and eventually became the administrative and commercial centre of the Outer Hebrides.
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