Loch Erisort Hotel is based at the centre of Lewis and Harris, the perfect base from which to visit all the Lewis and Harris beauty spots and historical monuments.
You would be forgiven to imagine that you can see all that these islands have to offer in just a few days, however, we have learnt from our many visitors around the world, that everything on the island takes a lot longer than you think! The picturesque views lined with lochs, wildlife and traditional crofts, along with rolling hills and winding roads, require a much slower pace to navigate with care and it's always good to allow plenty of time to stop for photographs and reflect on the outstanding natural beauty of the surrounding landscapes. If you have time to visit for a few days, the Loch Erisort Hotel is a perfect place to start off your day with a warm welcome and a hearty breakfast, then to come back for a long soak in the bath and a home made evening meal, served with a smile, locally crafted beers and of course the Harris distillery's latest offerings.
ABOUT US
Loch Erisort Hotel is our family business. We took over ownership in the autumn last year and with a lot of practical help and support from the local community. We had our grand opening night on Christmas Eve 2022. That night the bar was shoulder to shoulder, we were very warmly welcomed by the local community and congratulated on coming so far in such a short period of time.
We were then encouraged to press on and we took our first room booking on New Year's Day 2023. This was followed closely by the restaurants official opening, just a week later. We have now seen through our first season on the island and it was an amazing adventure. We have welcomed people from as close as Oban and as far as Australia.
We really enjoyed meeting so many people and we are looking forward to doing it all again next season!
A NOVEL READ
I can recommend reading; On the Island, by Iain Chrichton Smith and the Findlay J. MacDonald Omnibus which includes Crowdie and Cream, Crotal and White and The Corncrake.
SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE
Surrounded by traditional croft land and with views over Loch Erisort, the house offers a peaceful and tranquil setting, with minimal light and noise pollution, ensuring a relaxing stay and is ideally situated for exploring all that the island has to offer.
Sea Eagles have been seen here from May this year and as they are nesting nearby, they can make guest appearances at both breakfast and evening meal times.
The North facing rooms have amazing views of the Loch Erisort the town of Balallan and surrounding traditional croft land, including lazy beds and black houses.
The South facing rooms at the front look over the Eishken hills where stags and herds of deer are often spotted in the mornings & evenings.
NORTHERN LIGHTS
It is especially well located for a chance to experience the Northern Lights, considering the very low impact of light and noise pollution. Photographers come from far and wide to capture the mesmerising phenomena that is locally known as the Aurora and you can see on Facebook the amount of photographs taken by local crofters and late night dog walkers! To see the photographs is really amazing, but to encounter it for myself, it was a moving, spiritual moment for me.
Whether you believe in angels, faeries or science, it is a truly sensational and extremely significant experience.
RAINBOWS
Rainbows are a regular treat on the island, we have witnessed the beauty of a rainbow over the hotel on more days than I can remember, so you can expect to see one or two when you visit, as the Scottish Islands are one of the top five places to see rainbows in the UK.
HEBRIDEAN WAY
The Hebridean Way is designed for walking, hiking and cycling and there are some museums containing local archives to explore the Kinloch and Pairc history. It is also possible to research some of your family genealogy if you have connections to the island, see the Kinloch Historical Society and Ravenspoint Visitor Centre.
RESTAURANT
A continental or cooked breakfast is included for all our guests staying at Loch Erisort House and the Set Menu Evening Meals, when available, can be booked in advance.
The Set Menu is to ensure the freshest ingredients and with advance notice, we can accommodate most dietary needs, including dairy or gluten free, vegetarian or vegan.
All meals are home cooked on the premises, using British produce as much as possible and we source some of our fruit and vegetables from nearby crofters.
This helps to reduce our carbon footprint and minimise the use of plastics and packaging.
THE WEE BAR
We have a selection of locally crafted beers, ales and spirits available including:
Harris Gin & Hearach Whiskey, distilled in Harris
Iasgair Lager & Poachers Ale, brewed in Tarbert, Harris
Hebridean Cider, pressed in Carloway, Lewis
Skye Gold, Skye Red, Skye Tarasgier & Skye IPA, brewed in Skye
Uist Gins, distilled in North Uist
A selection of whiskies, including Laphroaig, Aberlour and more...
Not forgetting some of the other favourites:
Tennents, Magners, John Smiths & Guinness
SPECIAL EVENTS
Throughout the summer season, we will be hosting special events which will include a light lunch or afternoon tea alongside some practical demonstrations and interactive talks from experienced crofters and weavers. These events will always include a chance to ask those questions that you will never find the answers to in the tour books!
You will need to book in advance as availability will be limited
CEILIDHS IN THE FUNCTION ROOM
The Gaelic phrase, Ceilidh, really just means to 'get together and have a blether'. To blether means to have a good catch up...
We will host some evening ceilidhs with food and some with food and dancing, throughout the year.
BOOKINGS
If you would like to book the function room for your family event next year, please contact us as soon as possible.
GIFTS FROM THE ISLAND
Local artists & artisans have their work on display throughout the house to purchase, including:
Original paintings of the Shiant Islands and local crofting landscapes
Tweed and real wool rugs made by hand in the traditional method on a peg loom
Hand-made Harris Tweed cushions, scarves and more
Greetings cards depicting various local croft buildings and landscapes
Harris Gin and Hearach Single Malt Whisky, from the Harris Distillery
Loomshed Lager and Ale Gift Sets
Uist Gin Gift Sets
If you find something you like in our shop, we are happy to arrange the postage with you.
OUT & ABOUT
You will get the chance to rest and relax, enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Outer Hebrides for one or two nights if you are travelling the Hebridean Way, or stay for a bit longer if you are able to explore the island in a bit more depth.
DAY TRIPS
Loch Erisort House is perfectly situated in the centre of the island for day trips to Luskentyre Beach, Harris Distillery, Harris Tweed Shop, Seaforth Harris Tweed Weaver, Uig Beach, Gearrannan Black House Village, Whalebone Arch, Ness Museum, Cafe and Gift Shop, Butt of Lewis Lighthouse.
BOAT TRIPS
Also, we can recommend short boat trips around the smaller islands. Or longer trips to St. Kilda and the Shiant Islands, which are steeped in so much history.
BOOKINGS
Always book directly through our website for the best prices. To receive a discount, you just need to book for two nights or more, or you could plan to book the whole house as self-catering during the winter months.
