Festival fun in Lewis

Mairi MacNeil gives us a rundown of the annual HebCelt Festival in the Isle of Lewis.

The HebCelt Festival in the grounds of Lews Castle in Stornoway usually kicks off in the middle of the third week in July each year, with events running until the Saturday evening.

The focus of the festival is on Celtic music but this has been interpreted widely with artists ranging From Dougie Maclean and Trail West to Deacon Blue and the Fratellis. The result is that there tends to be an act that will cater for most tastes.

The population of the Isle of Lewis, especially Stornoway itself dramatically increases during HebCelt, so you could be well advised to book accommodation well in advance, or take advantage of family or friend’s spare rooms. Getting there also takes a bit of organisation with CalMac ferries being extremely busy and even foot passengers requiring to book in advance. Last year I decided to fly as Loganair had a special deal which took the price of the flight down from daylight robbery to just about justifiable if I didn’t eat for a week. Taking the flight did make the journey stress free and you can be in the pub within an hour of leaving Glasgow. The main alternative route is a long drive or bus journey to Ullapool followed by the ferry.

The festival itself is very well organised, friendly and accessible. The location in the Castle grounds not only creates a stunning backdrop but also means that you can walk into the town centre in 10 minutes. The drinks work on a token-based system and most of the time the well organised bar queue isn’t too much of an ordeal. The food on offer is of a really high quality including an outlet for the local Thai Cafe restaurant which has become a firm favourite of mine. There are two main tents and generally the act times alternate between them so you can realistically see all the main billings if you wish to.

Visitors who aren’t leaving the island on the Sunday should be aware that the majority of local shops and businesses observe local custom and close on a Sunday. Many locals view this as not only a time for religious reflection but also time to relax and spend time with family. In saying this there are a few places that remain open to serve food and drinks, including the Starbucks in the Castle itself. A lovely walk along one of the many beautiful beaches is a worthwhile way to spend any free time. My beaches of choice would be any of those on West side of the Island near Uig, all equally breathtaking.

All in all the festival weekend in Lewis is a fantastic experience for all ages and one which induces many to return year after year. Just be organised with tickets, travel and accommodation well in advance and you're guaranteed a brilliant island stay.

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To get to the Isle of Lewis, CalMac ferries provide routes from Ullapool to Stornoway, Uig to Tarbert and Uig to Lochmaddy.

Loganair also offers flights to Stornoway from Glasgow, Benbecula, Edinburgh, Inverness and Manchester.