Great Bernera

North West

Great Bernera | Colin Nutt

Ask an Islander

We asked locals on Great Bernera to tell us why their island is special. Here’s what Amy from the Ard Holiday Cottage said:

“There are loads of great walks in Bernera,” she says. “One of my favourites has to be the walk to the Norse Mill. The walk starts from Breaclete and continues up the hill to a brilliant example of a Norse mill. The site had been used for generations – earlier mill dams can be seen at the loch above the mill at low water and parts of earlier mill-stones can be found nearby at the site.”

“My favourite event last year was the Bosta Beach Fun Day, which was revived a few years ago and is organised by the community association. It was a great day out with an old school sports day competition, boat rides, stalls and games, BBQ and tea and cakes. Followed in the evening with a party, it was one of the best events.”

Amy was kind enough to share the island’s hidden gems with us too! “There are a number of hidden gems in Great Bernera,” she says. “One of the best is the lobster pond. It was built in the 1860s and was used by the fishermen to store their lobsters until prices and conditions became more favourable to send them to the mainland. It’s a lovely walk over the hills to reach it and once you are there it is so peaceful and beautiful.”

Gaelic / Gàidhlig

The Gaelic name for Great Bernera is Beàrnaraigh (Leòdhais).

The Gaelic word for a sandy beach is tràigh.

Collect your travelogue stamp!

If you have one of our paper travelogues you can collect your stamp using the brass rubbing plate located at the community-owned campsite

Why not download the Scottish Islands Passport app to collect digital stamps!

Getting Here

The island is connected to Lewis by a road bridge, and a bus service connects the islands Monday–Saturday. From Lewis, there are ferry and flight connections to mainland Scotland.

Find out more about getting to Lewis.

Explore More

Want to find out more about Great Bernera and explore more of our amazing islands?

Download the free Scottish Islands Passport app to:

  • discover your perfect island match,
  • find out about the experiences each island has to offer,
  • collect passport stamps for the islands you visit,
  • find information on accommodation, travel and island amenities.

Get Your Passport

You can find lots more information about things to see and do on the island, see some amazing island photography and collect your island stamp by downloading our app.

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Download the app

App in phone

Download the Scottish Island Passport app to collect your island stamps! The app also provides lots more information on each island including recommendations from locals about things to see and do, info on how to get around, more stunning photos and useful offline maps.

  • Unlock Stamps - Collect them all! Stamp your passport when you visit each island - with an individual stamp designed to represent a unique aspect of island heritage.
  • Experiences - Discover the best experiences each island has to offer – from local boat trips to exciting traditional festivals, there is something for everyone.
  • Maps - Navigate the islands with useful offline maps, handy for areas where internet connectivity is weak.
  • Travel Jounals - Create an in-location travel journal with pictures from your island adventures, to look back on your trip.
  • Favourites - keep track of your most loved islands with the favourites feature. Available to access from your account on both the app and web.
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