NA GEARRANNAN

• National Grid Ref: NB193442 (OS Sheet No. 8 )
• 14 Beds
• Open All Year
• Post Office five miles away.
• Best to take food-supplies from Stornoway
• The warden calls regularly at the hostel

The hostel is 1 1/2 miles away from Carloway township in the deserted village of Garenin.  It is the first black house to be restored by Urras nan Gearranan (The Garenin Trust)

The village is in a peaceful bay on the rugged coast of West Lewis.  There is a sandy beach at Dalmore 1 1/4 miles; Doune Carloway Broch 3 miles;  Whalebone Arch, Bragar 8 miles; Folk Museum Shawbost 5 miles;  Callanish Standing Stones 8 miles; Lewis Black House, Arnol 10 miles.

Click here for more information on the local area. 

How to find Garenin Hostel

• From the war memorial by the church in the township of Carloway, cross the bridge and turn left.
• Do not take the road which passes under the bridge.
• Pass the shop, do not turn left.
• Straight on at the next junction.
• The hostel is half a mile further on at the road end.
• Click here for an enlarged view from

Garenin - The 'baby' of the hostel chain, Garenin opened in 1991 but has recorded high overnight figures since then, demonstrating the urgent need for hostel accommodation in Lewis. The hostel is the first building to be renovated in Garenin village, a village which was depopulated in the mid 60's (when the residents relocated to new accommodation in nearby Carloway) and is available through the Garenin Trust, which has recently completed renovation of the rest of the village.

Colin Macleod is the Warden.

Hostels are run by the Gatliff Hebridean Hostels Trust, a charitable organisation which helps local people run traditional crofts as simple hostels. No advance bookings accepted.