What to do
This crofting township is surrounded by hill lochs teeming with wild Brown Trout. Salmon fishing is also available locally on the Carloway Angling Association waters of the River Carloway and the feeder lochs of Laxavat Ard and Laxavat Iorach – contact us if interested and we can arrange day or week permits. Consult Fish Hebrides for further information on fishing other waters throughout the island.
For those who prefer to bob around in a boat rather than stay on terra firma, excellent sea fishing is available locally from Carloway harbour. Stornoway Sea Angling Club moor their club vessel in Carloway harbour for most of the year.
There are many invigorating walks available locally and laminated maps are in your welcome pack giving start and finish locations and approximate walking times and distances. Carloway estuary is a rich and varied habitat and being largely tidal offers something different every day. Carloway township common grazings and associated moorland is part of the island wide internationally recognised peatland habitat and is protected under the RAMSAR Convention.
Depending on the time of year of your visit you may be able to participate in sheep shearing or lend a hand at lambing. Have a go at peat cutting the old traditional way and then you’ll have a bit more respect for the dark lumps you tossed into the stove the previous evening! Participation in these activities does carry an element of risk and danger and your participation is undertaken entirely at your own discretion.
Dogs cannot be allowed near any of the animals. This internationally famous cloth is still locally hand woven by weavers at their homes thus qualifying for the Orb Stamp which guarantees the authenticity of the cloth as being made from pure Scottish wool and handwoven in the Western Isles. The modern looms now weave a wide cloth as opposed to the older models where the cloth width restricted the design cutters. Today the weavers use a combination of both looms to ensure all requirements and tastes are catered for. A visit can be arranged by prior appointment to the premises of a local Harris Tweed craftsman weaver, contact John Maclean at Garynahine Harris Tweed.
A short walk along the single-track road takes you to Harris Tweed Textiles, one of the last remaining independent producers of this highly prized quality fabric in the Western Isles. There are numerous outlets for Harris Tweed products in the island, but locally you can contact fiona.maclean@hebrides.net for handmade purses and handbags or the Rarebird Studio for Harris Tweed designs at www.rarebirdhandbags.com.
Surfing has grown enormously in popularity with enthusiasts coming from far and wide to ride the west coast waves but be advised there are seriously strong currents ripping past our local beaches of Dalmore and Dalbeg and surfing here is not for beginners and novices – please take care and exercise extreme caution. Contact Derek Macleod for more information on surfing in the Western Isles.
Seatrek offer a range of unforgettable excursions on their large Delta RIB – contact them for details.
Less than one mile away is the studio of Jane Harlington who has developed the blue pig studio and gallery, a unique and exciting venue in which to buy affordable, contemporary artworks alongside unusual gifts and craft supplies. Other nearby artists are Simon Rivett, Morven Gallery, James Smith Photography, Borve Pottery, Anthony Barber, Margaret Ferguson and Gisla Woodcraft.