Valasay Cottage is located across a footbridge at Valasay (Bhalasaigh) near Breacleit on Great Bernera, in the
magical Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The self-catering cottage is perfectly situated to get away
from it all and enjoy nature and tranquillity. There are a few honesty sheds nearby for essentials, the
nearest larger shops are a 40min drive. Callanish standing stones are 20min driving, Arnol
blackhouses 45min. For otters and sea eagles, you might not need to leave the cottage at all, as
both are occasionally seen, both in Tob Bhalasaigh and along the seashore.
Amenities
Internet – Wireless
TV
Fireplace
Bath
Coffee machine (Tassimo)
Dishwasher
Washing machine
Dryer
If you have 10 minutes, why not head over to this facebook video and watch the drive across Bernera bridge and
down to Bostadh beach. At 3:30 is where you'd turn left
towards Bhalasaigh and arrive at Valasay Cottage in another 2 minutes driving.
Nearby
Tob Bhalasaigh is designated as a priority site of special scientific interest as a sheltered
lagoon with a rare mixture of seaweeds only found in this unusual mix of salt and fresh water.
The "Great Bernera Trail" leading up to the magnificent beach at Bostadh passes through Valasay,
it takes about 2h to walk to Bostadh. Chances are you'll need longer because every 10 minutes
you'll stop to take in the scenery and look for birds and cetaceans. Callanish standing stones
are a 20min drive away, Gearrannan Blackhouse Village is 35min away.
Drone footage by "CalCo Macleod" from October 2021. Valasay Cottage can be seen briefly around 1:10
Images
Images of the cottage and the nearby surroundings.
Valasay cottage across the bridge
The footbridge
Valasay cottage
Valasay cottage garden
Marsh orchid (June)
Daffodils (March)
Living room
Kitchen
Wood burner in the living room, a "Morsø Squirrel", with a squirrel relief on both sides.
Bedroom with a king-sized bed
Bedroom with two single beds
Bathroom with bathtub and electric shower
Bostadh beach and iron age house
Callanish VIII
Callanish standing stones
History
Bernera is known for its Iron Age (or possibly Pictish) settlement at Bostadh, discovered in 1992 and now
covered by sand to preserve it. A replica Iron Age house matching those now buried is sited nearby. The island was the
location of the Bernera Riot of 1874,
where crofters resisted the Highland clearances. The main industry
on Bernera today is lobster-fishing. There are still
some weavers but it is no longer one of the main industries.
Prince Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees, a former Queen's Herald, bought the island of Great Bernera in 1962.
He was recognised as Laird of Bernera until his death in 2012, upon which his grandson, Cyran de la Lanne-Mirrlees, inherited the estate.
The image below shows the cottage circa 1950's. The footbridge was built in 1898, the raised middle footbridge was upgraded in 1962.
Since then, the bridge has been altered and upgraded a number of times, eventually removing the stairs and thus making the bridge more accessible.
Raising of the standing stones, Calanais Stones among them. Around this time, sea levels were much lower, and there were still plenty of trees.
The landscape around Calanais Stones will therefore have looked much different.
Dun Carloway
Iron age, ca. 100 A.D.
The broch Dun Carloway is built.
Vikings
800 - 1266
Norse culture arrives, and brings with it the Norse mills, but also the Lewis chessmen (carved from walrus ivory or whale teeth in the 12th century, discovered in Uig 1831).
Cattle raid
1601
The story goes that Morrisons of Ness stole cattle from the Macaulays of Uig. The latter retaliated at Carloway.
Given the strong ties to the Macaulays, there's a good chance people from Bernera took part.
Blackhouses
1800s
Most blackhouses on the island were built in the 19th century. The blackhouse at Arnol was built ca. 1880.
Great Bernera and Valasay Cottage
Dun Bharabhat
Iron age, ca. 300 A.D.
The broch Dun Bharabhat is built in Loch Bharabhat, Bernera. Note that there is another Dun Bharabhat at Kneep (Uig).
Bostadh
Iron age, ca. 600 A.D.
Village at Bostadh is built.
The Macdonalds
The most common name on Great Bernera is MacDonald, and these are said to be descended
from a watchman of the Macaulays of Uig, who gave him the island in return for his
services.
Tobson 24 croft
ca. 1811
Records from the 1841 Census show a croft tenancy for 24 Valasay ca. 1811.
1825
The Uig evictions began when Kirkibost and Little Bernera were cleared to make way for Linshader Farm.
1874
Bernera Riot. A court case exposes the maltreatment of the peasant classes in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland
and exposes the corruption that was inherent in the land-owning class.
July 22nd, 1953
Opening ceremony of the Bernera bridge, the first pre-stressed concrete bridge in Europe
1977
Oldest deed of Valasay Cottage in the modern records dates from 1977
Wildlife
Eagles
The are two species of eagles present on the Hebrides, the golden eagle and the white-tailed
eagle (also known as sea eagle). The golden eagles prefer the hills,
and are most commonly seen around North Harris. The "Harris Eagle Observatory" is a great place to look
for them. Sea eagles, on the other hand, can be seen all along the coast on
the Isle of Lewis. In fact, Great Bernera is a great place to see them.
Tip: to spot a white-tailed eagle, don't just look up, but also along the coastline. If you see
gulls mobbing a bird, it's quite likely an eagle.
White-tailed eagle looking for fish
White-tailed eagle
Juvenile white-tailed eagle
Deer
While red deer are extremely rare on Great Bernera, there's a good chance of seeing them once
you've crossed the Bernera bridge onto Lewis.
Tip: the best time to see deer is around dawn. Drive carefully, as they will often graze close to
roads, and are not as used to traffic
as the sheep are.
Red deer at Bernera Junction (B8059 / B8011)
Red deer at dusk near Crùlabhig
Red deer early morning near Iarshader
Otters
Otters are tricky animals to spot. There is only one species of otter in the UK, but the behavior
of freshwater otters is fundamentally
different from the coastal "sea" otters. Freshwater otters are usually nocturnal, and a male
otter will occupy a territory of up to
30km of river (there might be 2-3 females in that territory).
Coastal otters, on the other hand, are mainly active during the day, and their territories are
much smaller.
Otter enjoying a snack at Siabost beach
Otter family in the bay just off Valasay
Otter swimming down Tob Bhalasaigh
Tip: otters are not creatures of habit. Any observation tips like "best during receding tide"
should be taken with a grain of salt.
Just keep your eyes open. When walking along the shore, try to not show your silhouette against
the sky.
Let's say you've just pulled up to Valasay Cottage:
Did you spot the otter swimming off to the left?
Seals
There are two species of seals commonly seen nearby. The grey seal is the larger of the two, with
a flatter nose (sometimes described as a "horse face").
Female grey seals tend to have bellies slightly paler than the darker grey backs. The harbor
seal is smaller, but size can be deceptive, and female grey seals
are not much larger than harbor seals. A harbor seal's face is more forward-looking, with a
slightly upturned nose.
Grey seal at Valasay bay
Group of harbor seals near Iarshader
Two inquisitive grey seals
Bumblebees
Closer to home, there are several species of bumble bees you're likely to see in the garden of Valasay Cottage.
White-tailed Bumblebee. Note that the "waist" (between thorax and abdomen) is black,
and the black band before the white tail is rather narrow.
Garden bumblebee. Note that the "waist" is yellow(ish), starting just behind the wing,
and then a fairly broad black band before the white tail.
Both the Moss Carder Bee and the Common Carder Bee are found. They can be hard to distinguish,
but if you see any black hairs on thorax or abdomen it'll be a Common Carder bee. This one here is probably
a Moss Carder Bee.
There are several other bumble bee species found on the machair, of which the
Great Yellow bumblebee
is probably the most prestiguous find.
Valasay, Bernera and the Isle of Lewis throughout the year
Beginners
From April to September is often cited as the best time to visit the Hebrides. The weather is usually good,
the ferries run more often (summer timetable), and tourist attractions are open. It's also the busy
season, with more camper vans on the roads and more people at the beaches.
April
Main month of lambing. Geese head north. Overall, the landscape is still fairly brown, the trees are bare.
May
This is the month the flora springs to life. Cuckoos and terns arrive, bumblebees start buzzing, and towards late May is often the first of
two midge-hatchings (see the midge forecast).
June
Seabirds are feeding their young, so are usually seen near to the coast. Valasay Cottage garden will have
fledgling sparrows, chaffinches and goldfinches.
July
Peak mackerel spawning month, which brings the dolphins closer to shore. Start of deer stalking on the estates.
August
Best month to see cetaceans. The seabird breeding season comes to an end, the birds start
moving to the open sea. Blooming heather turns the hills purple.
September
Heather is still in bloom in early September. Late September the deer rut starts, and the midges disappear for the winter.
Geese are migrating south.
Advanced
Visiting the Hebrides in the winter months is different. Roads and beaches are often empty, many places are
closed, it's dark. The weather can be quite lively. But it's also way more magical than during the summer, and there
are no midges.
October
Best month to see red deer, esp. the roaring stags.
November
Valasay Cottage is closed for maintenance and repairs, so there's really no reason to visit in November.
December
Birds from the North are here to spend the winter, such as geese, ducks, winter thrushes, along with
the occasional rarity.
January
Peak season for seeing northern lights, as it's dark rather early.
February
Golden eagles are pair-bonding, locking talons in mid-flight.
March
Daffodils everywhere, there's a sense of warmer times coming.
Day trip ideas
Historic Bernera
Pack your lunch and head out for a walk around Bernera with a focus on its historic sites. Many of these sites require a bit of walking off
the beaten track, making it a much more intimate experience once there.
On the way back, visit the Bernera Museum at the Community Centre.
Bostadh
The Great Bernera Trail goes right past Valasay Cottage,
so just step out and head along the coast towards Bostadh. Have a look at the lobster pools along the way, pass through the village Tobson, and on to
Bostadh with its beautiful beach and iron age house (check opening times!).
That, in the water just off the shore, is "The Bosta Beach Bell", which will ring out when the tide is just right.
The trail description says to walk back on the main road, which gives you an opportunity for a coffee at the Community Centre cafe on the way back. Alternatively,
just trace your steps straight back along the coast to Valasay Cottage.
Boat trip
A boat trip is a great way to see the area from a different perspective. Islands of Adventure runs
trips from Kirkibost pier, on the south-east end of Bernera. Little Bernera Tours departs from
Bostadh beach. Further afield, Seatrek departs from Miavaig.
For any of these, make sure to check availability well in advance.
Isle of Lewis
If you really must leave Bernera, the Isle of Lewis isn't all that bad. There's some decent historic sites along the west coast, the Ness area can be
quite nice, or then head towards Uig and Mangersta to see the sea stacks.
Pets
Pets are not allowed at Valasay Cottage.
Testimonials
Some of our favorite reviews
The cottage is in truly peaceful and beautiful surroundings - just the sound of the tide coming in and out.
Lovely wild walks just outside the back door - take your waterproof walking boots - and enjoy eagles, otters,
seals, orchids and sunsets in July. Cottage is cosy and well supplied and wants for nothing. Thank you!
Edwina
2025
If you want accommodation that is peaceful, away from the the hustle and bustle of city/town/village life.
Then this cottage is it. Apart from a few walkers passing doing the Great Bernera Walk, we had the location
all to ourselves. You will not be disappointed.
Ken
2025
Valasay Cottage is just gorgeous. It reminded us of home very quickly with the peace and quiet,
that we settled right in. The walk over the bridge became a peaceful way of both starting and ending the day.
We loved our stay!
Ainslie
2025
An absolutely perfect place to stay. Lovely to explore Lewis from, and very cosy to return home to.
We would definitely return if the opportunity arose. We feel we really absorbed the unique atmosphere of the area.
Brenda
2025
Never before have I stayed anywhere so wonderfully remote. We loved having to approach via footbridge and were
delighted with what we found on the other side! We found everything we needed - and more. We said hello to numerous
herons and marvelled at the gorgeous beaches.
Tesse
2025
Contact and book
Location:
Valasay Cottage, Valasay, HS2 9NB Isle of Lewis, UK
