You can read our reviews here. Get an idea of the first hand experience of staying at the Byre, and also find a few useful travellers tips.
Guest from Aboyne
30th March 2024
5 out of 5:
Easily the best place we have stayed. Warm comfortable, beautifully kept and in exquisite location. And it supports the very valuable work of the Norgrove Foundation
Tips for other travellers:
Enjoy.
Guest from Penrith
8th March 2024
5 out of 5:
The Byre is a beautifully designed, detailed and a calm place to stay and feel at peace and part of the natural world. Contact with Lorna was easy, really helpful and informative and the Byre is warm, thoughtfully equipped and a wonderful place to look out at the winter skies.
Tips for other travellers:
Spoilt for choice in places to visit from the vast sands of Uig to the hills and coastline to the north and south. The well stocked community shop has a wide variety of food. The local restaurant understandably wasn't open in February.
Guests from the Isle of Arran
March 2024
Just what a superb stay in the beautiful Byre in a wonderful location. Many thanks.
Guest from Kirkcaldy
14th November 2023
5 out of 5:
Impeccable standards, attention to detail combined with great practicality . Turn the key step inside and see for yourself I promise you will be humbled and leave a better person than when you arrived …. though I was very good before I arrived 😀😀
Tips for other travellers:
Don’t book I want those dates to stay here … 😀 There’s so much to see and do part of the enjoyment is to explore things for oneself . Uig sands restaurant an expensive but indulgent treat.
Guest from London
12th October 2023
Thanks for a lovely stay in an amazing property in a beautiful location.
Guests from Edinburgh
9th September 2023
As ever, we leave here happier, relaxed and more positive! Thank you, thank you!
Guest from Linlithgow
2nd September 2023
5 out of 5:
Beautiful property in a stunning location. We keep coming back.
Tips for other travellers:
You have Uig beach on your doorstep. Check out the tide times and spend much of your time there in all weathers for a perfect beach activity holiday.
Guest from Whitley Bay
26th August 2023
5 out of 5:
Timsgarry is a special place. The Byre has been renovated and furnished with great love, imagination and exceptional craftsmanship. Lorna and John have created a space of peace, calm and tranquility in this spectacular wilderness. Thank you both for being such warm and caring hosts. We feel restored and renewed!
Tips for other travellers:
It was a joy to be able to walk to the sands from our front door, and to explore the magical beaches close to hand. Carnish beach was fantastic for swimming and Mangersta for watching the waves. We were thrilled to spot Golden Eagles above the Byre on a couple of occasions! Carloway Mill is fascinating. Watch first hand the process of Harris tweed yarn being produced and learn about the ongoing tradition of weaving in island homes. The electric bikes are fantastic. Take an easy spin out to The Edge cafe at Aird Uig and enjoy homemade cake. Callanish standing stones a must, too.
Guest from Zürich
5th August 2023
5 out of 5:
It was absolutely great! The house is beautiful and well furnished. The view from the bedroom is fascinating. We spent hours looking at the changing sea, the rabbits, the sheep and the moon. The hosts did everything to make our stay enjoyable and also provided extra services. Of the many places we booked to stay in the Hebrides, Timsgarry Byre was the very best.
Guest from Nottingham
23rd July 2023
5 out of 5
Guest from Glasgow
9th July 2023
5 out of 5:
What a wonderful place to stay. Everything we needed was there and John and Lorna are such friendly and welcoming hosts. No hesitation in recommending to others.
Tips for other travellers:
Community shop is very well stocked (shut on Sunday). Uig Sands restaurant is pricey but worth it. Cafe and museum in the community centre are both good. Walks - take your pick - there's a brochure in the Byre (available for £2 from the shop or cafe) with plenty of details. Or just walk onto Uig Bay beach. Or ask John and Lorna. Cycling - plenty of choices, either on your own bikes or on the e-bikes supplied with the Byre.
Guest from Stockport
15th June 2023
5 out of 5:
Lorna and John have created a wonderful place for people to stay and relax in a truly beautiful setting They were so helpful and hospitable. They seem to have thought of everything. We would most definitely return and will highly recommend to our friends and family.
Tips for other travellers:
The local community was also very welcoming, the community shop and the community cafe were excellent and the museum fascinating, it gave you a real feeling for the people and the place. Uig Sands Restaurant was a treat beautiful setting , food and service. Fiona’s Edge Cafe was also lovely and relaxed for an excellent evening meal. The scenery is jaw dropping a very special place to walk, cycle take a sea trip and surround yourself with nature.
Guests from Wiltshire
May 2023
We’ve had a wonderful week in this beautiful byre. The accommodation is perfect and the bed was one of the best we’ve slept in! The views are stunning wherever you are. We had trips to North and South Harris and enjoyed long walks on the fantastic beaches and to the Eagle observatory. We particularly enjoyed walking on Uig sands. We would recommend the North Harbour Bistro on Scalpay (booking is essential), Lorna’s Larder in Tarbert, and the Raider Trader at Reef Beach, as well as The Temple at Northton on South Harris. The distillery in Tarbert is very welcoming – we sat by the fire in the entrance with our dog and the café served us there – and of course we bought some gin! The weather has been very good (no rain) which is always a bonus. We hope to return one day and will recommend Timsgarry Byre to friends. It’s been a pleasure to stay here so a big thank you to Lorna and John.
Guests from Oxfordshire
April 2023
We have had a great week walking around Uig sands, to Gallen Head and back along the coast, around the Valtos Peninsula and in Mangersta. Lucky with mostly good, dry weather. We loved the Byre – really well made! Thank you Lorna and John.
Guest from Harris & Paisley
March 2023
Thank you so much for a fantastic stay. We have loved staying at the Byre and hope to do it again sometime soon!
Guests from Edinburgh
March 2023
Thank you for a fantastic stay. Beautiful Byre and surroundings. 10/10.
Guest from Isle of South Uist
11th November 2022
5 out of 5:
A lovely location with stunning views of Uig sands. The Byre is sumptuously appointed with high quality fittings and fixtures. Moreover it is spacious and comfortable.
Tips for other travellers:
The restaurant at Uig Sands has a stunning location, excellent food and service. However, do not overlook the Edge Cafe on Gallan Head, a completely different experience, but the food is wonderful. The epitomy of slow food. Things to do - walk, relax and enjoy the landscape, culture and wildlife. All the ingredients for a perfect holiday.
Guest from Cheadle Hulme
25th September 2022
5 out of 5:
Beautifully designed and fantastically appointed cottage, with an amazing, panoramic bedroom view. At the heart of a remote and inspiring area - beaches, cliffs and landscape. Walking distance to the only shop (and petrol station!) for miles around. We loved our time here, doing very little other than absorbing ourselves in the landscape.
Guest from Linlithgow
3rd September 2022
5 out of 5:
The accommodation is delightful and extremely comfortable. This year is our third visit, we enjoy spending time here.
Tips for other travellers:
The island is full of things to do. One of our favourite is simply walking on Uig beach.
Guest from Stonehaven
3rd August 2022
5 out of 5:
This will be the second time we've stayed at the Byre and, really, there is no better a house in no better a location! It's truly unique, thought fully equipped with everything you could possibly need and in the most beautiful location - it really couldn't get any better.
Tips for other travellers:
Overlooks and two minute walk to the beautiful Uig sands which changes constantly before your very eyes and never fails to amaze. Within short walking distance to the great community shop (which has EVERYTHING!) and also to the amazing Uig Sands restaurant for a splurge meal.
Guest from Norwich
23rd July 2022
5 out of 5:
The Byre was extremely comfortable and well-equipped as before. One tiny suggestion - it would be helpful to have some serving spoons.
Guest from Stoke on Trent
18th June 2022
5 out of 5:
The vision of the renovation of the property is inspiring. The profit made going to a sad but extremely worthwhile cause. It is a beautiful property in an amazing location and can't wait to return.
Tips for other travellers:
It is truly difficult to pull yourself away from the windows to be fair! We walked every day Barr two and saw wildlife too numerous to list. Uig Sands restaurant is truly outstanding- amazing g views and food. We walked to Gallan Head - a must - I can only liken it to an apocalypse with a sign for a cafe - we walked on thinking it wouldn't be open.... it was. What an experience it was!!! Finally made the nicest soup I have ever had, fresh to order while we were there!! An amazingly eccentric place. The weather was shocking, the crossings rough, but one of the best holidays ever
Guest
4th June 2022
5 out of 5:
The Byre was brilliant. Top notch. With the Sands restaurant and the Uig Community Shop just up the road, the Byre is extremely well located.
Guest
24th May 2022
5 out of 5:
A wonderful cottage in a truly amazing setting. Tranquil and restful this is a unique place to stay, with a landscape like no other to explore. Local amenities are close at hand and the welcome we received was so warm and friendly. I really can’t find the words to do it justice.
Guest
20th May 2022
5 out of 5:
Perfect place, perfect accommodation. An unforgettable holiday.
Guest from Glasgow
24th April 2022
5 out of 5:
Lorna & John made us very welcomed to the byre. The byre is situated on a very quiet lane very near an inlet of which will see high & low tides daily, it is spectacular. You will see sheep and lambs grazing, deer, many birds, gorgeous horizons and sunsets, and the most gorgeous stars when it is dark. The byre itself has absolutely everything you need. The bed the very comfortable, the layout is perfect, cozy and very charming. The details in both beauty and comfort are first rate. I recommend that everyone try the electric bikes available, it is a spectacular way to see the island with ease. We used them every day! Ask about the bothy that they have and go take a look, you will not regret it! It’s a wee wander ( 10 min. walk) but something you must see to believe. Gorgeous byre and lovely people.
Tips for other travellers:
We visited the byre in April of 2022. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. Prepare for wind. We had light windbreakers. We really suggest using the electric bikes available, we used them every day (one of us has not ridden a bike in decades) it was a terrific and easy way to see the islands beauty. We ate lunch in the community centre, and at the raider trailer situated very near the byre. The local shop directly across the street closes at 5 but has a plethora of food items! We packed lunches and popped them in the boot or the basket and went off the roads for the most beautiful scenic lunches, and we had conversations with most people we met! Lovely folks on the island. Wake yourselves up at 2-4 am to see the absolutely exquisite stars! It’s magical. Also, I used the binoculars every day to look out into every direction. Go to cliff beach and kneep, you will see the most spectacular beaches, mealasta for rugged views and a must in my book is the bothy that Lorna and John have in mangersta, spectacular!
Guest from Inverurie
7th February 2022
5 out of 5:
A lovely, comfortable and characterful holiday cottage with all the facilities you would need.
Tips for other travellers:
Beautiful beaches, walks,and interesting history and many eagles
