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.
Guests from Sheffield
October 2025
Most peaceful, beautiful, well-crafted place I have ever stayed!
Judith & Neil
September 2025
Just returned from the most amazing stay at the Byre and we couldn’t fault it. It was a lovely, cosy home from home and had everything we could need. Lorna and John were the perfect hosts and very quick to respond to any queries we had. Knowing that our visit supports the amazing work done by the foundation set up in their daughter’s name is one of many reasons why we will be returning in the future.
Tips for other travellers:
Far too many to mention but our highlights include:
- Uig Bay-right across the road and in our opinion, one of the best on the island. Great for walking the dog and even saw a sea eagle eating a fish on the beach!
- Restaurants/places to eat - Uig Sands and North Harbour Bistro Scalpay were both excellent.
- Croft 36 honesty shop in Northton is definitely worth a stop.
- The Callanish Stones, Gearrannan Blackhouse, Dun Carloway Broch and Bosta Iron Age house and beach all worth a visit.
Susan
August 2025
We absolutely loved our stay here! The attention to detail was incredible. We particularly admired the woodwork, the lighting, the beautiful colours of the Afghan rugs, the boot room and cleverly designed bedroom. All together they made for a very relaxing and luxurious holiday! We also loved the fact that you could walk to the beach along the pathway. We will definitely be coming back!
Tips for other travellers:
Fresh fish delivery once a week at the local shop - delicious smoked mackerel along with other delicious fish. Also the local smoked salmon from Uig Lodge was amazing. We particularly loved the morning walk onto the beach catching sight of the sea eagles. Bhaltos peninsula was our favourite for walking and swimming.
Elissa & Jim
July 2025
Good communication before & during our stay, thank you Lorna. Such a lovely place to stay, so tranquil & what a beautiful home. Perfect place to relax. A nature lovers paradise also with both golden & sea eagles, deer, rabbits, horses.
Philippa
June 2025
Timsgarry Byre is the perfect bolt hole. Every care has been taken to make this beautiful and comfortable. We loved the view from the sitting room- a constantly changing scene of busy bunnies, horses, eagles, deer and more. The view from the bedroom is second to none- another beach view! The bed probably the most comfortable we’ve ever slept in. As well as being the perfect base in an oasis of calm, knowing the Linda Norgrove Foundation benefits makes it even more appealing. A really worthy cause which the cottage provides welcome information about. We’d love to come back.
Tips for other travellers:
- Uig Sands - never the same.
- Swim by the bridge - a short walk from the byre.
- Lunch/tea & cake at the Uig Community shop.
- Splash-out dinner at Uig Sands Restaurant- exquisite food, lovely service and stunning view.
- Swim with Norma Macleod, Immerse Hebrides (boat ride & swim from Stornoway) saw dolphins, seals, the jet of a minke whale!
Graham
May 2025
There’s a reason we drive all this way back. The views, the sands, the vibe, the comfort, the wildlife, the island’s unique character and atmosphere. And this place is so well loved and maintained. Has all the amenities in the building one needs. Comfy bed, drying area, bikes, kitchen/lounge all with views of the magical Uig beach. John & Lorna (owners) have put a lot of love into this converted sheep Byre. Don’t come expecting pubs and nightlife. Although the community shop provides all food and drink you may require. The beaches and walks around are spectacular. Only been gone 24 hrs and we are already missing this special and magical corner of the world.
Steve & Kate
May 2025
We barely travelled more than 5 miles - there is such wonderful landscapes and wildlife to explore and an important history to understand. There is also a great little shop and a community centre with cafe within walking distance.
Caroline
April 2025
I would recommend that you just stop and enjoy this lovely space in this beautiful place. The only travelling about I did was on the wonderful e-bike provided. I went a little further than my last visit and discovered Cliff beach which was very dramatic- lovely waves!
Jamie
April 2025
We stayed at the Byre in April. It is a beautiful space, with great views and great facilities. The kitchen was very well equipped, and the living space was very comfortable with a lovely wood burning stove. All the decorations and little things around really added to the atmosphere. The location is great, with the beach, surprisingly very well-stocked local store, and great restaurant all in walking distance. The drive to get to Timsgarry is picturesque and the Byre itself is a peaceful and relaxing place to spend your time.
Louise
February 2025
Timsgarry Byre is hands down the best place I have ever stayed! The location is beautiful with beach views and within 5 minutes you can be on that beach and swimming. The property itself has been furnished to a high standard, clearly with love and care and there is everything that you want for a retreat in the Outer Hebrides (including a warm stove and underfloor heating - I stayed in February!). The local shop is walking distance and you can get anything that you need. I was looking for somewhere that was part of the community - and if you look at the website, you can see that The Byre is founded on that very principle. The owners answered my queries so quickly. I'd love to return one day to the islands, but only if the Byre is available!
Guest from Aboyne
9th November 2024
5 out of 5:
This is the most perfect place. A beautiful cottage in breathtaking scenery. We spent 2 weeks here and hardly travelled - we just walked locally and explored the landscape. There is a fantastic shop within walking distance, so you can be self contained. We are coming back.
Tips for other travellers:
There is a restaurant nearby, which is quite expensive, but apparently good. There is a great shop and some good small galleries. But it is the landscape and the history that are overwhelming.
Guest from Nairn
12th October 2024
5 out of 5:
Beautifully located cottage, well designed for any weather, warm and with amazing views out of the window. Perfect for two people.
Tips for other travellers:
Local shop is remarkably well stocked and the beach is literally a 5 minute walk (wellies advised if it has been wet).
Guest from Juniper Green
25th August 2024
5 out of 5:
A magical place to stay with a real sense of meaning.
Guest from Bearsden, Glasgow
27th July 2024
5 out of 5:
Thank you for a restorative break. Coming back to the beautiful Byre each day was a real treat & we thoroughly enjoyed exploring the local area. We look forward to a return visit.
Tips for other travellers:
The local community store is excellent & sells everything we could have possibly needed. Within the property there is plenty of helpful information. We did several of the walks from their Uig map & in addition loved walking to the end of the road past Brenis (great for sunset strolls) & swimming at the secluded bay at Carnish. The electric bikes were fun to try.
Guest from Bristol
4th July 2024
5 out of 5:
This is a completely stunning space in an equally stunning place. Peaceful, exhilarating, magic; a great store of joy to carry around until we can top it up next time, as soon as we can. The owners were lovely to deal with, a great pleasure to meet (John only) and very helpful.
Tips for other travellers:
Uig Sands restaurant is a must, as is the Stornaway distillery cafe. The Community shop is great as is the the one in Carloway. Callinish (of course), the brock and the black house village further on N up the same road; the Valtos peninsula is wonderful. But really, the Byre is perfect in itself; shopping and ancient history apart, why would one want to go anywhere else?
Guest from Dumbarton
3rd July 2024
5 out of 5:
Thank you so much for going out of your way to make my stay comfortable. I enjoyed my stay immensely and was heart-broken to leave. Thank you also for reducing the cost due to late availability. I am a single traveller and very much appreciated the opportunity to stay at your beautiful place- something that financially would normally be out of my reach. I would appreciate you letting me know should such an opportunity arise again. Thank you.
Tips for other travellers:
Do make use of the wonderful e-bikes! Not having a car i was able to explore all the beautiful nearby places, something that wouldn't have been possible otherwise due to reduced exercise tolerance at the moment. I ate at The Edge Cafe most nights and can wholeheartedly recommend Fiona's excellent cooking. The local shop was a delight too.
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.
Guest from the Isle of Aran
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.
