Museums & Galleries · Outer Hebrides
Arnol Blackhouse
📍 HS2 9DJ
Photo: Otter (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Traditional thatched house once shared by family and animals
- Ruined blackhouse at no. 39 and 1920s white house nearby
- Fire at the heart of the house is never extinguished
- Box-beds in the bedroom with original fabrics and furnishings
- Byre left exactly as it was in 1966
Arnol Blackhouse offers a unique insight into island life on Lewis, set in a traditional, fully furnished thatched house where a family once lived alongside its animals under one roof. You can peek inside cosy box-beds with their original fabrics, smell the ever-burning peat fire at the heart of the home, and see the byre left just as it was in 1966. Nearby, a ruined blackhouse and a 1920s 'white house' let you compare different eras of crofting life, with Gaelic-speaking staff often on hand to answer questions. It suits visitors keen on social history and traditional crafts. For those wanting to stay nearby, BritStays lists 1 bookable place to stay within 5 miles of this Na h-Eileanan Siar museum.
Practical details
- Best for
- Gaelic-speaking staff on hand to answer questions about crofting life
- Booking
- Standard entry can be booked for a specific date and time
- Open
- Closed for three days in late October
From the attraction's own website on 23 Oct 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Cafe
- ✓ Gift Shop
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Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
2.5 mi
3.8 mi
7.5 mi
7.6 mi
9.1 mi
11.3 mi
🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to Arnol Blackhouse into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.