Leodhas (Lewis) travel guide

As I observed, almost all locals pay the bus fare on getting off the bus, only turist pay in advance, when they get on.

Background

Lewis was controlled by the Vikings and the Norse influence can be seen in many of the place names, such as Uig (which is Norse for ‘a bay’). After the end of Norwegian sovereignty in 1266, the island was ruled by the Macleods, said to be descendants of early settlers from Iceland. Control of the island was wrested from them by the Mackenzies, who then proceeded to sell it, in 1844, to Sir James Matheson. The new owner built Lews Castle in Stornoway and began to develop the infrastructure of the island, as well as investing in new industries. Though many crofts were cleared and families sent to Canada, the people of Lewis fared well and certainly much better than their counterparts in the Southern Isles.

The next proprietor was Lord Leverhulme, founder of Lever Brothers, who bought the island (along with Harris) in 1918. He planned to turn Lewis into a major fishing centre and ploughed money into developing the infrastructure. He was forced to abandon his plans, however, partly because of the decline of the fishing industry, and partly owing to the growing conflict between him and the islanders returning from the war who wanted land of their own to farm. As a final benevolent gesture, Lord Leverhulme offered Lewis to the islanders, but only Stornoway Council accepted. The island was then divided into estates and sold, and hundreds of people emigrated.

Today the economy of Lewis is still based on the traditional industries of crofting, fishing and weaving, though there are other economic activities such as fish farming, which is now a major employer, service industries, construction, the controversial wind farm development and increasingly, tourism.

Islands of Harris&Lewis have a really good public transport system. The only drawback is that it doesn't work on Sundays (really, almost at all).

If you want to catch a bus, you don't need to look for a bus stop. Just stand on the 'right' side of the road (by the 'right' side I mean left, of course, Islands are still in the UK), wave to the driver and bus will stop.

The buses can also carry bicycles, I'm not sure, but as far as I remember, free of charge.