The beautiful little UK seaside village that’s like stepping into Lord of the Rings

A little seaside village in is so breathtaking beautiful that walking through it is like stepping straight into the pages of a Tolkien book.

Gearrannan is located on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis off north Scotland. It is a Carloway municipality and has a tiny population of just 80 people. It sits on the exposed coast, steeped in a history of fishing and whaling and in an environment of outstanding natural beauty.

Today, the is most famous for the “Blackhouse Village” – a living museum of nine restored traditional thatched cottages which used to be common in Ireland, the Hebrides and the Highlands.

The double drystone walls, the low profile and the insulating thatch made the houses suitable for the Hebridean weather – and they were indeed eco-friendly houses in that all the building materials were natural and found locally.

The homes were last lived in in 1974 and were the last group to be inhabited. They were then restored between 1990 and 2000 by the Western Isles Council and opened by Princess Anne.

Now, the blackhouses’ museum can be visited to experience traditional rural activities like weaving Harris Tweed, to learn about the history of the area, relax and socialise in a unique atmosphere.

There is also a small village shop and cafeteria where tourists can buy momentos and enjoy a piece of homemade cake on their way through Gearrannan.

Gearrannan is a great spot to visit for those who enjoy scenery, archaeology, environment and wildlife, with opportunities for walking, cycling, fishing, surfing or relaxing.

There are a number of self-catering cottages and hostels available for tourists to stay in while exploring other parts of the Isle of Lewis such as Stornaway and Tarbert.

Isolated from mainland UK in the Western Isles of Scotland, the village is served by a single track road which has struggled to manage an increasing traffic load caused by tourists flocking to the island.

However, locals are also concerned that expanding and modernising the current route into the village would only encourage more visitors, and change the unique character of the village.

Those looking to visit are best to drive to Ullapool, Uig and Oban to get a ferry across. There are also flights available to Stornaway from Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh.