The Festival
The Location
In 2011 the Celtic Media Festival returns to its birthplace of the Western Isles of Scotland. With some of the most scenic views top be found in the United Kingdown and beyond, the lanscapes of the Islands roll from the sea to the mountains, captivating the imagination and warming the soul. Flights to several major cities operate seven days a week and multiple ferry routes make reaching this beautiful part of the world easier than you think. Once you experience the relaxed atmosphere and vibrant culture you may just want to stay!
Festival venue
The main venue for the Celtic Media Festival 2011 is the An Lanntair Arts Centre in Stornoway. A modern, purpose-built facility, An Lanntair will be a high-tech and comfortable base for delegates and guests attending the event. Please visit www.lanntair.com to see more.
We expect festival activities to take place in various venues around the town. Please keep an eye on this website for details.
Accommodation
With a wide range of accommodation available, there is sure to be something to fit your needs and your budget in Stornoway and the surrounding area.
The Visit Hebrides website lists much of the accommodation by type at http://www.visithebrides.com/wheretostay/.
While your initial thought may be to look for a room in one of Stornoway's larger hotels, we would suggest you consider some of the guest houses and self catering properties available. With many of them located very close to the Festival venue this can be a low cost yet comfortable way to stay for both individuals and groups.
Travel
The Western Isles are easier to reach that you think. With flights running seven days a week from several cities and ferry services operating year round there is guaranteed to be a travel solution for you.
By Air
FlyBe operates several flights per day to Stornoway from:
- Glasgow
- Edinburgh
- Inverness
- Benbecula
Flights take around 60 minutes and Stornoway airport is located only minutes from the centre of town. For full timetable information and to make a booking please visit www.flybe.com.
We would suggest you book flights as far in advance of travel as possible in order to secure the best value rates.
If you are coming from outside Scotland there are numerous airlines which fly to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness where you can catch a connecting flight to Stornoway. To search for results from a range of cities and airlines we recommend www.skyscanner.net.
By Sea
In recent years the cost of reaching Scotland's islands by ferry has been slashed making it an excellent value for money travel option. If you would prefer to travel to Stornoway by sea there are several routes available.
Caledonian MacBrayne operate ferry services from:
- Ullapool to Stornoway (Lewis)
- Uig to Tarbert (Harris)
- Uig to Lochmaddy (North Uist)
- Oban to Castlebay, Barra
- Oban to Loch Boisdale, South Uist
- Castlebay (Barra) to Loch Boisdale (South Uist)
- Berneray (North Uist) to Leverburgh (Harris)
- Barra to Eriskay
These services are suitable for both foot passengers and vehicles. For full details of timetables and prices please visit www.calmac.co.uk.
By Road
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Why not make more of the journey and take in the striking scenery by driving to the Western Isles? To drive from Glasgow or Edinburgh takes around 7-8 hours including ferry crossing via your chosen route. Inverness is only one hours drive from Ullapool where you can catch the ferry directly to Stornoway.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Citylink coach services to Stornoway operate via Inverness and include the ferry crossing from Ullapool. For details please visit www.citylink.co.uk.
Inverness is easily reached from across the UK and beyond by rail, road or air.
