Hamanavay is situated on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Western Isles of Scotland. The House is in a vast wilderness and overlooks an otherwise uninhabited sea loch. The Estate provides extensive salmon, sea trout and trout fishing, together with shooting and stalking over a large acreage in beautiful scenery.

Hamanavay House is reached via an eight-mile Land Rover track, which transports visitors to a completely peaceful, highly secluded, wild paradise. A four-wheel-drive vehicle with good clearance is needed to drive the 40 minute track to the house. If guests are unable to bring a 4×4, we’ll be happy to help you hire one.

The 40-minute journey along the track is a wildlife safari in itself, with regular sightings of golden eagles and red deer framed against the dramatic views north towards Uig Sands and the panorama of the North Harris Hills to the south. The start of the track is about 50 minutes from Stornoway airport and ferry.

Fishing
The estate has the exclusive fishing rights on the Hamanavay and Red River Systems, both of which enjoy good runs of sea trout and salmon. There are 4 principle lochs; Craobhaig, Cro Criosdaig, Dibadale and Raonasgail.  The interconnecting rivers between the sea and the lochs can fish well in higher water.  The lochs are at their best with a strong warm wind, and are principally fished from boats.  In the early season and in low water conditions, fish can build up in numbers in the estuaries giving the rare opportunity to fish for salmon and sea trout in salt water.

Stalking and Shooting
The estate offers stalking and shooting in remarkable scenery.  Grouse are walked up over pointers.  Excellent snipe and woodcock shooting is available and the estate welcomes parties of guns in November, December and January when good mixed bags may be expected.

Mixed Weeks
Weeks in September and October offer a rare combination of fishing, shooting and stalking allowing tenants to match their daily activities to the weather. The estate whilst not setting out to achieve the accolade, has provided a number of ‘MacNabs’ to guests over the recent years.

Rods
Single handed rods between 10 and 11 feet.

Lines
8 weight.  Floating lines are used in the river and sea pool, but it can be useful to have sinking (“poly tips”) in different sink speeds/length to vary the depth of the flies in the loch.

Flies

• For the sea pool and river:  Typically small (12/14/16s) salmon flies, preferably doubles rather than trebles.  Ally shrimp, munro killer, cascade, willie gunn, blue charm, stoats tail/silver stoat etc.  Small tube flies are also good (nylon in 10-15lb).
• For the loch:  One typically fishes 2 or 3 flies.  Either a salmon fly (as above) or a traditional seatrout pattern is normally fished on the tail and middle dropper.  A bushier pattern is generally fished on the top (“bob”) fly.  Traditional seatrout patterns include Kate McLaren, black Pennell, claret bumble, goat’s toe, teal blue and silver etc (all in trout fly sizes 10s and 12s).  Effective bob flies are blue zulu, black muddler and orange (nylon in 6-10lbs).

Polaroid glasses, midge repellent.

Waders are not essential but sometimes useful.

Hamanavay House is a spacious modern retreat for up to eight guests, set in a stunning position with commanding views of Loch Tamnabhaigh. Built in 1991 in a traditional style and newly refurbished to a high standard in 2021, the house has a large drawing room with seven floor-to-ceiling windows that let you watch the ever-changing view while you relax.

 The house is reached via an eight-mile track, transporting you to a completely peaceful, highly secluded, wild paradise. Loch Tamnabhaigh is remote sea loch in a vast wilderness. This is the ideal place to escape the stresses and strains of everyday life.

Accommodation:

Hamanavay House is set out over two floors and sleeps eight people self-catered or six catered.

On the ground floor:

Drawing room with open fire and seven floor-to-ceiling windows

Dining room with a collection of books on the Hebrides, board games and puzzles

Kitchen with gas oven

Large utility room/drying room with washing machine

Bathroom and shower room

Twin bedroom (or cook’s room in catered weeks).

Upstairs:

Large master bedroom with en suite and dramatic views of the bay

Double bedroom

Twin bedroom

Bathroom