Right on the doorstep of 3 Sail Loft is Lews Castle, its museum and extensive and beautiful grounds. Explore on foot, by bike or by segway.

Visit the legendary chessmen at Lews Castle or explore the Uig Sands where they were first discovered.

Climb the hills in Lewis and Harris to take in the spectacular scenery. The annual Harris Mountain Festival offers a fantastic itinerary of events.

Enjoy a long walk on one of the many stunning – and often deserted – beaches. Our favourites are Traigh Mhor, Reef, Uig Sands and Luskentyre.

Take a tour around the Isle of Harris Distillery in Tarbert and learn more about its spirits and island life.

With so much rich history, it'll be hard to know where to start: from the Norse Mills and Callanish Stones to the lighthouses and broch.

Take a boat trip to St Kilda, an archipelago 41 miles west of the Hebrides, to explore the breathtaking scenery and history of this world heritage site.

Take life slowly. Walking and cycling are brilliant ways to see the islands; the recently opened Hebridean Way offers some great routes.

Try a new skill and see the islands from the water. Surf Lewis offers surf and paddleboard hire and lessons.

Visit the machair, one of the rarest habitats in Europe, where the flowers are at their most glorious between mid-June and mid-August.

Look out for seals, dolphins, whales and even basking sharks on a boat tour, or walk out to one of the observatories to spot an eagle.

Billy Connelly: 'There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.' It's not always bikini weather in the Hebrides. For those inclement days there are plenty of galleries and craft shops to visit - and you're never far from a cup of tea and a slice of cake.