Inside the UK island with beaches just like the Caribbean - where you can live

13 May 2023 , 06:43

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The Isle of Lewis has stunning sandy beaches that look exactly like a Caribbean paradise (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

'A great wee homey pub' is up for sale on an idyllic island in the Scottish Outer Hebrides, compared to the South Pacific due to its stunning white sand beaches.

The Cross Inn on the beautiful Isle of Lewis which has been described as a ‘Caribbean beach without the crowds' is in the Hebrides, also known as the 'long islands' as they stretch for a hundred miles.

Lewis, which has both Gaelic and English speakers, is steeped in history and culture ranging back thousands of years, including Viking settlement, and is home to the six-metre tall Trussel stone, the largest standing stone in Scotland.

Popular with tourists and islanders alike, The Cross Inn has been enjoyed as a local community hub for decades and is perfectly located to grab a drink or bite to eat at the end of the Hebridean Way walking and cycling route.

This pub on an idyllic island with beaches just like the Caribbean is up for sale (Courtesy Alice Bagley / SWNS)

The Scottish inn, which has previously been a post office, butcher, shop and garage, now is the main house containing a bed & breakfast with five or six rooms and a restaurant with a licensed bar.

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Considered 'great fun' in a 'wonderful community' by the current landlady, the gastropub is being sold privately - with all fixtures and fittings - for £399,000 and can accommodate 90 punters indoors with 45 covers.

The pub is for sale for £399,000 (Courtesy Alice Bagley / SWNS)

The Cross Inn also has a gigantic beer garden and rustic bar with 'buckets of character,’ called The Old Barn, is a historic crofters barn that was converted in the 1980s.

Should you make the move to this gastropub in one of the most Northern parts of West Scotland, your new neighbours would include native otters and eagles who also enjoy the golden Scottish sands.

The gastropub is in one of the most Northern parts of West Scotland (Courtesy Alice Bagley / SWNS)

Nearby attractions include Eoropie Beach, excellent for surfing with a gorgeous long sweep of white sand and dunes, 13th century church St Moluag's, the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse, built by the Stevenson brothers in 1862, and the Port of Ness, a lovely working fishing port with cafes and a gallery.

With only a couple of competitors, The Cross Inn is expected to generate from £200,000 up to £500,000 - and the cruise ship market is yet to be tapped into.

Nearby attractions include a 13th century church and a white sand surfing beach (Courtesy Alice Bagley / SWNS)

Selling agent businessesforsale.com said: "A truly exciting opportunity for owner-operators seeking a lifestyle business in a stunning part of the world."

Eliza Brandreth