Arnol

Arnol is a small coastal village on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The Gaelic name for the settlement is Àrnol, and the area is known for its Gaelic-speaking communities and traditional crofting heritage. Located on the northwest coast of Lewis, Arnol sits within a landscape of moorland, shoreline, and historic croft houses that characterize much of the island’s rural character.

The village is best known for its connection to Gaelic culture and traditional architecture. Central to this is the Arnol Heritage Centre, which preserves and presents the history of island life, language, and customs. The centre includes exhibits about crofting life and the social history of the region, and it features a reconstructed traditional blackhouse, providing insight into the domestic architecture and living conditions of rural Lewis in past centuries. The site serves as a focal point for local culture and a draw for visitors seeking to understand Gaelic heritage.

Lifestyle in Arnol reflects the broader patterns of rural Lewis, with a history rooted in farming, crofting, and fishing. Gaelic remains a feature of daily life in the community, and the village is often visited by people exploring the island’s coastal scenery, archaeological sites, and other crofting settlements along the Lewis coastline.

Today, Arnol’s economy rests on a combination of tourism, heritage preservation, and agricultural activity. Visitors access local accommodations and services in nearby towns, with Stornoway serving as the primary regional hub for commerce and transport. Arnol thus represents a small but enduring example of Outer Hebrides rural life and Gaelic culture.