On the outer edge of Europe and Scotland in the far north west are the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides. The Outer Hebrides are an area of unspoilt natural beauty with spectacular scenery, impressive mountain ranges, moorland and miles of golden (sometimes sheltered) beaches. The Outer Hebrides have a unique culture and traditions and host large numbers of wildlife. Most communities in the Outer Hebrides use the Scottish Gaelic language. The name for the UK Parliament constituency covering this area is Na h-Eileanan an Iar, whilst the Scottish Parliament constituency for the area continues to be officially known as Western Isles. With only 26,370 inhabitants and 9 people per square kilometer the Western Isles are one of the least populated areas in Scotland. Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis is the administrative capital of the Wester Isles. From the tip of Lewis all the way down to Barra/Vatersay is around 240 Kilometers. The most islands on the Outer Hebrides are very rich with wildlife. Golden Eagles, Otters, Red Deer, Corncrakes and many other birds attract many visitors. The Outer Hebrides also offer opportunities for the more adventurous visitor; kayaking, canoeing, sailing, surfing, kiting, climbing, hill walking and more. For detailed information there is a Map of the Outer Hebrides available

A land of Lochs
Water is a major feature of the Western Isles with over 6.000 lochs spread over their comparatively small terrain. Though they comprise only 1,3 % of the UK's landmass, the Outer Hebrides contain 15% of its freshwater surface area.

How to get to the Outer Hebrides
There are basically two methodes of transportation to visit the Wester Isles. By plane and by ferry. There are three airports on the Outer Hebrides and British Airways, Eastern Airways and Highland Airways have scheduled flights to the Outer Hebrides from several airports on the mainland with Inverness being the hub airport.

Airports on the Outer Hebrides
Barra: The Island of Barra is located near the southern tip of the Western Isles. The Airport lies on the north east coast of the island. Washed by the tide twice a day it is the only beach airport in the world to handle scheduled airline services.

Benbecula: Benbecula lies between North Uist and South Uist in the Western Isles. The airport is located on the west coast of the island.

Stornoway: Stornoway Airport provides a key access point to Lewis and the Western Isles, with flights from Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and inter-island services to Benbecula and Barra.

Ferry services to the Outer Hebrides
Several ferry services are operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) from the mainland to the Outer Hebrides. Detailed information, routes and a map are available on the Island Hopping page.
Skye Uig to Tarbert on Harris Western Isles
Skye Uig to Lochmaddy on North Uist Western Isles
Oban to Lochboisdale on South Uist Western Isles
Mallaig to Lochboisdale on South Uist (summer only)
Mallaig to Castlebay on Barra (summer only)

Local Ferries on the Outer Hebrides
Tarbert on Harris to Lochmaddy on North Uist
Leverburgh on South Harris to the Isle of Berneray
Lochboisdale South Uist to Castlebay on Barra

Berneray to North Uist and South Uist to Eriskay are connected through a causeway

The populated islands on the Outer Hebrides and inhabitants
Lewis and Harris 19,918, South Uist 1,818, North Uist 1,271, Benbecula 1,219, Barra 1,078, Berneray 130, Scalpay 322, Great Bernera 233, Grimsay 201, Eriskay 133, Vatersay 94, Baleshare 49.

The unpopulated islands on the Outer Hebrides
Barra Isles, Boreray, Calvay, Campay, Eilean Chaluim Chille, Eilean Iubhard, Eilean Kearstay, Eileanan Iasgaich, Ensay, Fiaray, Floday, Flodday, Floddaybeg, Floddaymore, Fuday, Fuiay, Gighay, Gilsay, Groay, Hellisay, Hermetray Killegray, Kirkibost, Lingay, Little Bernera'Mealasta Island, Mingulay, Opsay, Oronsay, Orosay, Pabbay near Harris, Pabbay Mór, Ronay, Scaravay, Scarp, Scotasay, Shiant Islands, Shillay, Soay Beag, Soay Mór, Stockinish Island, Stromay, Stuley, Sursay, Tahay, Taransay, Vacsay, Vallay, Vuia Beg, Vuia Mór, Wiay

Lewis
Lewis is the most northerly island of the hebrides and the largest island of the Outer Hebrides. Lewis has a history that goes back thousands of years and ancient stone circles and standing stones can be found everywhere. On the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, at Callanish, stands the awesome collection of stone circles and rows of standing stones called the 'Hebrides' Stonehenge'. Gaelic is the main language in the Western Isles together with English. The Western Isles culture remains very strong, and the Sunday is still strictly lived by the Free Church traditional values. Some of Lewis' highlights are Garry Beach near Tolsta, Ness with the Butt of Lewis and harbour surrounded by fantastic cliffs and a very huge standing stone at Clach An Truiseil near Brù. The settlements on Lewis are on or near the coasts or sea lochs, being particularly concentrated on the north east coast. The interior of Lewis is a large area of moorland from which peat was traditionally cut as fuel (and still is). The southern part of Lewis, adjoining Harris, is more mountainous with inland lochs.

Stornoway
Stornoway is the capital of the Outer Hebrides and located on the east coast of Lewis. Stornoway is also the main transport hub with and airport, ferry terminal and bus services on the Outer Hebrides. Stornoway is well worth visiting. There is an annual Celtic Festival and a new Art Centre, An Lantair. There are several interesting building in the town centre, such as Stornoway Town Hall and the neo-gothic Lews Castle. Stornoway is also home to a museum and the Lewis Loom Centre which is the heart of the Harris Tweed industry on the Western Isles.

Harris
Harris is bordered in the north by Lewis and also called North Harris, while south Harris is almost a separate island with the town of Tarbert as the centre. North Harris contains the Clisham (An Cliseam), which is the highest mountain in the Outer Hebrides at 799 metres. North Harris is sparsely populated. Beyond Tarbert, the furthest settlement is Huisinis on the west coast. A bridge from the east coast links Harris to the island of Scalpay. The southern part of Harris is less mountainous, with numerous unspoilt, white sandy beaches which are mainly on the west coast. Of all the beaches on South Harris Luskentyre and Scarista are considered, by many to be the most spectacular. The scenery is some of the most breathtakingly beautiful in the Western Isles and in fact in the whole of Scotland.

Berneray
Berneray is an island in the Sound of Harris, close to North Uist in the south and Harris in the north east. With an area of a little over 10 square kilometres, Berneray rises to a height of 93m at Beinn Shleibhe (Moor Hill) and 85m at Borve Hill. Most of the people on Berneray live on the east coast near Bays Loch where there is a harbour. The west coast is mainly white sandy beach and dunes. Berneray currently has a population of around 130 people. Berneray is linked to North Uist through a 900m long causeway which was opened first in 1998, and linked with Harris through a regular ferry service. Berneray is often confused with Great Bernera, also known as Bernera, which is an island in the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Lewis. Bernera is linked to the west coast of Lewis by a road bridge.

North Uist
North Uist is relatively flat compared with Harris except for the south east, and most of North Uist is covered with many peat bogs, low hills and lochans, with more than half the land being covered by water. Some of the lochs contain a mixture of fresh and tidal salt water, giving rise to some complex and very interesting habitats. The biggest settlement on North Uist is Lochmaddy, which has a fishing port and is home to a museum, an arts centre and a camera obscura. North Uist is also known for its interesting and diverse birdlife and the Corncrake is one the rare species here. North Uist has many prehistoric structures, including a chambered cairn, the Pobull Fhinn stone circle and the Fir Bhreige standing stones. North Uist is also a pradise for birdwatchers and the island is home to an RSPB reserve at Balranald.

Benbecula
Benbecula lies between the islands of North Uist and South Uist, to which it is connected by road causeways. Benbecula has no ferry service but Benbecula Airport has daily flights to Glasgow, Stornoway, Inverness and Barra. Benbecula's main village is Balivanich in the northwest. Other villages include Craigstrome, which lies on the eastern half of Benbecula. In contrast to the cultivated west coast of the island, the eastern half is a mixture of freshwater lochs, moorland, bog and deeply indenting sea lochs. Craigstrome is near Ruabhal, Benbecula's highest hill at 124 metres (407ft).

South Uist
The west of South Uist consits of a continuous sandy beach whilst the east coast is mountainous with the peaks of Beinn Mhor 620m and Hecla 606m. Interesting sites on South Uist include the Kildonan Museum, housing the sixteenth century Clanranald Stone, and the ruins of the house where Flora MacDonald was born. The island is also home to the Askernish Golf Course, the oldest on the Outer Hebrides. The main village on the island is Lochboisdale, from which ferries sail to Oban on the mainland and to Castlebay on Barra. The island is also linked to Eriskay and Benbecula by causeways.

Eriskay
Eriskay is located just south of South Uist and connected with that island through a causeway which was opened in 2001. This was a good reason to make Ceann a'Gharaidh on Eriskay the ferry terminal to and from Ardmore on Barra, located to the south of Eriskay. Eriskay is famous for the Eriskay Ponies, picture on the right, and of course Eriskay is the real 'Whisky Galore' island. It was just off Eriskay, between Great Todday and little Todday, that the S.S. Politician ran aground in 1941 with 50,000 cases of whisky aboard. The locals managed to save several hundreds of cases before the ship sunk into the sea, providing them with a good supply of their 'Water of Life'.

Barra
Barra, which is one of the most southerly island of the Outer Hebrides, is and island with stunning scenery and beautiful beaches on the west part of the island. Barra is very suitable to be discovered by bike or by foot. Barra's main settlement is Castlebay. The village is home to Kisimul Castle and the Dualchas Heritage and Cultural Centre. Kisimul Castle is on an island in the bay. It is a remarkable restoration you see today. And although the castle is officially owned by Historic Scotland, it is still occupied by a MacNeil Chief - Roderick, son of Robert Lister MacNeil - who pays an annual rent of 1 Pound and a bottle of whisky. Barra also has a ruined church, a museum at Cille Bharra and a number of Iron Age brochs and other structures.

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