Outer Hebrides Pocket Map: The perfect way to explore the Western Isles

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The largest islands are deeply indented by arms of the sea such as Loch Ròg, Loch Seaforth and Loch nam Madadh. There are also more than 7,500 freshwater lochs in the Outer Hebrides, about 24% of the total for the whole of Scotland. [13] North and South Uist and Lewis, in particular, have landscapes with a high percentage of fresh water and a maze and complexity of loch shapes. Harris has fewer large bodies of water but has innumerable small lochans. Loch Langavat on Lewis is 11 kilometres (7mi) long, and has several large islands in its midst, including Eilean Mòr. Although Loch Suaineabhal has only 25% of Loch Langavat's surface area, it has a mean depth of 33 metres (108ft) and is the most voluminous on the island. [14] Of Loch Sgadabhagh on North Uist it has been said that "there is probably no other loch in Britain which approaches Loch Scadavay in irregularity and complexity of outline." [15] Loch Bì is South Uist's largest loch and at 8 kilometres (5mi) long it all but cuts the island in two. [16] As one of Europe’s last untouched natural habitats, the Outer Hebrides offer visitors an experience they will never forget. Whether strolling acrosswhite sand beachesor among the shadows of 5000-year-old standing stones, thehistory of the islandsis a constant presence. From the passing of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 to 1975 Lewis formed part of the county of Ross and Cromarty and the rest of the archipelago, including Harris, was part of Inverness-shire. [140] The islands' total population was 26,502 at the 2001 census, and the 2011 figure was 27,684. [38] During the same period Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702. [41] The largest settlement in the Outer Hebrides is Stornoway on Lewis, [42] [43] which has a population of about 8,100. [44]

The Outer Hebrides | Scotland.org The Outer Hebrides | Scotland.org

The Outer Hebrides ( / ˈ h ɛ b r ɪ d iː z/ HEB-rid-eez) or Western Isles ( Scottish Gaelic: na h-Eileanan Siar [nə ˈhelanən ˈʃiəɾ] ⓘ, na h-Eileanan an Iar [nə ˈhelanən əɲ ˈiəɾ] ⓘ or na h-Innse Gall, 'Islands of the Strangers'; Scots: Waster Isles), sometimes known as the Long Isle or Long Island (Scottish Gaelic: an t-Eilean Fada), is an island chain off the west coast of mainland Scotland. [Note 1] The islands are geographically coextensive with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. They form part of the archipelago of the Hebrides, separated from the Scottish mainland and from the Inner Hebrides by the waters of the Minch, the Little Minch, and the Sea of the Hebrides. If you are planning a trip to the Outer Hebrides, we can provide you with a wide range of Western Isles visitor information to help with every aspect of your holiday. Learn how the islanders enduring struggles against both the elements and authorities led to many leaving the land they love. The Ravenspoint Centre in Lochs is home to the Patagonia collection commemoratinga reluctant emigration from the area.Ballin Smith, Beverley; Taylor, Simon; Williams, Gareth (eds) (2007) West Over Sea: Studies in Scandinavian Sea-Borne Expansion and Settlement Before 1300. Leiden. Koninklijke Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-15893-1 Review of Educational Provision and the Comhairle's Future Strategy for the Schools Estate: Daliburgh School, Isle of South Uist" (PDF). Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Department of Education. January 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 July 2010 . Retrieved 1 June 2010. The Outer Hebrides has some of the finest walking experiences in Europe. Nowhere else offers such a rich combination of attractions: stunning beaches, abundant wildlife, turquoise seascapes, flower rich machair, imposing m ountains, outstanding archaeology and, of course, the islands’ unique Gaelic culture. Mingulay birds". National Trust for Scotland. Archived from the original on 22 June 2006 . Retrieved 16 February 2007.

Planning Your Trip - Outer Hebrides

a b c "Scotland's Census 2001 Statistics for Inhabited Islands" (PDF). General Register Office for Scotland. 28 November 2003. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012 . Retrieved 26 February 2012. Some of the smaller islands continue to contribute to modern culture. The " Mingulay Boat Song", although evocative of island life, was written after the abandonment of the island in 1938 [52] and Taransay hosted the BBC television series Castaway 2000. Others have played a part in Scottish history. On 4 May 1746, the "Young Pretender" Charles Edward Stuart hid on Eilean Liubhaird with some of his men for four days whilst Royal Navy vessels patrolled the Minch. [53] Sea transport is crucial, and a variety of ferry services operate between the islands and to mainland Scotland. Modern navigation systems now minimise the dangers, but in the past the stormy seas have claimed many ships. Religion, music and sport are important aspects of local culture, and there are numerous designated conservation areas to protect the natural environment. Most areas were between 60-74% Gaelic speaking and the areas with the highest density of over 80% are Scalpay near Harris, Newtonferry and Kildonan, whilst Daliburgh, Linshader, Eriskay, Brue, Boisdale, West Harris, Ardveenish, Soval, Ness, and Bragar all have more than 75%. The areas with the lowest density of speakers are Stornoway (44%), Braigh (41%), Melbost (41%), and Balivanich (37%). [150] South Uist Machair NSA 1:50,000 map" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 20 December 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022 . Retrieved 7 June 2018.

Nationally important populations of breeding waders are present in the Outer Hebrides, including common redshank, dunlin, lapwing and ringed plover. The islands also provide a habitat for other important species such as corncrake, hen harrier, golden eagle and otter. Offshore, basking shark and various species of whale and dolphin can often be seen, [33] and the remoter islands' seabird populations are of international significance. St Kilda has 60,000 northern gannets, amounting to 24% of the world population; 49,000breeding pairs of Leach's petrel, up to 90% of the European population; and 136,000pairs of puffin and 67,000 northern fulmar pairs, about 30% and 13% of the respective UK totals. [34] Mingulay is an important breeding ground for razorbills, with 9,514pairs, 6.3% of the European population. [35] In addition to the major North Ford ( Oitir Mhòr) and South Ford causeways that connect North Uist to Benbecula via the northern of the Grimsays, and another causeway from Benbecula to South Uist, several other islands are linked by smaller causeways or bridges. Great Bernera and Scalpay have bridge connections to Lewis and Harris respectively, with causeways linking Baleshare and Berneray to North Uist; Eriskay to South Uist; Flodaigh, Fraoch-Eilean and the southern Grimsay to Benbecula; and the Vatersay Causeway linking Vatersay to Barra. [16] [46] [47] This means that all the inhabited islands are now connected to at least one other island by a land transport route.