Outer Hebrides

The Outer Hebrides (also know as the Western Isles) are the westernmost chain of islands in the Hebrides, west of the Scottish Highlands. Regions These are all separate islands, except Lewis and Harris which together form one island. Lewis Harris Berneray North Uist Benbecula South Uist Eriskay Barra St Kilda Towns and villages Balivanich - the biggest village on Benbecula Castlebay - the main village on Barra Lochmaddy - the main village on North Uist Stornoway - the only town, on the Isle of Lewis Tarbert - the main village in Harris Other destinations Understand The Outer Hebrides[1] are a fascinating destination. The scenery is beautiful. The landscape is rocky and mountainous, but also lush and verdant - due in no small part to the large amounts of rain which tend to fall. It is easy to find a quiet peaceful spot. The Gaelic language and culture is appealing. At a practical level this means that place names on road signs are in Gaelic, but the bus timetables use the English names! Religion still plays an important part in many people’s lives. In Lewis and Harris this is often in the form of Protestant Free Presbyterian Churches. As a result the Sabbath (Sunday) is respected, so you are unlikely to find shops etc open on a Sunday. Activities happening on a Sunday often are opposed locally. In contrast Barra and South Uist are mainly Catholic, and Sunday opening is much more likely. Talk Get in By boat Caledonian MacBrayne [2] is the national ferry service. Citylink coaches generally connect with the ferries on the mainland. Details for Summer 2006: Ullapool to Stornoway Mon-Sat 2 per day, taking 2 hours 45 minutes. Uig on Skye to Tarbert (Harris) Mon-Sat 1 or 2 per day taking 1 hour 40 minutes. Uig on Skye to Lochmaddy on North Uist Mon-Sun 1 or 2 per day taking 1 hour 45 minutes. Oban to Castlebay on Barra daily, taking 5+ hours. Oban to Lochboisdale on South Uist 4 per week, taking 5+ hours. By air In the Outer Hebrides, there are airports in Stornoway in Lewis, Benbecula and Barra. These airports provide direct flights to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. The airport in Barra is one of the most spectacular in the world, with planes landing on a three-mile beach at low tide, but this does mean that the flight times vary with the tide. Get around By boat Caledonian MacBrayne, [3]. The national ferry service. Details below are for Summer 2006: Berneray to Leverburgh on Harris Daily 3-4 per day, taking 1 hour. Eriskay to Barra Daily, up to 5 per day, taking 40 minutes. By Bus There are good bus services during the day Mon - Sat, but little in the evening and no buses on a Sunday. Western Isles bus timetables Causeways Many of the islands are linked by road causeways and bridges, which have progressively been built over the last 50 years or so. Most recently causeways have been built to Eriskay from South Uist, and to Berneray from North Uist. By bicycle The Outer Hebrides are popular for cycle tourists, generally taking around a week to cycle from Barra to Stornoway. Car Hire MacLennan's Garage, Balivanich, Benbecula, tel: +44 (0)1870 602191 Ask Car Hire, Creagorry, Benbecula, tel: +44 (0)1870 602818. Mackinnon Self Drive [4], 18 Inaclete Road, Stornoway, Lewis, HS1 2RB 01851 702984. From £22.50 per day. Arnol Motors [5], Arnol, Lewis HS2 9DB 01851 710548. From £23 per day. Lewis Car Rentals [6], 52 Bayhead Street, Stornoway, Lewis, HS1 2TU. From £22 per day. Taxis Alda Taxis, Lochmaddy, North Uist. tel: +44 (0)1876 500 215. See Beaches There are many fine sandy beaches, mainly on the Western shores of the islands. History Historic Scotland Properties[7]: Kisimul Castle on Barra. Callinish Standing Stones on Lewis. Carloway Brooch on Lewis. Black House Museum at Arnol on Lewis. Art An Lanntair Art Centre [8] in Stornoway. Taigh Chearsabhagh [9] in Lochmaddy. Itineraries Do Play Golf at one of the 5 island Golf Courses [10]. Eat Drink link title==Stay== Collam Villa, Scott road, Tarbert, Isle of Harris, ☎ 01859550367, [3]. checkin: 16.00; checkout: 10.00. Collam Villa is a renovated 4 Bedroom Villa overlooking the village of Tarbert on the beautiful Isle of Harris. With views East to the Isle of Skye and West to the Atlantic Ocean, this self catering villa is ideal for families, groups or even couples who wish to holiday on the Isle of Harris. This property can comfortably hold from 2 people wanting the property to themselves to a family or group of 9 people + cot, within a newly furnished high specification surrounding. Collam Villa’s location provides it with an ideal central position from which to explore the beaches, bays and hills of the Isle of Harris as well as giving simple access to the sites of interest in the Isle of Lewis. Call or see our details at www.binspiredbyharris.com Get out This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!