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

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 roadsigns are in Gaelic, but the bus timetables use the English names!

Religion still plays an important part in many peoples lives. In Lewis and Harris this is often in the form of Protestant Free Presbyterian Churchs. As a result the Sabbath (Sunday) is respected, so you are unlikely to find shops etc open on a Sunday. Activites happening on a Sunday often are opposed locally. In contrast Barra and South Uist are mainly Catholic, and Sunday opening is much more likely.

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 progessively 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.

Do

• Play Golf at one of the 5 island Golf Courses [10].

Get out

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