The Outer Hebrides lie only 30 miles off the northwest coast of Scotland, a 130-mile long island chain stretching from Butt of Lewis to Vatersay. With a population of around 28,000 people across over 15 inhabited islands, it’s not a crowded place. In fact, few visitors to Scotland even get there. The islands are a unique ecosystem, from craggy cliffs and towering black rock mountains to sandy dunes and windswept moorlands.
The Outer Hebrides are home to several migratory bird species. In fact, the island chain is an ornithologist’s paradise, from the barnacle geese that migrate between the islands and the Arctic to the golden eagle and the puffin. St. Kilda’s, a singular island out to the west, in the middle of the Atlantic, boasts the world’s largest population of guillemots. The machair, the sandy dunes that make up much of the western coast of the islands, is the last stronghold of the corncrake, the bird having all but disappeared from the rest of the UK.
what to do in the outer hebrides
The Outer Hebrides may be a bird-watcher’s paradise, but there is plenty more to do for those disinclined to twitch. The islands have been inhabited since 4000 BC. They are awash in Neolithic and Bronze Age ruins, from the wildly impressive Callanish Stones and Cladh Hallan to smaller sites such as Pobull Fhinn and Barpa Langass. More recently, the blackhouses at Arnol and Gearrannan tell a tale of how life used to be on the islands, some up until the late 1800s.
There are also quite a few art galleries on the islands. The environment – from the windswept hills to the white sand beaches – provide artists with lots of inspiration, as one can tell from the many paintings and poems that appear across the islands. These art galleries also tend to have cafes within them, making them the perfect place to stop for lunch or tea.
how to get there
There are several ways to get across the Minch. The first, and probably the most popular for travelers, is the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry system. CalMac runs ferries from Uig to Tarbert, Ullapool to Stornoway, or Oban to Castlebay. In order to get between the islands, visitors must arrange other ferries. CalMac offers a hopscotch ticket, which allows for travel in one direction between the islands, or travelers can book independently.
The other option for visitors keen to get to the Outer Hebrides is by air. Flybe offers regular flights into Stornoway, Benbecula, and Barra. This last flight is unique. It is the only flight in the world that is regularly scheduled to fly in and out of an airport with a beach runway. That’s right: the Barra airport is a beach, and two flights a day fly in, turn around, and fly out at low tide. Even if visitors don’t travel in by air, a stop at the Barra airport to watch the plane land is a must do.
For travelers looking for a unique holiday, look no further than the Outer Hebrides. Explore the history, watch the birds, and enjoy traditional Scottish hospitality.
