Why the
Outer Hebrides Islands
are special

They offer visitors a close encounter with the traditional Scottish Gaelic culture and slow pace of life. You also have the opportunity to experience the natural raw beauty of the mountains, moors, and coasts.

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Outer Hebrides Islands
tips & insights

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Best Island

For first-time visitors, it would be Lewis because of its developed tourism infrastructure and its many archaeological sites. The finest is the 5,000-year-old Callanish standing stones. Lewis also has interesting ancient blackhouses (low stonewall dwelings with turf roofs).

Note: Because most Lewis residents follow the strict Calvinist religion, nearly everything on the island is closed on Sunday. This includes pubs, restaurants and public transportation.

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Geography in brief

The archipelago's 100 or so islands lie between the open Atlantic Ocean and Scotland's northwestern mainland - and stretch about 210 kilometers (130 miles). The islands are sparsely populated - about 9 people per square kilometer (3.5 per square mile).

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When to come

Outer Hebrides days are typically bleak, gray, wet, and windswept. To increase your chances of good-weather days, come in May or June.

And bear in mind:

Because of the Gulf Stream influence, temperatures are rarely hot or severely cold throughout the year.

Because of the far-north location, daylight is quite long during the weeks before and after the June 22nd solstice. This gives you extra daytime sightseeing time.

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Wonders of Scotland - Home page

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Site map

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Scotland National Tourism Organization

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Seascape photo by David Wake - CC BY 2.0

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