Lying
off the North-West coast of Scotland and bordering the wide Atlantic Ocean,
the Western Isles offer visitors a unique experience.
Also known as the Outer Hebrides, the chain of Western Isles stretches
130 miles from the Butt of Lewis to Barra Head with each Island having its own
story to tell.
Steeped
in history, the islands have been inhabited for 6,000 years and world-famous
sites such as the Standing Stones of Callanish remind us of that ancient past.
The
people of the Western Isles are Gaels, bilingual Gaelic and English speakers
who are keen to preserve their rich, distinctive and vibrant culture.
Today some 28,000 people live on the islands
Although remote, the islands
are surprisingly accessible with modern air and ferry transport. For example
you can fly here from Glasgow in under an hour and from London in less than
three hours.
The Western Isles are a marvellous and unique destination for a short break or
longer holiday, where even at the height of summer you can still enjoy the
pleasure of having a sparkling clean mile-long sandy beach all to yourself.
In a wonderful variety of
unspoilt natural settings you will find not only breathtaking scenery and
wildlife, but also the opportunity to enjoy a range of activities from
climbing, hill walking and cycling to diving, boat trips and some excellent
sea and freshwater fishing.
