Outer Hebrides Orienting Yourself
Travelling in Outer Hebrides | Getting Around the Outer Hebrides | Orienting Yourself
Outer Hebrides | Travelling around Outer Hebrides | Accommodation | General Information | Lewis (Leodhas | Harris (Na Hearadh) | North Uist | Berneray | Benbecula | South Uist | Barra | St Kilda
Orientation & information
The Outer Hebrides is made up of more than 200 islands, only 10 of which are populated: Lewis and Harris; Scalpay; Berneray; North Uist; Benbecula; South Uist; Eriskay; Barra; and Vatersay; giving a total population of just under 30,000. The main population centre is Stornoway on Lewis, the only major town in the islands. The rest of the population is scattered throughout the islands in much smaller villages, mostly strung out along the coast.
Lewis and Harris are actually one island, divided by history and a line of high hills that runs between them. The northern part of Lewis is mostly bleak, flat peat moor, while the south and Harris are more rugged, with rocky peaks and superb beaches. The more southerly islands of North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist, joined together by bridges and causeways, are mostly low and flat and peppered with so many lochs they resemble a giant sieve. Toll-free road bridges connect the island of Scalpay with Harris and Great Bernera with Lewis, and a causeway connects Berneray with North Uist. A new causeway connecting Eriskay to South Uist opened in August 2001. There are tourist information centres in Stornoway and Tarbert which are open all year round, and also in Lochmaddy, Lochboisdale and Castlebay which are open early Apr to mid Oct. Full details are given under each destination.
The Western Isles Tourist Board produces an accommodation brochure as well as the essential Western Isles Official Tourist Map (Estate Publications; £3.95), which gives place names in English and Gaelic. They also have their own website Western island tourist Board which provides lots of information on the islands, including up and coming events. Information about the islands can also be obtained at The hebrides and gatliff.ic24.net Other informative websites The Outer Hebrides Handbook and Guide (£7.95) is written by local experts and is useful on history, culture, and flora and fauna.