Scotland

Scotland has, since Victorian times, been a popular vacation destination for many. The most adventurous tourists enjoy visiting the most remote parts of the country and few places are as remote as the Outer Hebrides. Found far off the West coast of Scotland the Outer Hebrides have become extremely popular with tourists for a multitude of reasons some of which are outlined below.

The Outer Hebrides are separated from the Inner Hebrides (the Isle of Skye etc.) by the Minch which is a stretch of sea water which has incredible currents and changeable weather making it rather dangerous to the inexperienced. Looking out across the Atlantic ocean the islands have been shaped by the wind and the waves resulting in some of the most dramatic scenery in the UK. Long inhabited the islands are also well known for their many archaeological sites.

It would sometimes seem that there are archaeological discoveries made every year in the Outer Hebrides. While this is something of an exaggeration it is pretty close to the truth as the islands are dotted with numerous examples of ancient homesteads, ruins, burial chambers, stone age monuments and iron age forts and houses. The most famous site is the incredible stone circle, or standing stones, of Calanais on the Isle of Lewis (also know and the Callanish Standing Stones).

The Outer Hebrides are also home to some rather unique flora and fauna which, in many cases, is extremely rare and in some endangered. One of the most interesting types of ground found in the Outer Hebrides is that which is called machair. Machair is a patch of coastal ground just in from a beach which is continually dusted with fine shell sand which is nutrient rich. During the spring and summer months the machair is awash with bountiful and colorful wild flowers and, sadly, large numbers of rabbits.

If you have heard that the inner parts of the Outer Hebrides are barren and boring this is just not true. While much of the land of the Isle of Lewis is little more than open moorland it does contain a large number of lochs and the other islands have extremely interesting interiors. However it has to be said that it is along the coasts that the most interesting landscapes are to be found. This is especially so along the west coast which has numerous sandy beaches of excellence.

The beaches of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland are amongst the finest to be found in the whole of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. They are to be found all along the west coast (the east coast is mainly rocky inlets) with the vast majority found along the south west coasts of Lewis and Harris and along the west coast of South Uist.

Sport is something else which attracts many to the Outer Hebrides and, in recent years, a number of competitions and tournaments have helped increase awareness in surfing and other sports such as running and cycling. Of course golf and fishing remain as popular as ever and hill walking, rambling and mountaineering continue to be popular also. Windsurfing and wind carting are becoming popular on the larger beaches and it is common to see numerous kites from a distance.

All across the Outer Hebrides are superb places to enjoy a wide variety of sports. While golf, fishing and hunting remain as popular as ever newer sports are becoming increasingly important. Surfing and other sea & wind related sports such as wind surfing and wind carting have recently become extremely popular. However, when you visit you will notice just how popular cycling vacations are here.