Philip's Outer Hebrides: Leisure and Tourist Map: Leisure and Tourist Map (Philip's Red Books)

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Geographically, the inhabited islands can easily be separated into those that are or surround Lewis and Harris, The Uists and Benbecula, and Barra. South Uist is home to the Askernish Golf Course. The oldest links in the Outer Hebrides, it was designed by Old Tom Morris. Although it was in use until the 1930s, its existence was largely forgotten until 2005 and it is now being restored to Morris's original design. [174] [175] See also [ edit ] Historic Environment Scotland. "Annie Jane: Bagh Siar, Vatersay, Atlantic (102881)". Canmore . Retrieved 16 April 2016. Ross, John (21 February 2007). "Hedgehogs saved from the syringe as controversial Uist cull called off". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. With renowned Hebridean hospitality as standard, any stay here lives with you, your family and your friends forever.

Some of the islands continue to contribute to modern culture. The " Mingulay Boat Song", although evocative of island life, was written after the abandonment of the island in 1938 [18] and Taransay hosted the BBC television series ‘’ Castaway 2000’’. Others have played a part in Scottish history. On 4 May 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie hid on Eilean Liubhaird with some of his men for four days whilst Royal Navy vessels patrolled the Minch. They camped under a sail stretched over a "low pitiful hut" while it rained torrentially. [19] The Outer Hebrides have been inhabited for at least 4,000 years, and prehistoric remains are numerous, including the fine megalithic stone circle at Callanish (Lewis). Equal in importance to Stonehenge, the Callanish megaliths are aligned to make a rough Celtic cross 405 feet (123 metres) north to south and 140 feet (43 metres) east to west. Several smaller stone circles in the area align with Callanish. By the first centuries ad the islands’ inhabitants were speaking Gaelic, and they were Christianized following St. Columba’s arrival in Scotland in the 6th century. The islands suffered from Norse raids beginning in the 8th century, and they came under Norwegian dominance from the 9th to the 12th century, when Somerled rebelled against the Norwegians and founded the lordship of the Isles. The Lords of the Isles maintained effective rule over the islands through the late Middle Ages, and the kingdom of Scotland did not establish control there until 1493, when the islands’ history largely merges with that of the historic counties of which they became part. The Gaelic name is Stromaigh in the Gazetteer for Scotland and the English name "Stromay" is used both here and by the JNCC. The Ordnance Survey calls the island Sròmaigh but this is not used in other sources. It is connected to North Uist at all but the highest stages of the tide and a JNCC report describes it as "the low 'island' of Stromay". [24] [25] The stunning Isle of Benbecula is by contrast a very flat island, with just one hill,and home to the majority of Uists population and businesses. It is also home to a great deal ofbirdlife on the machairand croftland.Murray (1973) notes that "Western Isles" has tended to mean "Outer Hebrides" since the creation of the Na h-Eileanan an Iar or Western Isles parliamentary constituency in 1918. The phrase can also be used to refer to the Hebrides in general. Murray also notes that "Gneiss Islands"—a reference to the underlying geology – is another name used to refer to the Outer Hebrides but that its use is "confined to books". [4] From the passing of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 to 1975 Lewis formed part of the county of Ross and Cromarty and the rest of the archipelago, including Harris, was part of Inverness-shire. [140] Monach Light". Northern Lighthouse Board. Archived from the original on 7 August 2009 . Retrieved 8 December 2007. Sea transport is crucial, and a variety of ferry services operate between the islands and to mainland Scotland. Modern navigation systems now minimise the dangers, but in the past the stormy seas have claimed many ships. Religion, music and sport are important aspects of local culture, and there are numerous designated conservation areas to protect the natural environment. Mountains, moors and machair (the rare and fragile grassland between sanddunes and moorland) andwhite sandy beaches host the very best of Gaelic culture, wildlife, food, drink and arts.

Smaller islands, tidal islets only separated at higher stages of the tide, and skerries that are only exposed at lower stages of the tide pepper the North Atlantic surrounding the main islands. This is a continuing list of these smaller Outer Hebridean islands. [12] Vaughan, Géraldine (2015). "The Irish Famine in a Scottish Perspective 1845-1851". Mémoire(S), Identité(S), Marginalité(S) dans le Monde Occidental Contemporain (12). doi: 10.4000/mimmoc.1763. The inhabited islands of the Outer Hebrides had a total population of 26,502 in 2001 [7] and 27,684 at the time of the 2011 census. [10] Please also note that Summer 2023 ferry timetables are due to be published in late January 2023. This year, bookings will open on a phased approach. Phase 1 will cover the period 31 March – 4 June and will open for bookings shortly after publication of the timetables. Bookings for the period from 4 June will be made available as soon as CalMac are able to do so.If you are planning a trip to the Outer Hebrides, we can provide you with a wide range of Western Isles visitor information to help with every aspect of your holiday. The Ordnance Survey maps mark the height above sea level of a high point on most islands, but in a small number of cases, this may not be the highest point. [12] Gob an Tobha to Rubha Huisinis: Gaisgeir, Glas-sgeir, Gloraig Huisinis, Gloraig Tharasaigh, Iosaigh This is a list of islands with an area greater than 25 hectares (approximately 37 acres). Records for the last date of settlement for the smaller uninhabited islands are incomplete, but most of the islands listed here would have been inhabited at some point during the Neolithic, Iron Age, Early Historic or Norse periods. Explore the finest sailing in the British Isles - the Outer Hebrides. With new sheltered facilities throughout, you need only choose your route and destinations ranging from fully serviced first rate facilities or isolated wilderness anchorages, often within a day’s sail of each other. Whether on a skippered boat a charter or on your own boat, the choice is yours.

Islanders have a warm and welcoming integrity.Gaelic is often the first language spoken and there remains a sense of tradition deeply embedded in every island you’ll traverse. Please note the Uig Harbour Closures in 2023which will affect some of our ferry services.Uig Harbour in Skye will close for planned upgrade works from 30 October - 11 December 2023. This will affect Tarbert (Harris)and Lochmaddy (North Uist) ferry services in particular with timetable changes to accommodate the service changes on the Stornoway, Lochboisdale and Sound of Harris ferries. More information is detailed here. Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022 . Retrieved 31 March 2022. There are two inhabited islands called "Grimsay" or Griomasaigh that are joined to Benbecula by a road causeway, one to the north at grid reference NF855572 and one to the south east at grid reference NF831473.Other definitions are used in the Scottish context. For example the General Register Office for Scotland define an island as "a mass of land surrounded by water, separate from the Scottish mainland" but although they include islands linked by bridges etc. this is not clear from this definition. Haswell-Smith (2004) uses "an Island is a piece of land or group of pieces of land which is entirely surrounded by water at Lowest Astronomical Tide and to which there is no permanent means of dry access". This is widely agreed to be unhelpful as it consciously excludes bridged islands. Scalpay: Fuam an Tolla, Greineam, Raiream, Rosaigh, Stiolamair, Stiughaigh, Stiughaigh na Leum, Thamarasaigh