Hebrides Archipelago

About The Hebrides

The Hebrides is a large archipelago of Islands off the West Coast of Scotland split into two groups – the Inner and the Outer Hebrides. One of the most untamed and picturesque areas of the UK, the islands are lush, mountainous and teeming with plants and animals. They have a particularly interesting history with many retaining Celtic and historical landmarks such as castles and stone circles. The main islands of the Inner Hebrides include Islay, Jura, Skye, Mull, Russay and Staffa and the main islands that comprise to form the Outer Hebrides include Barra, Lewis and Harris, Benbecula, Berneray, Saint Kilda, North Uist and South Uist.

Activities

All the Hebridean islands have stunning landscapes, which are ideal for walking, fishing and spotting wildlife. However, the most popular island in the Inner Hebrides is the Isle of Skye, featuring the impressive Cuillins mountain range to the South, which is an excellent location for walking. Another destination to visit on Skye is the Quararing, an unusual range of cliffs and rock pinnacles, formed by landslips, which include the Old Man of Stor rock stack.

The Outer Hebrides has some of the most stunning beaches on Earth particularly on the west side, with clean white sand, unpopulated shores and blue waters. These provide brilliant surfing opportunities for the adventurous or bird and seal watching for those who want to relax. The Outer Hebrides has such a large selection of fishing locations that it is an angler’s dream location. Visitors can partake in river and loch fishing or sea fishing – for enthusiastic anglers the islands surely have it all.

How to get there

Reaching the Hebrides involves taking a ferry or a boat from mainland Scotland, usually to Skye, and then travelling by boat between the islands.