Welcome to our Outer Hebrides travel guide! Plan and book your perfect holiday with local tips, places to stay, things to do, holiday inspiration & destination info.
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The Outer Hebrides are a group of islands off the west coast of Scotland. Famous for their incredible beaches, they are a popular Scottish holiday destination. Also known as the Western Isles or Na h-Eileanan an Iar in Gaelic, this chain of inter-connected islands lies off the north-west coast of Scotland. On these unique islands, Gaelic is still spoken by the majority of the population and crofting is a big part of Hebridean life.
Seilebost, Isle of Harris © Christopher Swan
The Outer Hebrides islands are on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and are a 130-mile-long string of 119 islands off the north-west coast of Scotland. The islands lie to the west of the area of sea called the Minch which separates them from the Isle of Skye. They are the very edge of the British Isles.
Only 14 islands are inhabited and the five main inhabited islands are:
If you fancy a spot of island-hopping, you can drive over causeways from all the way from Eriskay to Berneray passing through South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist. To discover the other islands will involve a short ferry crossing.
From the northernmost headlands of the Isle of Lewis to the southern tip of Vatersay, these islands on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean offer you a holiday which you will never forget.
There can be a tendency for people to drive from Barra to the Butt of Lewis in several days, but these islands deserve much more of your time. Take it slow and explore these Hebridean islands properly.
I suggest maybe picking one or two islands and spending at least a week exploring them and the neighbouring ones. The Western Isles were made for slow travel.
The best time to visit depends on what you want to see and do on your Outer Hebrides holiday.
If seeing the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) is your priority, winter is the best time to go. You will have more hours of darkness to enjoy the star-filled skies and, if you’re lucky, the lights.
Winter is also a less popular time of year so there will be less tourists.
May and June are good months for seeing breeding birds including the rare corncrake. It can be busy with birdwatchers in May, particularly on North Uist around the Balranald RSPB reserve.
Want to see the incredible spectacle of the wild flowers on the machair in the summer? Plan your trip for July and August. You also have more chance of seeing whales and dolphins during the summer.
In the summer you will also find cultural events including local Highland Games, Gaelic singing festivals.
As with anywhere, it can be hard to get accommodation at short notice during the summer holidays. Scotland’s school holidays run from the start of July to mid-August.
As the nights start to draw in birds either migrating south or fleeing the approaching Arctic winter.
The main crossings are run by Calmac (Caledonian MacBrayne) and are:
There are also the following ferry services:
Find out more on the Calmac website.
Yes, it can be a bit choppy and every year some ferry crossings are cancelled due to the bad weather. But I’ve also been across on wonderfully flat calm sailings so it’s a little bit of pot luck when booking your trip in advance. You’ll probably find your crossing is somewhere in the middle. If seasickness is an issue for you, I sympathise. You might prefer to take the ferry from Skye or Ullapool which are considerably shorter journeys across The Minch. I always pack seasickness tablets just in case. We find Kwells work well for us and my parents swear by Stugeron tablets and brandy. Not at the same time though! Well, at least I don’t think so.
There are three airports on the Outer Hebrides:
Barra airport is the most famous and most spectacular as it’s where planes land and take off on the beautiful beach which is also mentioned in our best beaches in Scotland: Highlands and Islands. Landing on the sand at Barra airport is one of the most popular things to do on the Outer Hebrides.
You can book flights or find out more information on the Loganair or Expedia websites.
You can hire a car from a local car hire company. If you want to explore the islands by camper van, camper van hire available on the Outer Hebrides too.
If you prefer to travel without a car or fancy a day off from driving, there are several options including public transport.
There is a public bus service on the main islands. Bus timetables are available on the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) website.
Cycling has grown in popularity on the quiet roads of the Outer Hebrides. Bring your own bike and use one of the bike and bag transfer services or cycle the Hebridean Way on an organised cycling tour. You can also hire a bike for a less demanding day tour.
You can hire taxis on all the main islands. You might want to try:
Lewis taxis
Harris taxis
If you love walking, the challenge of the Hebridean Way could be your ideal way to explore the islands.
We hope these tips for things to do on the Outer Hebrides have inspired you to start planning your holiday. On our website, you can find holiday accommodation on the Outer Hebrides and we’ve also picked some of the best self-catering accommodation in Uist. Don’t forget to get your Outer Hebrides guide books too. We recommend this beautiful Outer Hebrides book from Christopher Swan or Mark Rowe’s Outer Hebrides: The Western Isles of Scotland from Lewis to Barra (Bradt Travel Guides) from Amazon.
Ordnance Survey maps with free mobile download – various options are available for the Outer Hebrides from Ordnance Survey and Amazon.
The best tips on what to do and see and where to go from the people who know these islands best.
Holiday Scottish Highlands & Islands
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