Western Isles - Featured Destinations

Western Isles

The Western Isles or the Outer Hebrides lie at the far north west of Scotland by Highland Region. An archipelago of islands accessible by ferry at the main port towns of Stornoway on Lewis and Lochmaddy on North Uist. Ferries from Isle of Skye, Ullapool or Oban in Argyll. You can also fly by small aircraft landing on the sandy beach used as a runway at Barra from Inverness city or Benbecula island. The inhabited islands in the Western Isles include:

• Isle of Lewis
• Isle of Harris
• Isle of Berneray in the Sound of Harris
• North Uist
• South Uist
• Barra
• Benbecula
• Scalpay
• Great Bernera
• Grimsay
• Eriskay
• Vatersay
• Baleshare
• Flodaigh

Numerous further islands are uninhabited and several share names, such as Berneray, of which there are at least three 'Isle of Berneray' in the Western Isles. The Isle of Lewis is mountainous and has extensive peat bogs, marsh lands and uncultivated grazing lands for livestock. Large areas throughout all the Western Isles are cultivated 'croft' land - utilised by tenant farmers for a variety of agricultural commercial use, mostly concentrating on rearing livestock. Many residents open their homes to visitors by offering 'Bed and Breakfast' accommodation as tourism is the main industry of the islands, alongside crofting and fishing. Further south, the land flattens out to become large expanses of Machair, a pasture land elevated a few feet above the beach. As you'll see on the satellite images on the Google maps, the wide open white sandy beaches where the tide seems to go out for miles are common here. Sand dunes fringe the shores and you can walk for miles without seeing anyone. Visitors to the Western Isles enjoy the warm Highland hospitality in a land imbued with spirit. Plan to stay at least three or four days to have time to explore, venture off the beaten track and find your own tranquil place on the 'edge of the world'.

The Western Isles Map and Guide

This map and guide to the Western Isles shows some of the towns, villages, sights and attractions of the region in a unique way. For each location there is a 360°panorama linked to a Google map of the Western Isles. Accompanying each panorama is some local and travel information. The pictures are taken by local and visiting photographers and provide a unique, personal insight to the hidden delights of the Western Isles. The number of pictures will continue to grow as more people add images to the collection. To begin to explore, simply select a pin on the Google map of the Western Isles. If you have any 360° panoramas of your own that you wish to share with the world, then feel free to add them to Panoramic Earth.

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