The Outer Hebrides are a chain of islands off the north-western coast of Scotland in the United Kingdom. They are also known as the Western Isles and the 'Long Island'. Fifteen of the islands are inhabited, with a further 50 accessible but uninhabited.
Explore the best of the Hebrides on an island-hopping holiday and experience a Scottish adventure! The Isle of Lewis (Eilean Leodhais) is the largest and is scattered with ancient sites of world renown such as the Neolithic 'Callanish Stones', the Norse Mill House and the Pictish Carloway Broch which is a roundhouse. Visitors to the island can enjoy the thrill of adventure activities abseiling, kayaking and surfing whilst dolphins, seals, whales and sharks are often seen in the harbour.
The Isle of Harris (Na Hearadh) offers diverse landscapes ranging from rocky to gently beautiful, with sloping sandy beaches and imposing mountains as a backdrop! The Harris Hills are where you'll find great fishing, golfing, cycling and adrenalin sports.
The Isle of North Uist (Uist a Tuath) is a destination of rolling hills, freshwater lochs and stunning beaches. This beautiful small island has a thriving community linked by a causeway from the Island of Berneray. If you're a bird enthusiast, this is the spot for you. The RSPB reserve on the west coast attracts diver and wader birds and the many lochs make it an anglers' paradise. The views are spectacular and great for walking, cruising, kayaking and wildlife. Other islands to explore in the Outer Hebrides include the Isle of Benbecula, South Uist, Barra and St Kilda's.
Why not check beaches nearby as we have 23 beaches in Outer Hebrides, or have a look at our list of Outer Hebrides dog friendly beaches, or even our United Kingdom Blue Flag beach list.
Outer Hebrides Coast Search Bar
Where would you like to go? Use our search bar to search across all our local listings, ideal for finding that nearest spot to visit:
Want some ideas on where to visit?
Every favourite location must be visited for the first time. Want some ideas, why not check out the below small selection of coastal locations, including beaches, activities, things to see and do, places to stay and eat:
- Scarista Beach on the west coast of the Isle of Harris is where the land meets the sea in spectacular fashion.Lovely golden sand stretches for over 3 miles in this quiet, secluded bay. Amble across the dunes and moorland, marvel at the carpets of wildflowers to reach the sparkling blue sea. From here you can see the deserted island of Taransay, made famous for the TV series ‘Castaway’.Public toilets with disabled facilities.
- Tolstra beach is a long white sandy beach on the Isle of Lewis. Parking spaces with toilets at the top end of the beach.
- South Bay is also known as Bagh a Deas (Deas Bay). This beach is a great unspoilt white sandy beach on the Isle of Vatersay backed by dunes and rolling hills. The south beach is more remote than the other Vatersay main beaches which is saying something when the whole island is remote.
- Reef Beach sits by Kneep on the Isle of lewis. The beach is a sandy wide beach great for shell-seekers. In summer you can also soak up the lovely display of ‘machair’, the carpet of glorious wildflowers renowned in this part of the world. Behind the beach the dunes give way to cliffs, giving you magnificent views over the bay. This beach is a great spot for swimming in the calm blue waters or why not just enjoy a picnic on the sands.
- Little Bernera is to the north of Great Bernera. A very small island with a magical white sandy beach. If you want remote then this is the place to visit as it is only accessible by boat. No facilities , you will need to bring and take everything back with you.
- Uig Sands is a very large sandy beach with rock pools great for family exploring and sports. But beware this is a remote location. This area is excellent for beach and coastal walks. Good for kiting and windsurfing and buggies at low tide although sand can get soft. Kitesurfers learning find this a good spot as at high tide it is very shallow and flat due to the shallow gradient. At low tides you can get some waves. Toilets, parking, camp by the beach.
- Tangasdale Beach can be found on the western coast of the Isle of Barra. This is a stunning white sandy beach which is great for surfing and close to the Isle of Barra Beach hotel with views over the Atlantic. Nearby facilities including car park, small shop and cafe/restaurant at Isle of Barra hotel.
- Dun Carloway Broch is an Iron Age tower at Carloway on the Isle of Lewis. It is a spectacular example of a broch which means it is a structure built for defence purposes. The broch is really well preserved as in some parts the old wall reaches to 9m tall! Built during the 1st century BC, the broch was last inhabited around 1300 AD. Dun Carloway has a car park and visitor centre and can be found just 16 miles north west of Stornoway. Why not stop off at Lews Castle in Stornoway before heading to Carloway?
- Dalmor Beach has pristine white sands stretching over 200 metres across the bay, Dalmor is near to the village of Carloway and is a lovely beach to visit on the Isle of Lewis. Behind the beach rocky cliffs reach out into the sea and form a headland. With a strong current and westerly winds, this a favoured surfing spot that requires experience. Facilities include car parking and toilets.
- Traigh Eais is a sandy beach backed by sand dunes just to the west of the airport. The beach faces out onto the Atlantic and this can give some good rolling waves. Park near the airport terminal and walk across the machair covered dunes.
- Tiumpan Head Lighthouse is located on the most easterly point of the Isle of Lewis and the headland juts into the waters between the island and the Scottish mainland. Built in 1900 by the Stevenson brothers, the white-painted lighthouse is 21m in height. The light is now automated and two white flashes are exhibited every 15 seconds and they have a visibility range of 25 nautical miles. To reach the lighthouse, take the A866 past Stornoway Airport.
- Vatersay Bay is also known as East Beach and Baigh Bhatarsaigh. A great unspoilt white sandy beach on the Isle of Vatersay backed by dunes and rolling hills. You are only a short walk from the West Bay so depending on conditions it is easy to swap to the best beach for the conditions. Facilities at the beach include parking, toilets and campsite.
