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:
- Eoropie beach is on the north side of the Isle of lewis and is popular with surfers as this long white sandy beach gets some of the Atlantic rollers.Facilities include car parking, picnic tables and the Eoropie Dunes play park.
- 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.
- Huisinish Beach is on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. You’ll find it at the end of a 12-mile single track road you come across the beautiful Huisinish Beach in a secluded bay. This is a white sand beach overlooking the uninhabited Isle of Scarp and the Atlantic Ocean.
- Lews Castle is a 19th century castle located on the western side of Stornoway Harbour on the Isle of Lewis. The castle is now used as the main campus for Lews Castle College so visitors are not able to tour the inside of the building. However, the Stornoway Trust Ranger Service gives guided tours through the castle grounds. Here you will be able to see more than a 100 different species of trees. The Castle Woodland Centre is open Monday to Saturday to display exhibitons and provide refreshments for visitors in its café. After strolling the castle grounds, why not visit the Stornoway Lifeboat Station or drive a short distance to marvel at the Calanais Standing Stones.
- Amhuinnsuidhe Castle is a large private country house, completed in 1867 for the 7th Earl of Dunmore, the then owner of the island, and was originally named Fincastle. This is a Scottish hideaway offering outstanding accommodation and sporting facilities.
- 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.
- The Calanais (or Callenish) Standing Stones is a magnificent site of several ancient stones erected nearly 5,000 years ago on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. Reach the Stones in just 30 minutes, driving from Stornoway. A well-known prehistoric site, the Callanais Stones have a mystical aura about them which never fails to captivate visitors. The main monument is a circle of tall stones placed in the middle of a cross-shaped setting of stones. Right at its heart is a massive monolith nearly 5m high! You’ll also find other smaller stones radiating out from the circle and a chambered tomb. The Stones are free to enter and are open all year round, with the Calanais Visitor Centre offering detailed information on the site and also has a gift shop and café.
- 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.
- Tolstra beach is a long white sandy beach on the Isle of Lewis. Parking spaces with toilets at the top end of the beach.
- Seilebost beach is a white sandy beach with dunes that juts out into the estuary. Gentle slope to the water and at low tide all you can see is beach and dunes.
- 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.
- St Kilda is a dramatic landscape of exceptional cliffs and underwater scenery on a remote and uninhabited archipelago within Scotland’s Outer Hebrides in the north Atlantic off the west coast of the Scottish mainland. The archipelago renowned for its seabird breeding consists of the islands in size order of Hirta, Soay (‘sheep island’), Boreray (‘the fortified isle’) and the island of Dùn (‘fort’). Dùn protects Village Bay from the prevailing southwesterly winds, was at one time joined to Hirta by a natural arch. Smaller islets and stacks in the group include Stac an Armin (‘warrior’s stack’), Stac Lee (‘grey stack’) and Stac Levenish (‘stream’ or ‘torrent’). Hirta the largest island was the only one to be occupied with the last remaining people asking to be evacuated in August 1930 due to a lack of resources to survive on. The remains of 4 settlements are left, the structures are a mix of all ages that include a medieval village. Today over 1 million seabirds use the islands and St Kilda is a breeding ground for many important seabird species, including Atlantic Puffins, Northern Gannets, Leach’s Petrels, and Northern Fulmar. The heritage site is not just the islands but also the sea around them which is home to minke and killer whales, harbour porpoises, Risso’s dolphins, Atlantic white-sided dolphin, white-beaked dolphin and Atlantic Grey seals. Access to the islands is only by boat to the jetty in Village Bay, Hirta. Many tours options leaving from Skye and places like Oban and Mallaig. If you are intending to use your own boat then you will need to contact the Ranger on arrival. The only accommodation on the island is a small campsite
