Discover the UK & Ireland Coast
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.
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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:
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Craigston beach is an unspoilt sandy beach with interesting rocks to explore on the isle of Barra, Roadside parking available.
- West Bay or Bagh Siar on the Isle of Vatersay is an unspoilt white sandy bay. The Annie Jane, a three-masted immigrant ship out of Liverpool bound for Quebec, struck rocks off West Beach during a storm in September 1853. In spite of the conditions, islanders tried to rescue the passengers and crew, but only a few survived. A small cairn and monument mark the wreck site, an inscription reads: “On 28th September 1853 the ship Annie Jane with emigrants from Liverpool to Quebec was totally wrecked in this bay and threefourths of the crew and passengers numbering about 350 men women and children were drowned and their bodies interred here.” As well as this beach you can walk to Vatersay Bay (East) beach. Facilities at the beach include car parking, toilets and campsite.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Clisham is on the Isle of Harris, is the highest mountain in the Outer Hebrides and at 799 metres (2,621 ft) has some magnificent views. Walkers have a few options; a popular direct ascent from the A859 road between Tarbert and Ardvourlie, or a full day walking around the Clisham horseshoe, crossing Mulla Fo-Dheas (743 metres, 2,438 ft), Mulla Fo-Thuath (720 metres, 2,362 ft) and Mullach an Langa (614 metres, 2,014 ft).
