| The Outer Hebrides are perched on the edge of
the Atlantic Ocean with miles of sandy beaches that, as often as
not, you can have all to yourself. They are known as Na h-eileanan
an Iar or The Western Isles and they hold a variety of unique environments
including a World Heritage Site.
The islands weave their spell over you from the moment you arrive.
You enter a different pace of life. You begin to relax. The sense
of the past is tangible everywhere with ancient monuments, traditional
crafts and “ways of doing” very much part of the culture.
The beauty of the place strikes you at every turn, there is always
something to catch your eye, be it the colour of the old beached
boat set against a shimmering sand and sky, the weathered texture
of ancient standing stones with their myriad of colours or the
bright white walls of a traditional crofters house.
The people of the Hebrides preserve a vibrant heritage of Gaelic
traditions and culture which runs deep through every aspect of
local life. These traditions assure the visitor of a warm welcome
and a genuine desire to share not only the splendour of the confluence
of sea, sky and land but every facet of the life and tradition
of these beautiful islands.
The Outer Hebrides really are a jewel in the British crown often
overlooked because of anecdotal and unfair assumptions about the
weather and the isolation of the place. In fact, when the weather
is good, there are few better places to be in the world with the
miles of white shell sand beaches and the turquoise waters it rivals
the best of beaches. When the weather changes the resulting scenes
are both dramatic and atmospheric.
The Western Isles are also far from isolated - each of the three
island airports are only an hour’s flight from Glasgow, Edinburgh
or Inverness. There are also five ferry terminals on the islands
that can be easily accessed from Ullapool, Uig on Skye, Mallaig
or Oban on the mainland. For further details of travel arrangements
see the ‘Visits’ section of this site or go to www.VisitHebrides.com.
The islands are a paradise for those interested in outdoor pursuits
and yet it has peace and tranquillity in abundance for those of
a less energetic inclination. The area also has a rich heritage
stretching back over 6000 years, which has left the islands with
many archaeological sites of interest. A major site of international
importance is the Callanish Stones which is only second in importance
to Stonehenge in Britain and third in archaeological importance
in Europe.
Another particularly important visitor attraction, particularly
for those with Scottish ancestry, is the Sellam Centre for genealogy
in Northton on Harris where visitors can investigate their family
history and find out where earlier island families and clan members
migrated to worldwide.
There certainly is much to see and do in the islands and it is
certain that one visit is never enough.
If you want further information
on visitor attractions either go to www.VisitHebrides.com or view
the Attractions Document. |
