Hebrides
From Freepedia
- This article is about the Hebrides islands in Scotland. See also the New Hebrides for the islands constituting Vanuatu.
The Hebrides comprise a wide-spread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, and in geological terms are composed of the oldest rocks in the British Isles. They can be divided into two main groups:
- Inner Hebrides, including Skye, Mull, Islay, Jura, Staffa and the Small Isles
- Outer Hebrides, including Lewis and Harris, Berneray, North Uist, South Uist, Barra and St Kilda
The Hebrides as a whole are sometimes referred to as the Western Isles, but this term is more accurately applied just to the Outer Hebrides.
The Hebrides are probably the best-known group of Scottish islands, but other groups include the islands of the lower Firth of Clyde and the Northern Isles. The islands in the Clyde, especially Arran, are sometimes mistakenly called Hebrides too.
The Hebrides, also known as Fingal's Cave, is a famous overture written by Felix Mendelssohn while residing on these islands.
The majority of Scottish Gaelic speakers live on, or come from, the Hebrides. Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic college is based on Skye and Islay.
