Outer Hebrides

From Freepedia

Na h-Eileanan Siar
(The Western Isles)
Image:ScotlandWesternIsles.png
Geography
Area - Total - % Water	Ranked 7th 3,071 km² ? %
Admin HQ	Stornoway
ISO 3166-2	GB-ELS
ONS code	00RJ
Demographics
Population - Total (April 29, 2001) - Density	Ranked 30th 26,502 9 / km²
Politics
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar http://www.w-isles.gov.uk/
Control	Independent
MPs	Angus MacNeil
MSPs	Alasdair Morrison

The Outer Hebrides or Western Isles (officially known by their Gaelic name, Na h-Eileanan Siar) comprise an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. They form part of the Hebrides, separated from the Scottish mainland and from the Inner Hebrides by the stormy stretch of water known as the Minch and the Little Minch. Most communities in the Outer Hebrides use the Scottish Gaelic language. The name for the UK Parliament constituency covering this area is Na h-Eileanan an Iar, whilst the Scottish Parliament constituency for the area continues to be known as Western Isles. Under Norse rule for about 200 years until the Battle of Largs in 1263.

1 Council
2 Main island group
3 Other islands
4 Flags of the Western Isles
5 Ferries
6 External links
- 6.1 Sites deriving partly from the original Virtual Hebrides
- 6.2 Other Outer Hebrides websites

Council

The islands form one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland. The Western Isles council is officially known by its Gaelic name Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The council has its base in Stornoway on Lewis. Some of the southern islands form part of Inverness-shire and some part of Ross-shire. The Western Isles constitute a Lieutenancy Area.

Main island group

The main islands form an archipelago, which with their smaller surrounding islands are sometimes known poetically as the Long Isle. The major islands include:Lewis and Harris, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Barra. South of Barra lie the Barra Isles, including Mingulay and Vatersay.

A large number of small islands surround the main islands. They include:

Baleshare, Berneray, Boreray
Calvay, Campay
Eilean Chaluim Chille, Eilean Iubhard, Eilean Kearstay, Eileanan Iasgaich, Ensay
Fiaray, Floday, Flodday, Floddaybeg, Floddaymore, Fuday, Fuiay
Great Bernera, Gighay, Gilsay, Grimsay, Groay
Hellisay, Hermetray
Killegray, Kirkibost
Lingay, Little Bernera
Mealasta
Opsay, Oronsay, Orosay
Pabbay near Harris, Pabbay Mor
Ronay
Scalpay, Scaravay, Scarp, Scotasay, Shillay, Soay Beag, Soay Mor, Stromay, Stuley, Sursay
Tahay, Taransay
Vacsay, Vallay, Vuia Beg, Vuia Mor
Wiay

Other islands

Small islands and island groups pepper the North Atlantic surrounding the main island group:

To the west lie the Monach Islands, Flannan Isles, St Kilda and Rockall, in increasing order of distance. The status of Rockall as part of the United Kingdom remains disputed.

To the east lie the Shiant Islands, located in the Minch.

To the north lie North Rona and Sula Sgeir, two small and remote islands. Not often included as part of the Outer Hebrides, they nevertheless come under the administration of the Western Isles district.

Flags of the Western Isles

Flag of Barra

Flag of Lewis

Flag of South Uist<center>

Ferries

Scheduled Ferry services between the Outer Hebrides and the Scottish Mainland and Inner Hebrides operate on the following routes:

Other ferries operate between some of the islands.

External links

Historical footnote: Many websites of the Outer Hebrides derive content from the original, late-lamented, Eolas Virtual Hebrides, website. This was once the largest rural website in the world.

Eolas went bankrupt in 2000 and the Eolas TV company became MacTV. The web design team became Reefnet and the content has largely found a home at GlobalGuide.Org.

Sites deriving partly from the original Virtual Hebrides

Hebrides.com Photographic website from ex-Eolas Sam Maynard
Global Guide Hebrides Content website from ex-Eolas Scott Hatton
www.visithebrides.com Western Isles Tourist Board site from Reefnet
Virtual Hebrides.com Content from the VH which went its own way and became Virtual Scotland.