Seilebost, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides © Christopher Swan

Where are the Outer Hebrides?

The Outer Hebrides islands are on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and are a 130-mile-long string of 119 islands off the north-west coast of Scotland. The islands lie to the west of the area of sea called the Minch which separates them from the Isle of Skye. They are the very edge of the British Isles.

Only 14 islands are inhabited and the five main inhabited islands are:

• • Barra
  • South Uist
  • Benbecula
  • North Uist
  • Lewis and Harris (one island divided into two)

If you fancy a spot of island-hopping, you can drive over causeways from all the way from Eriskay to Berneray passing through South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist. To discover the other islands will involve a short ferry crossing.

From the northernmost headlands of the Isle of Lewis to the southern tip of Vatersay, these islands on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean offer you a holiday which you will never forget.

There can be a tendency for people to drive from Barra to the Butt of Lewis in several days, but these islands deserve much more of your time. Take it slow and explore these Hebridean islands properly.

I suggest maybe picking one or two islands and spending at least a week exploring them and the neighbouring ones. The Western Isles were made for slow travel.

Also available from Wordery

Best time to visit the Outer Hebrides

The best time to visit depends on what you want to see and do on your Outer Hebrides holiday.

Winter

If seeing the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) is your priority, winter is the best time to go. You will have more hours of darkness to enjoy the star-filled skies and, if you’re lucky, the lights.

Winter is also a less popular time of year so there will be less tourists.

Spring

May and June are good months for seeing breeding birds including the rare corncrake. It can be busy with birdwatchers in May, particularly on North Uist around the Balranald RSPB reserve.

Summer

Want to see the incredible spectacle of the wild flowers on the machair in the summer? Plan your trip for July and August. You also have more chance of seeing whales and dolphins during the summer.

In the summer you will also find cultural events including local Highland Games, Gaelic singing festivals.

As with anywhere, it can be hard to get accommodation at short notice during the summer holidays. Scotland’s school holidays run from the start of July to mid-August.

Autumn

As the nights start to draw in birds either migrating south or fleeing the approaching Arctic winter.

How to get to the Outer Hebrides

Travelling to the Outer Hebrides by ferry

The main crossings are run by Calmac (Caledonian MacBrayne) and are:

• • Uig, Skye – Tarbet, Harris
  • Uig, Skye – Lochmaddy, North Uist
  • Ullapool – Stornoway, Lewis

There are also the following ferry services:

• • Oban – Castlebay, Barra
  • Mallaig – Lochboisdale – Oban

Find out more on the Calmac website.

Do the seas get rough on the way to the Outer Hebrides?

Yes, it can be a bit choppy and every year some ferry crossings are cancelled due to the bad weather. But I’ve also been across on wonderfully flat calm sailings so it’s a little bit of pot luck when booking your trip in advance. You’ll probably find your crossing is somewhere in the middle. If seasickness is an issue for you, I sympathise. You might prefer to take the ferry from Skye or Ullapool which are considerably shorter journeys across The Minch. I always pack seasickness tablets just in case. We find Kwells work well for us and my parents swear by Stugeron tablets and brandy. Not at the same time though! Well, at least I don’t think so.

Travelling to the Outer Hebrides by plane

There are three airports on the Outer Hebrides:

• • Barra airport
  • Benbecula airport – serving the isles of Benbecula, North Uist, Berneray, South Uist and Eriskay
  • Stornoway airport – serving the isle of Lewis and Harris

Barra airport is the most famous and most spectacular as it’s where planes land and take off on the beautiful beach which is also mentioned in our best beaches in Scotland: Highlands and Islands. To land on the sand at Barra airport is one of the most popular things to do on the Outer Hebrides.

You can book flights or find out more information on the Loganair or Avia websites.