Outer Hebrides
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{| border=1 cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="right" width=280\n|-\n!colspan=2 align=center bgcolor="#9999ff"|Na h-Eileanan Siar
(The Western Isles)\n|-\n|colspan=2 align=center|
\n|-\n!colspan=2 bgcolor="#9999ff"|Geography\n|-\n|
Area:
- Total
- % Water||
Ranked 7th3,071 km²? %\n|-\n|Admin HQ:||
Stornoway\n|-\n|
ISO 3166-2:||GB-ELS\n|-\n|
ONS code:||00RJ\n|-\n!colspan=2 bgcolor="#9999ff"|Demographics\n|-\n|
Population:
- Total (
April 29,
2001)
-
Density||
Ranked 30th26,502
9 / km²\n|-\n!colspan=2 bgcolor="#9999ff"|Politics\n|-\n|colspan=2 align=center|Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Calum Macdonald\n|}\nThe
Outer Hebrides or
Western Isles (
Scottish Gaelic:
Na h-Eileanan Siar), also traditionally known as the
Outer Isles, 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.
Council
\nThe islands form one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland, originally called Western Isles, although Na h-Eileanan Siar has now gained acceptance as the official name. The council has its base in Stornoway on Lewis. Before 1975, some of the islands formed part of Inverness-shire and some part of Ross and Cromarty. Western Isles constitutes a Lieutenancy Area.
Main island group
\nThe 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:\n*Baleshare, Berneray, Boreray\n*Calvay, Campay\n*Eilean Chaluim Chille, Eilean Iubhard, Ensay\n*Flaray, Floday, Flodday, Floddaybeg, Floddaymore, Fuday, Fuiay\n*Great Bernera, Gighay, Gilsay, Grimsay, Groay\n*Hellisay, Hermetray\n*Killegray, Kirkibost\n*Lingay, Little Bernera\n*Mealasta\n*Opsay, Oronsay, Orosay\n*Pabbay near Harris\n*Ronay\n*Scalpay, Scaravay, Scarp, Scotosay, Sgeotasaigh, Shillay, Soay Beag, Soay Mor, Stromay, Stuley, Sursay\n*Tahay, Taransay\n*Vacsay, Vallay, Vuia Beg, Vuia Mor\n*Wiay
Other islands
\nSmall islands and island groups pepper the North Atlantic surrounding the main island group:
To the west lie the Monarch Islands, Flannan Isles, Saint Kilda and Rockall, in increasing order of distance. The status of Rockall as part of the United Kingdom remains disputed. Confusingly, Saint Kilda is also known as the West Isles.
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.
Ferries
\nFerry services operate on the following routes:\n*Oban to Castlebay on Barra\n*Uig on Skye to Tarbet on Harris\n*Uig on Skye to Lochmaddy on North Uist\n*Ullapool to Stornoway on Lewis
Other ferries operate between some of the islands.
External links
\n*Western Isles Tourist Board site\n*www.visithebrides.com\n*Gatliff Hebridean Hostels Trust
Category:Scottish islands\nCategory:Unitary authorities of Scotland\nCategory:Regions of Scotland
