Many folk are discovering a unique part of Scotland which is a superb vacation destination, the Hebrides. The Hebrides are a group of islands which are found off the west coast of Scotland and are split into two regions, the Inner Hebrides and the Outer Hebrides. If you are planning a vacation to this outstanding area of the United Kingdom then you need to be aware of a few things that make the place unique. This article examines some of the problems which a tourist may have to overcome when visiting these islands.



The Inner Hebrides are those islands in the group which are found grouped together rather close to the Scottish mainland. The largest, and most populated, island is the Isle of Skye which is also the most popular place to visit. At one time it was necessary to travel across to Skye by ferry but the recent building of a bridge means that the island is freely accessible and, in many ways, now part of the mainland.

Most people visit the Inner Hebrides to enjoy the spectacular scenery but there is so much more to do than first meets the eye. Massive numbers of people visit the area to spend their days cycling and there are a number of other sports which are extremely popular. Skye is very much dominated by the incredible range of mountains known as the Cuillins. These incredible jagged mountains attract many mountaineers and hill walkers each year but it is immensely important that you understand that the weather in the Hebrides can change in an instant and it is important that you are equipped suitably with clothing and equipment to withstand the harshest of weather.

To get to the Outer Hebrides you need to cross a stretch of sea water known as the Minch, this can be done by ferry or air. Although there are over 200 islands in this group only a few are populated. The Isle of Lewis is the most populated and largest island and it attached to the Isle of Harris (to the south). Further south you will find North and South Uist, Benbecula, Barra and Eriskay with a multitude of smaller islands spread around.

Many people take their vacations in the Outer Hebrides so that they can enjoy the unique scenery which ranges from bland moorland to dramatic rocky coastal areas, mountainous areas, superb shell sand beaches backed by the incredibly fertile land known as machair. The islands are superb for practicing a great number of sports including cycling, walking, hill walking/climbing, surfing, fishing, hunting, golf and many, many more.

Accommodation in the Hebrides is always of the highest standard. Hotels can prove to be a little on the expensive side but the hospitality is unbeatable. Throughout the islands you will see numerous guest houses and smaller houses offering bed and breakfast accommodation available at a very reasonable cost. Sadly it is often the case that such places are fully booked so it is incredibly important that you arrange your accommodation before you set off. It is becoming increasingly common to be able to book accommodation online and there are several web sites listing accommodation in the Hebrides.

The native language of the Hebrides is Gaelic and, over the last few years, there have been moves to rename places in Gaelic. Happily most signposts have an English translation below but it can be rather confusing at times. You will be happy to hear that the vast majority of Hebrideans have English as their second (or first) language so communication should not be a problem. If you hear people speaking in the Gaelic do not assume that they do not understand English as most speak it extremely well and understand it better.

The Hebrides is a deeply religious part of Scotland and many areas observe a Sunday Sabbath. This means that most places are closed on Sundays such as shops, offices, golf courses and even play parks. If you are staying in self catering accommodation this means that you really must ensure that you stock up well in advance with essentials. If you are visiting out of season and staying in self catering accommodation it is also important to check that there are candles as the strong winds can sometimes cause short failures in the power supply.