Outer Hebrides: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Na h-Eileanan Siar (The Western Isles)
Geography
Area: - Total - % Water	Ranked 7th 3,071 km² ? %
Admin HQ:	Stornoway
:	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
MP:	Calum Macdonald

The 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

The 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.

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, Ensay
• Flaray, 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
• Ronay
• Scalpay, Scaravay, Scarp, Scotosay, Sgeotasaigh, Shillay, Soay Beag, Soay Mor, Stromay, Stuley, Sursay
• Tahay, Taransay
• Vacsay, Vallay, Vuia Beg, Vuia Mor
• Wiay

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

To the west lie the Monach 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.

Ferry services operate on the following routes:

• Oban to Castlebay on Barra
• Uig on Skye to Tarbet on Harris
• Uig on Skye to Lochmaddy on North Uist
• Ullapool to Stornoway on Lewis

Other ferries operate between some of the islands.

United Kingdom | Scotland | Council areas of Scotland

Aberdeen | Aberdeenshire | Angus | Argyll and Bute | Clackmannanshire | Dumfries and Galloway | Dundee | East Ayrshire | East Dunbartonshire | East Lothian | East Renfrewshire | Edinburgh | Falkirk | Fife | Glasgow | Highland | Inverclyde | Midlothian | Moray | North Ayrshire | North Lanarkshire | Orkney | Perth and Kinross | Renfrewshire | Scottish Borders | Shetland | South Ayrshire | South Lanarkshire | Stirling | West Dunbartonshire | West Lothian | Western Isles