Skip to content
Archipelago

    Atlantic OceanUnited Kingdom

    57°46′N 7°01′W

    Outer Hebrides

    Na h-Eileanan Siar

    Part of Hebrides

    The Outer Hebrides or Western Isles, sometimes known as the Long Isle or Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of mainland Scotland.

    Bàgh Dhail Mhòr (Dalmore Bay) from Beinn Bheag
    Bàgh Dhail Mhòr (Dalmore Bay) from Beinn Bheag

    Michael Earnshaw / CC BY-SA 2.0

    Chart

    6250 landforms

    Overview

    The Outer Hebrides or Western Isles, sometimes known as the Long Isle or Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of mainland Scotland. It is the longest archipelago in the British Isles. The islands form part of the archipelago of the Hebrides, separated from the Scottish mainland and from the Inner Hebrides by the waters of the Minch, the Little Minch, and the Sea of the Hebrides. The Outer Hebrides are considered to be the traditional heartland of the Gaelic language. The islands form one of the 32 council areas of Scotland; since 1998, the area has used only the Gaelic form of its name, including in English language contexts. The council area is called Na h-Eileanan an Iar ('the Western Isles') and its council is Comhairle nan Eilean Siar ('Council of the Western Isles'). Most of the islands have a bedrock formed from ancient metamorphic rocks, and the climate is mild and oceanic. The 19 inhabited islands had an estimated population of 25,770 in 2025, and there are more than 50 substantial uninhabited islands. The distance from Barra Head to the Butt of Lewis is roughly 210 kilometres (130 mi). There are various important prehistoric structures, many of which pre-date the first written references to the islands by Roman and Greek authors. The Western Isles became part of the Norse kingdom of the Suðreyjar, which lasted for over 400 years, until sovereignty over the Outer Hebrides was transferred to Scotland by the Treaty of Perth in 1266. Control of the islands was then held by clan chiefs, principal amongst whom were the MacLeods, MacDonalds, and the MacNeils. The Highland Clearances of the 19th century had a devastating effect on many communities, and it is only in recent years that population levels have ceased to decline. Much of the land is now under local control, and commercial activity is based on tourism, crofting, fishing, and weaving. Sea transport is crucial for those who live and work in the Outer Hebrides, and a variety of ferry services operate between the islands and to mainland Scotland. Modern navigation systems now minimise the dangers, but in the past the stormy seas in the region have claimed many ships. The Gaelic language, religion, music and sport are important aspects of local culture, and there are numerous designated conservation areas to protect the natural environment.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Census, cataloged

    • Major islands3
    • Minor islands132
    • Islets1,529
    • Rocks & skerries4,586

    Major islands

    3
    • Lewis and Harris

      Lewis and Harris

      Area
      2,149 km²
      High point
      799 m

      Lewis and Harris, or Lewis with Harris, is the largest island in Scotland. It is the main island of the Outer Hebrides, around 24 miles (39 km) from the Scottish mainland.

    • North Uist

      North Uist

      Area
      319 km²
      High point
      347 m

      North Uist (Scottish Gaelic: Uibhist a Tuath) is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

    • South Uist

      South Uist

      Area
      307 km²
      High point
      620 m

      ɪʃtʲ ə ˈtʲes̪] ; Scots: Sooth Uist) is the second-largest island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. At the 2022 census it had a usually resident population of 1,650, a decrease of 104 since 2011.

    Minor islands

    132

    Rocks & skerries

    4586

    On the chart above, at its closest zooms.

    Listing 135 of 6250; the rest are on the chart.

    Figures

    Comparative heights

    Sea level200 m400 m600 m800 m799 mLewis and Harris620 mSouth Uist430 mHirta384 mBoreray383 mBarra376 mSoay347 mNorth Uist308 mScarp273 mMingulay267 mTaransay217 mSeaforth207 mSandray196 mPabbay193 mBarra Head
    High points by island, metres above sea level.

    Islands by area

    0.11101001,00010,000Lewis and Harris: 2,149 km²Lewis and HarrisNorth Uist: 319 km²North UistSouth Uist: 307 km²South UistBenbecula: 77.7 km²BenbeculaBarra: 58 km²BarraGreat Bernera: 20.4 km²Great BerneraTaransay: 13.9 km²TaransayScarp: 10.6 km²ScarpBerneray: 10 km²BernerayVatersay: 9.4 km²VatersayBaleshare: 9 km²BalesharePabbay: 7.9 km²PabbayEriskay: 7.4 km²EriskayGrimsay: 7.3 km²GrimsayScalpay: 6.8 km²ScalpayMingulay: 6.4 km²MingulayHirta: 6.3 km²HirtaRonay: 5.6 km²RonaySandray: 4.3 km²SandrayWiay: 4.1 km²WiayVallay: 2.6 km²VallayPabbay: 2.5 km²PabbaySeaforth: 2.5 km²SeaforthFuday: 2.3 km²FudayBoreray: 2.2 km²BorerayBarra Head: 2.1 km²Barra HeadCeann Ear: 2 km²Ceann EarEnsay: 1.9 km²EnsayKirkibost: 1.7 km²KirkibostKillegray: 1.6 km²KillegrayHellisay: 1.5 km²HellisayFlodaigh: 1.5 km²FlodaighEilean Mhealasta: 1.3 km²Eilean MhealastaEilean Liubhaird: 1.3 km²Eilean LiubhairdCeann Iar: 1.2 km²Ceann IarLittle Bernera: 1.2 km²Little BerneraRona: 1.1 km²RonaPabaigh Mòr: 1 km²Pabaigh MòrGighay: 0.99 km²GighaySoay: 0.97 km²Soay
    km², log scale. 1 without a known area.
    Lewis and Harris2,149 km²
    North Uist319 km²
    South Uist307 km²
    Benbecula77.7 km²
    Barra58 km²
    Great Bernera20.4 km²
    Taransay13.9 km²
    Scarp10.6 km²
    Berneray10 km²
    Vatersay9.4 km²
    Baleshare9 km²
    Pabbay7.9 km²
    Eriskay7.4 km²
    Grimsay7.3 km²
    Scalpay6.8 km²
    Mingulay6.4 km²
    Hirta6.3 km²
    Ronay5.6 km²
    Sandray4.3 km²
    Wiay4.1 km²
    Vallay2.6 km²
    Pabbay2.5 km²
    Seaforth Island2.5 km²
    Fuday2.3 km²
    Boreray2.2 km²
    Barra Head2.1 km²
    Ceann Ear2 km²
    Ensay1.9 km²
    Kirkibost1.7 km²
    Killegray1.6 km²
    Hellisay1.5 km²
    Flodaigh1.5 km²
    Eilean Mhealasta1.3 km²
    Eilean Liubhaird1.3 km²
    Ceann Iar1.2 km²
    Little Bernera1.2 km²
    Rona1.1 km²
    Pabaigh Mòr1 km²
    Gighay0.99 km²
    Soay0.97 km²
    Orasaigh0.91 km²
    Eilean Chaluim Chille0.9 km²
    Boreray0.86 km²
    Fuaigh Mòr0.86 km²
    Muldoanich0.83 km²
    Fuiay0.79 km²
    Eilean Chearstaidh0.72 km²
    Hermetray0.71 km²
    Stromay0.66 km²
    Flodaigh Mòr0.57 km²
    Tahay0.55 km²
    Keallasay More0.55 km²
    Stuley0.51 km²
    Stockinish Island0.51 km²
    Sgeotasaigh0.5 km²
    Soay Mòr0.45 km²
    Keallasay Beg0.45 km²
    Shillay0.43 km²
    Lingay0.43 km²
    Unnamed island0.42 km²
    Flodday0.39 km²
    Fiaraidh0.36 km²
    Vacsay0.36 km²
    Unnamed island0.34 km²
    Orosay0.33 km²
    Lingeigh0.31 km²
    Groay0.31 km²
    Dùn0.31 km²
    Calbhaigh0.29 km²
    Fuaigh Beag0.29 km²
    Unnamed island0.29 km²
    Triallabreac0.29 km²
    Vaccasay0.28 km²
    Unnamed island0.27 km²
    Eilean Orasaigh0.27 km²
    Sursaigh0.27 km²
    Eilean Iasgaich Mòr0.27 km²
    Fodragaigh0.26 km²
    Keava0.25 km²
    Sibhinis0.24 km²
    Gilsay0.22 km²
    Cliasay More0.22 km²
    Eilean Thòraidh0.21 km²
    Torogay0.2 km²
    Flodday0.2 km²
    Soay Beag0.19 km²
    Siolaigh Mòr0.19 km²
    Wiay Beg0.19 km²
    Unnamed island0.19 km²
    Eilean na Cille0.18 km²
    Orasay Island0.18 km²
    Eilean Mòr0.18 km²
    Floddaybeg0.18 km²
    Tannray0.18 km²
    Eilean Mòr0.17 km²
    Lingay0.17 km²
    Lingay0.16 km²
    Orasaigh0.16 km²
    Rosaigh0.16 km²
    Eilean Mòr0.16 km²
    Eilean Iasgaich Beag0.15 km²
    Vorogay0.15 km²
    Orasay0.15 km²
    An t-Eilean Leathann0.15 km²
    Orasaigh0.15 km²
    Cearstaigh0.14 km²
    Aird Orasay0.14 km²
    Bioruaslum0.14 km²
    Unnamed island0.14 km²
    Minish Island0.13 km²
    Garbh Eilean Mòr0.13 km²
    Sunamul0.13 km²
    Tavay Mor0.13 km²
    Floday0.12 km²
    Eilean Lingreabhaigh0.12 km²
    Eilean Mòr Lacasaidh0.12 km²
    Vacasay Island0.12 km²
    Bior-eilean0.11 km²
    Lingay0.11 km²
    Eilean Ornais0.11 km²
    Calbhaigh0.11 km²
    Maragaidh Mòr0.11 km²
    Cliasay Beg0.11 km²
    Garbh Lingay0.11 km²
    Stìolamair0.11 km²
    Ferramas0.11 km²
    Votersay0.11 km²
    Eilean Rosaigh0.1 km²
    Eilean Mòr0.1 km²
    Orasaigh Uisgeabhagh0.1 km²
    Fladday0.1 km²
    Sula Sgeir0.1 km²
    Unnamed island0.1 km²
    Àird Drobhanais0.1 km²

    Groups within

    9

    Overlapping groups

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Wikidata
    • Talus
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs