The Outer Hebrides, known officially as Na h-Eileanan Siar and often as the Western Isles, form one of Scotland’s 32 council areas. The chain covers 3,056 square kilometres (1,180 sq mi) and had a population of 26,140 at the 2022 census, making it the third smallest council area in Scotland by population.
The islands run roughly 130 miles from the Butt of Lewis in the north to Barra Head in the south. Stornoway on Lewis is the only town of any size and the seat of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the islands’ council.
| Country | Scotland, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Gaelic name | Na h-Eileanan Siar |
| Status | Council area and island group |
| Area | 3,056 km2 (1,180 sq mi) |
| Population (2022) | 26,140 |
| Population (2011) | 27,684 |
| Largest town | Stornoway |
| Administrative centre | Stornoway, Isle of Lewis |
| Council | Comhairle nan Eilean Siar |
| Inhabited islands | About 15 |
Towns and Villages in the Outer Hebrides
The council area has 257 named settlements on record, from the townships of Ness at the top of Lewis to Vatersay at the foot of the chain. Almost all are crofting townships of a few dozen houses; Stornoway is the only settlement with more than a thousand residents. Gaelic and anglicised spellings both appear below, because both are in everyday use on road signs and postal addresses.
- Acairseid
- Achadh Mor
- Ahmore
- Aignish
- Aird
- Aird a Mhulaidh
- Aird a’ Mhachair
- Aird Asaig
- Àird Cumhang
- Àird Dhail
- Àird Mhìghe
- Àird Mhithinis
- Aird Tong
- Aird Uig
- Amhuinnsuidhe
- Ardinashaig
- Ardnamonie
- Ardslave
- Ardvey
- Arhmore, Lewis
- Arnol
- Ath Linne
- Back
- Bàgh a’ Chàise
- Bàgh Mòr
- Baghasdail
- Baile
- Baile Charbhaidh
- Baile Glas
- Baile Mhartainn
- Baile Mhic’ Phàil
- Baile nan Cailleach
- Balallan
- Baleloch
- Balelone
- Balivanich
- Balla
- Balnabodach
- Balranald
- Barraglom
- Barvas
- Bayble
- Bayherivagh
- Beacravik
- Blathaisbhal
- Bogach
- Borrisdale
- Borve
- Bostadh
- Botarua
- Bragar
- Bràigh na h-Aoidhe
- Branahuie
- Breaclete
- Breasclete
- Breibhig
- Brenish
- Brevig
- Brue
- Bun a’ Mhuillinn
- Bunavoneader
- Cabharstadh
- Calbost
- Callanish
- Carinish
- Carloway
- Carminish
- Carnach
- Carnais
- Carnan
- Carragrich
- Castlebay
- Ceann Hurnavay
- Ceann Shìphoirt
- Ceann-na-Cleithe
- Cille Pheadair
- Clachan
- Clachan na Luib
- Cladach Chairinis
- Claddach Kirkibost
- Claddach Kyles
- Cliasmol
- Cnoc Cuidhein
- Coig Peighinnean
- Coilleag
- Coll
- Collam
- Corunna
- Cradhlastadh
- Creagorry
- Croir
- Crois Dùghaill
- Cromore
- Cross
- Crossbost
- Crùlabhig
- Cuidhir
- Cuidhtinis
- Dalbeg
- Daliburgh
- Dell
- Dunganachy
- Eagleton
- Eilean Anabuich
- Einacleit
- Eishken
- Eoligarry
- Eoropie
- Ersary
- Finsbay
- Flesherin
- Flodaigh
- Frobost
- Garenin
- Garrabost
- Garynahine
- Geàrraidh na Mònadh
- Geirinis
- Geisiadar
- Geocrab
- Giosla
- Gleann Tholastaidh
- Glen Kyles
- Glenside
- Govig
- Gramisdale
- Gravir
- Greosabhagh
- Gress
- Grimersta
- Griminish
- Grimsay
- Grimshader
- Grithean
- Habost
- Haun
- Holmar
- Horgabost
- Hosta
- Hougharry
- Howmore
- Iochdar
- Islibhig
- Kallin
- Kennavay
- Kentangaval
- Keose
- Kershader
- Kildonan
- Kilerivagh
- Kirkibost
- Kneep
- Knock
- Knockaird
- Kyles Harris
- Kyles Scalpay
- Labost
- Lacasaidh
- Ledaig
- Leideag
- Lemreway
- Leth Meadhanach
- Leurbost
- Leverburgh
- Liniclate
- Lionel
- Loch a’ Ghainmhich
- Lochboisdale
- Lochcarnan
- Lochmaddy
- Lochportain
- Lower Bayble
- Lower Shader
- Luskentyre
- Mangersta
- Manish
- Maraig
- Marvig
- Mealasta
- Melbost
- Miabhag
- Nis
- North Dell
- North Galson
- North Glendale
- North Tolsta
- Northton
- Obbe
- Paible
- Pàirceanan
- Plocrapool
- Pollachar
- Port nan Long
- Port of Ness
- Portnaguran
- Portvoller
- Ranish
- Reef
- Rhenigidale
- Rodel
- Rossinish
- Rubha Ban
- Rubha Dubh
- Ruisgarry
- Samhla
- Sandwick
- Scalpay Village
- Scarista
- Scolpaig
- Seana Bhaile
- Seilebost
- Sgalpaigh
- Sgarasta Bheag
- Sgarasta Mhor
- Shader
- Shawbost
- Sheshader
- Shulishader
- Sildinis
- Skigersta
- Sliabh na h-Airde
- Smerclate
- Sollas
- South Dell
- South Galson
- South Glen Dale
- St. Kilda Village
- Steinis
- Stilligarry
- Stornoway
- Struan
- Strumore
- Swainbost
- Swordale
- Tangasdal
- Taobh Tuath
- Tarbert
- Teanamachar
- Tigh A’ Gearraidh
- Tigharry
- Timsgarry
- Tobson
- Tolsta Chaolais
- Tom na Ba
- Torium
- Trumisgarry
- Uachdar
- Uidh
- Uig
- Uigen
- Upper Bayble
- Upper Shader
- Urgha
- Valtos
- Vatisker
- West Gerinish
- West Tarbert
Geography
Lewis and Harris is a single island, the largest in Scotland, divided by the neck of hills at Tarbert. South of it lie North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, Barra and Vatersay, now linked to each other by a run of causeways. Berneray joins North Uist the same way.
The Minch and the Little Minch separate the chain from the mainland and from Skye, both in the Highland council area. Lewis is low, peaty moorland studded with lochans; Harris rises to An Cliseam at 799 metres and drops to shell-sand beaches at Luskentyre and Scarista. The Uists carry the machair, a shell grassland thick with wildflowers, which runs down their western coasts and supports much of the crofting.
St Kilda, 41 miles west of North Uist, belongs to the council area and holds dual UNESCO World Heritage status for its natural and cultural value. It has had no permanent residents since the evacuation of 1930.
Demographics
The 2022 census recorded 26,140 residents, down 1,544 on 2011. Population density is roughly nine people per square kilometre, among the lowest in Britain. The decline is concentrated in the southern isles and in young adults leaving for work and study.
Gaelic is stronger here than anywhere else in Scotland. The 2022 census returned the highest proportion of Gaelic speakers of any council area, and the language is used in schools, church services and local broadcasting. Around a fifth of the council area’s people live in and around Stornoway.
Economy and Local Life
Crofting underpins the islands: small holdings run sheep and cattle on common grazings, usually alongside other work. Fishing and shellfish, particularly prawns, scallops and lobster, land at Stornoway, Lochboisdale and Castlebay.
Harris Tweed is the one protected product. By law the cloth must be handwoven in a weaver’s home in the Outer Hebrides from island-dyed wool before it can carry the Orb mark, and mills at Shawbost, Carloway and Stornoway supply the weavers. Fish farming, construction, public services and tourism take up most other employment. Sabbath observance remains strong in Lewis and Harris, where many shops and services close on Sundays.
History
The standing stones at Callanish on Lewis were raised about 5,000 years ago, before Stonehenge was finished. Norse settlers took the islands from the ninth century and left their mark on nearly every place name ending in -bost, -shader or -val; Norway ceded them to Scotland by the Treaty of Perth in 1266.
The Lordship of the Isles ran the Hebrides as a sea kingdom until 1493. Clearances in the nineteenth century emptied townships in Harris and the Uists for sheep farms, and land raids on Lewis after the First World War forced the break-up of some estates into crofts. Community buyouts since 2000 have put large parts of Harris, Lewis and South Uist into local ownership.
Getting There
Caledonian MacBrayne runs the car ferries: Ullapool to Stornoway, Uig on Skye to Tarbert and Lochmaddy, and Oban to Castlebay and Lochboisdale. Sailings take between one and a half and five hours depending on the route.
Stornoway, Benbecula and Barra have airports, with flights to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness. Barra’s runway is the beach at Traigh Mhor, so its timetable moves with the tide. On land the A857, A859 and A865 form a single spine road down the chain, joined by causeways between Berneray and Eriskay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of the Outer Hebrides?
26,140 at the 2022 census, down from 27,684 in 2011.
What is the largest town in the Outer Hebrides?
Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. It holds around a fifth of the council area’s population and is the seat of the council.
Are the Outer Hebrides and the Western Isles the same place?
Yes. Outer Hebrides, Western Isles and Na h-Eileanan Siar all name the same island chain and the same council area.
How many islands are inhabited?
About 15 of roughly 100 islands in the chain have permanent residents, the largest being Lewis and Harris, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Barra.
Which council covers the Outer Hebrides?
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, based in Stornoway.
What postcodes cover the Outer Hebrides?
The HS postcode area covers the whole chain, from HS1 in Stornoway to HS9 on Barra and Vatersay.