the outer Hebrides

From the wild West waves

to the rocky East bays

Take a fragment away

to remember

The Outer Hebrides is a chain of islands at the north west of Scotland.

The Isle of Lewis sits to the north, with the small island of Bernera connected by a bridge from the Uig peninsular in the West. Then to the south on the same landmass is the Isle of Harris which also links to the small Isle of Scalpay by bridge to the East.

Hop on a ferry from the south of Harris and you can meander down from Berneray, through North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Eriskay - all linked by the most impressive causeways. Another ferry takes you to Barra and Vatersay to experience the clear aquamarine waters.

Paradise!

The geology of the outer Hebrides

Most of the islands have a bedrock formed from Lewisian Gneiss. These are amongst the oldest rocks in Europe, formed up to three billion years ago. These rocks are largely igneous in origin, mixed with metamorphosed marble, quartzite and mica schist and intruded by later basaltic dykes and granite magma. The gneiss's shades and patterns are exposed throughout the islands.

The glacially exposed hills of South Harris contain anorthosite, which is similar in composition to rocks found in the mountains of the moon so this truly is an out of this world landscape.

Within and outwith the gneiss, there are rarer exposures of serpentine, soapstones and more - all with their own remarkable features, strengths and colours.