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Outer Hebredies
Outer Hebredies Isle of Lewis
30 miles off the north west coast of Scotland lies the Outer Hebrides, an idyllic island chain that sits on the edge of Europe. Picture a paradise of powder white beaches and Atlantic waves, dark moorland and rugged mountains, amazing wildlife and a rich and vibrant culture.
Lewis is the largest and most northern island in the Outer Hebrides, home to one of the best prehistoric sites in Scotland, and some fabulous beaches.
The main hub on Lewis is Stornoway, by far the largest settlement on the Outer Hebrides. There are also lots of crafting and fishing villages along the north west coast.
Archaeology buffs will make a beeline to see the famous standing stones at Callanais, a fascinating group of nearly 50 megaliths dating from around 3000 BC. The Arnol Blackhouse is a preserved example of the many blackhouses that lie deserted on the island.
The west coast has brilliant beaches, while much of the island is made up of peat bog, the favoured habitat of a variety of rare breeding birds. Butt of Lewis, the far northerly tip of the island, is home to many seabirds, and is an excellent spot for watching whales, dolphins and porpoises.
The Western Isles are accessed from mainland Scotland by ferries and airplanes.
The population of the Western Isles is approximately 27,000 most of us have home Internet access.
Gaelic is still spoken by many in the Islands.
Stornoway
Stornoway is the main town on the Isle of Lewis. Just over 6000 people live in the town, which represents nearly one 1/5th of the Islands total population. The economy is a mix of traditional businesses for example fishing, Harris Tweed and crofting. Recently industries like tourism, oil industry and networking have given young and old new employment opportunities.
The sheltered harbour is the reason for Stornoway's existence and was named by the visiting Vikings "Steering Bay" which, when phonetically translated, became the name Stornoway.
The town has a wide range of facilities ranging from a large secondary school, (Nicholson Institute) and technical college, to sporting facilities, which includes a brand new sports complex. The complex would be the envy of most mainland small cities with its 25 metre pool, climbing walls, fitness suite, soft play etc. The town also has a Golf Course, Astro Turf pitch, Go-Carting and even a paintball action area. Cruises around the area by boat are available during the summer months, embarking from the pontoons behind the Lifeboat Station. Cultural facilities are well catered for with a good museum, art gallery and library. An Lantair arts complex was opened in summer 2005.
Harris Tweed
Harris Tweed is cloth, hand woven only by the islanders of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra in their own homes, using pure virgin wool that has been dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
This is the definition of Harris Tweed clearly stated in the Harris Tweed Act of 1993 and it ensures that all cloth officially certified with the world-renowned Harris Tweed Orb symbol complies with this definition, making it genuine Harris Tweed – the world’s only commercially produced hand woven tweed. Sales of Harris Tweed have never been so buoyant, with the demand for the quality, genuine cloth accelerating over recent years. It is an ancient industry which dates back centuries and it is vital to the modern economic, cultural and social fabric of the Outer Hebrides, creating employment for over 300 craftsmen and women. Harris Tweed is the only commercially-produced textile still to be handwoven and the only fabric protected by an act of parliament. Production of Harris Tweed is here to stay as long as there are weavers in the Outer Hebrides, from traditional Harris Tweed jackets to modern, fashionable Harris Tweed bags and even laptop cases, this truly vintage textile has survived generations.
