There has been considerable controversy over hedgehogs on the Uists. Hedgehogs are not native to the islands but were introduced in the 1970s to reduce garden pests. Their spread posed a threat to the eggs of ground-nesting wading birds. In 2003 Scottish Natural Heritage undertook culls of hedgehogs in the area, but these were halted in 2007; trapped animals are now relocated to the mainland. [31] [32] Murray, W.H. (1973) The Islands of Western Scotland: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. London. Eyre Methuen. ISBN 0-413-30380-2

Lewis, Callanish, ' Tursachan' ". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012 . Retrieved 21 April 2008. Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022 . Retrieved 31 March 2022. South Uist [ edit ] Beinn Mhòr and Thacla in the distance and Dùn Othail and Nicholson's Leap in the foreground The definition of an island used in this list is that it is "land that is surrounded by seawater on a daily basis, but not necessarily at all stages of the tide, excluding human devices such as bridges and causeways". [Note 4] Inhabited islands [ edit ] The harbour, Stornoway The ruins of Dun Carloway Iron Age broch Two kings and two queens from the Lewis chessmen Our Lady of the Isles, South Uist Amhuinnsuidhe Castle, HarrisChristianity has deep roots in the Western Isles, but owing mainly to the different allegiances of the clans in the past, the people in the northern islands (Lewis, Harris, North Uist) have historically been predominantly Presbyterian, and those of the southern islands (Benbecula, South Uist, Barra) predominantly Roman Catholic. [165]

North Uist [ edit ] Haskeir Lighthouse, with Haskeir Eagach in the distance North Uist and surrounding islands. The Monach Isles are at left, Pabbay in the Sound of Harris is at top centre, Loch Maddy and narrow Loch Euphort at right Other definitions are used in the Scottish context. For example the General Register Office for Scotland define an island as "a mass of land surrounded by water, separate from the Scottish mainland" but although they include islands linked by bridges etc. this is not clear from this definition. Haswell-Smith (2004) uses "an Island is a piece of land or group of pieces of land which is entirely surrounded by water at Lowest Astronomical Tide and to which there is no permanent means of dry access". This is widely agreed to be unhelpful as it consciously excludes bridged islands. Pabbay had a population of about 100 in the early 19th century but was cleared in 1846 and by 1868 there was only a single shepherd living there. [23] The Outer Hebrides have a diverse, fascinating history and heritage and something to interest everybody. The archipelago is entirely unique – a place wheretraditional heritage meets contemporary cultureto offer an insight into the way of life on the islands over thousands of years. Murray (1973) notes that "Western Isles" has tended to mean "Outer Hebrides" since the creation of the Na h-Eileanan an Iar or Western Isles parliamentary constituency in 1918. The phrase can also be used to refer to the Hebrides in general. Murray also notes that "Gneiss Islands"—a reference to the underlying geology – is another name used to refer to the Outer Hebrides but that its use is "confined to books". [4]The bumblebee Bombus jonellus var. hebridensis is endemic to the Hebrides and there are local variants of the dark green fritillary and green-veined white butterflies. [36] The St Kilda wren is a subspecies of wren whose range is confined to the islands whose name it bears. [37] Population [ edit ] Lews Castle, Stornoway Historical population Year Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of North Uist" Volume II, Part II p.188. Retrieved 20 December 2009. You’ll be immersed in the stunning scenery, wildlife and heritage unique to this ancient archipelago, and also discover a culture very different to mainland Scotland. Or anywhere else for that matter. There are two "Flodday"s near Barra. One is in the Barra Isles at grid reference NL612924, the other in the Sound of Barra to the north at grid reference NF751022.

Loch Mhic Phail: Cafuam, Croabhagun, Eilean Fhionnlaidh, Frobost Island, Hestum, Mealla Bru, Rangas, Teilum With many beaches in the Outer Hebrides, read this RNLI On The Beach- a guide to a safe and fun time at the seaside.It is an especially important read if you plan to get into the water.

Thebeauty of the areais world-renowned as evident by Wanderlust travel magazine featuring the Outer Hebrides as one of the top 100 Greatest Travel Experiences – the only area in Britain to make the list. In addition to the North Ford ( Oitir Mhòr) and South Ford causeways that connect North and South Uist, Benbecula and the northern of the two Grimsays in the southern part of the island chain, several other islands are now connected by causeways and bridges. Great Bernera and Scalpay have bridge connections to Lewis and Harris respectively, Baleshare and Berneray are linked to North Uist, Eriskay to South Uist, Flodaigh, Fraoch-eilean and the southern Grimsay to Benbecula, and Vatersay is connected to Barra by the Vatersay Causeway. [4] [11] [12] This means that all of the inhabited islands are now connected to at least one other island by a land transport route.