Another natural wonder is the Hebrides in Scotland. Hebrides: description, attractions, interesting facts and reviews Most visited by tourists

The source of inspiration for poets, artists and photographers is located in Scotland. The Hebrides are harsh and inaccessible, they are rightly nicknamed the kingdom of waves and wind.

Islands are nothing more than an archipelago occupying the entire western coast of Scotland. It is divided into a couple of groups: internal and external. As for the internal ones, they are located directly off the Scottish coast, but the external ones are separated by the Little Minch Strait, and in a rather cramped group they are nestled in the north-western part of the country.

In total, at least 500 islands and their smaller brothers are counted. These places are full of mystery, where fog and rain are frequent guests, and the winds tirelessly “drive” the clouds. Experienced sailors are wary of this area, because such an unpredictable sea element confuses them, forcing them to be in constant tension.

For centuries, peoples in these parts fought for the right to own the magnificent shores. Nowadays, only a small number of islands are inhabited by people. Once upon a time, local beaches experienced the last ice age. The rocky ledges are strewn with bird nests, and the largest colony of cormorants (more than 60,000 pairs) lives here. In ancient times, tribes climbed mountains, destroying nests in order to feed themselves.

The Hebrides have captivated the imagination for a long time. Moreover, a naturalist Joseph Bankson discovered the most striking landscape, according to everyone (1772). Where exactly? In the southwest of the island of Staffa. It was there that amazing stone pillars rose before his eyes. We won’t argue, only now more is known about them - these are the remains of once erupting volcanoes that tore apart the bottom of the North Atlantic millions of years ago. The spectacle is truly breathtaking! In 1968, these places were noticed by UNESCO, including them in its list.

After the British had gone through all the dark places Hebrides, it was concluded that even the most unpretentious and strong-willed people would never be able to live and, in fact, survive here. But as the saying goes: “never say never”, it turns out that the small islets and cliffs of St Kilda have been inhabited by people for at least four thousand years. In 1930, the population was small - 36 people, and besides, they were quite fed up with such life. Having turned to the government of the country with a request to remove them from the island, they received an affirmative answer and headed to Scotland.

The local nature is untouched by the “hand” of civilization, carrying its natural “trail” through the centuries. Romance and beauty attract a huge number of travelers from all over the world to the Hebrides.

Along the west coast of Scotland lie the inaccessible Hebrides, which seem cold and inhospitable. However, travelers find a special romance in them and fall in love with a distant land famous for its picturesque landscapes. Even in ancient times, the archipelago with fickle sea elements was mentioned in the works of the Romans and Greeks.

From time immemorial, people defying fate tried to survive in harsh conditions, and the Vikings and Celtic tribes, the English and the Scots dreamed of taking over the land, much of which was rocky or marshy.

Some facts about the archipelago

The archipelago, located in the Atlantic Ocean, has received the unofficial name “miniature Scotland” for its variety of unique attractions. Conventionally, it is divided into two groups - the Outer and Inner Hebrides. While the former are separated by the Little Minch Strait and compactly huddle to the north-west of the autonomous region, the latter are located off the coast of a state that is part of Great Britain.

The Hebrides, consisting of approximately 500 small islands (no more than a hundred are inhabited), are a real kingdom of chilly wind and powerful waves. Once upon a time, a gigantic piece of land broke off from the mainland, breaking into many parts. This is how the Hebridean archipelago with an area of ​​7.2 thousand km 2 appeared. More than 1.5 thousand km 2 are occupied by lakes, thanks to which a special climate has been formed with frequent rains and fogs coming from the west.

As tourists note, the weather here is extremely changeable: within an hour, the clear sky is covered with gray clouds, and the Hebrides, which are a continuation of the Scottish mountain ranges, are hidden in a milky veil. And the calming sea waves of a transparent blue hue are immediately replaced by terrifying giant lead-colored shafts.

Ancient monuments of Scotland

It is impossible not to mention the important role of the archipelago not only in the formation, but also in the preservation of Scottish culture. Here you can get acquainted with ancient monuments that are of great interest to vacationers. On those islands that are inhabited, there are majestic castles that have survived to descendants from past eras. In the mysterious gray haze they acquire a mysterious halo, and it seems as if ancient Scottish legends about valiant knights who fought dragons come to life here.

Unique island of Staffa with caves and basalt columns

The Isle of Staffa is one of the most interesting places in the Hebrides in Scotland. Tourists who have visited this unusual place admit that their hearts sank when they saw the fantastic landscapes. Stone basalt columns, giving the area a mystical charm, and numerous underground kingdoms attract guests admiring the wonder of nature.

The most famous is Fingal's Cave with excellent acoustics, for which it is nicknamed "singing". The sounds of the surf, which are reflected under its arches, spread everywhere, and experts compare it to a majestic cathedral. The miraculous sights have been under the protection of UNESCO since 1968.

Secrets and riddles

The Hebrides, formed back in the Ice Age, is a place where humans rarely set foot, and each pearl of the archipelago boasts both an interesting history and unique attractions. As scientists say, there are plenty of local mysteries here, and the unusual megalithic complex located on the island of Outer Hybrids is proof of this.

Isle of Lewis and Scottish "Stonehenge"

An analogue of the English Stonehenge, older than it, is located in the village of Callanish (Lewis Island). In 1981, an archaeological expedition excavated a stone circle covered with a thick layer of peat, which received the same name. Inside thirteen vertical blocks, just over three meters high, cleared of soil, there is a huge slab. Experts believe that the mysterious circle was erected by adherents of the cult of the Moon about five thousand years ago.

It is known that until the 19th century, local residents gathered at the stone guards on a certain day and performed mysterious rituals. It is curious that behind the cobblestones there are smaller blocks, and from above you can see the outlines of a Celtic cross, the ends of which are directed to the four cardinal directions. Unfortunately, there is no information about the builders of the most impressive place on the archipelago. Only their engineering skill is not questioned, which made it possible to create a real miracle that raises many questions among modern scientists.

In addition, on the territory there are other mystical structures made of stone, as well as burial mounds, the secrets of the appearance of which have sunk into oblivion along with those who erected them. Megaliths found by scientists indicate the activity of primitive man in the Neolithic - New Stone Age. Eight years ago, another structure was discovered, so far poorly studied by archaeologists, who suggested that it was ritual.

Isle of Harris

The Outer Hebrides, which form one of the 32 regions of the country, includes the Isle of Harris, whose sandy beaches are loved by tourists.

Harris and Lewis are the same large island, which is divided into two parts by a narrow isthmus. A wonderful corner with beautiful scenery is considered the heart of Scotland. The north of the island is made up of peat bogs, while the south with its stunning beaches is a popular choice for vacationers.

Isle of Skye

The Quirang mountain range, located in the north of the largest Isle of Skye (the Inner Hebrides archipelago), resembles a place where fantastic landscapes transport you into a magical world far from reality. Its main attraction is the rocky Cape Trotternish, which delights with basalt blocks rising above the water surface.

Tourists who appreciate the beauty of the steep cliffs, majestic mountain peaks, and powerful cliffs feel like they are in a real fairy tale. Only Mother Nature created it, like the most famous rock, which with its protrusions resembles an old man who gazes intently into the distance.

Northern Rhone Island

The secluded spot in the North Atlantic is so isolated from everyone else that it is often forgotten to be placed on the geographical map of Great Britain. Many centuries ago, Christian hermits chose the island as their refuge; later Scandinavian peoples lived on it, capturing the Hebrides.

In the 8th century, an Irish bishop settled here, who was later recognized as Saint Ronan. Ronan built the chapel - the oldest Christian building in Scotland that has survived to this day. Curious visitors to the miniature island can crawl into a half-submerged structure made of earth and see the ascetic decoration, shedding light on how hermits lived on the Rhone a thousand years ago.

The harsh and inaccessible Hebrides are the kingdom of wind and waves. But this is at first glance. The attentive traveler will find a special romance and beauty here. Photos by Jim Richardson

The Inner and Outer Hebrides are more than five hundred islands and islets. It is often foggy and rainy, the winds blow almost continuously, and the sea around is so unstable that even the most experienced captain can feel afraid. In these seas, everything is changeable: in just an hour, the measured silky swaying of waves of a piercing blue tropical color is replaced by a stormy invasion of leaden foamy waves.

Berneray Island, west coast

Dusk has fallen over the pale sands, scattered shells and thick dune grass that stretch for miles along Berneray's Atlantic coast. The winding line of the Harris Hills in the background disappears into the blue shadow of the distant horizon.

Hirta, St Kilda

Stone walls still encircle patches of fill soil on the rugged hillsides above the ruins of St Kilda's main settlement. These fences protected the oat and barley crops from salty winds and livestock. Beehive-like structures were used to store food supplies and peat, which the islanders used as fuel; Hundreds of such warehouses have survived to this day.

Boreray, St Kilda

Armadas of seabirds circle the sky, narrow rocky ledges dotted with their nests. Often hidden behind clouds, the northern tip of the island juts out 400 meters above the ocean; The offspring of 60 thousand pairs of cormorants are raised here - the largest colony in the world. The people of St Kilda climbed these rocks barefoot, caught birds and collected eggs for food.

Mangersta, Isle of Lewis

The dangerous waters of the Hebrides with sharp sea cliffs and rocks, oddly enough, have been chosen by surfers. Mangerst is popular with athletes because there is a steady north-easterly wind blowing here all year round. Moreover, these parts are not crowded.

Calanish, Isle of Lewis

These stone pillars were probably there before the pyramids were built. People settled on the island 5,000 years ago, farming, fishing, hunting - and building. The outer stones rise 3.5 meters, the central pillar - 4.5 meters. Like the famous Stonehenge, the 13-meter circle at Kalanisha was an important ritual center.

Grimersta, Isle of Lewis

Fresh waters from the upper lakes, bubbling, rush down to the sea along wide rocky terraces. “It’s easy to find a place on an island where you don’t hear the sounds of man,” says Alice Starmore, a native of Lewes, “but the land and water are never silent.”

Boreray, St Kilda

Rising fog reveals a distant island in the Atlantic Ocean. People have survived on the St Kilda archipelago for thousands of years, but its last inhabitants left their secluded homes about eighty years ago.

Cape Trotternish, Isle of Skye

At Trotternish Point on the Isle of Skye, basalt pillars overhang the Razeay Channel. They indicate powerful geological displacements that formed this piece of land.

Located in northwestern Europe, called British. In addition to Great Britain and Ireland, this archipelago also includes the Hebrides. In the fall of 2015, they were on the lips of many, since on October 21, the first training interception of a ballistic missile in Europe was carried out near the Hebrides.

Protected corner of northern nature

The archipelago is located off the western coast of Scotland. The two chains in the Atlantic Ocean are separated by the Sea of ​​Hebrides and the North Minch and Little Minch straits. Just over 500 rocky and mostly high islands and islets, of which only 100 are inhabited, are divided into the Outer Hebrides (one chain) and the Inner Hebrides (second chain).

What is the surface of these northern lands? Out of a total area of ​​7.2 thousand square meters. km, lakes occupy 1.6 thousand square meters. km. The rest of the surface is mostly either rocky or marshy. There are many peat bogs on the marshy plains. In addition, there are lava fields, troughs and karrs - traces of ancient glaciation. On some islands, such as Skye, there are low mountains, just over 1000 meters above sea level.

Fans of rugged beauty

The Hebrides, often called “the archipelago at the ends of the earth”, “the kingdom of wind and waves”, are very impressive with their rugged northern beauty. The stone blocks blown by the winds took on amazing and bizarre shapes, reminiscent of giant sculptures rising straight from the foamy waves. Not everyone is to the taste of such beauty, but tourism is one of the revenue sources of the local budget, along with fishing, agriculture and the oil industry.

UK region

The Outer and Inner Hebrides have different administrative subordination. The Western Isles region, or Nach Elenan Shiar, is the Western, or Outer, Hebrides. Scotland, of which they are part, has owned these territories since 1266. According to the Treaty of Perth, the Outer Hebrides were ceded to it by Norway. This document ended the long-term rivalry between the two countries for the right over the islands.

The Kingdom of Scotland itself was independent from 854 to 1707. But then it became a region of Great Britain and, judging by the recent referendum, it will not gain freedom and independence soon. Based on this fact, all islands belonging to Scotland are still included in

Westernmost Scottish islands

The western part of the archipelago, that is, the Outer Hebrides, consists of 15 islands that have a permanent population, and dozens of uninhabited land areas. The Western Isles are separated from the Inner Hebrides and Great Britain by the Sea of ​​Hebrides and the North Minch. This area includes an uninhabited rock located to the north. The right to Rockall is disputed by Scotland from Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland and Iceland. Lewis and Harris, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Barra are the names of the largest parts of the archipelago known as the Outer Hebrides.

Small islands of the western link

In addition to small rocks rising from the waves and skerries, this part includes the Flann Islands, a small archipelago located 23 kilometers north of the largest landmass of Lewis and Garisse.

The Flann Islands have been uninhabited since 1971. Another desert archipelago, abandoned by the population in 1930, is located 64 km west of North Uist. It's called St Kilda. Rhone and Sulisker are islands significantly removed from the main mass, and they also belong to the Outer Hebrides.

Local features

Of course, of all the tourist flow directed to Scotland, these 119 islands are the least visited. But if travelers make it here, to one of the 32 regions of Scotland, they will find the classic beauty of the north-west of this country. It refers to the amazing castles of ancient Scottish families, white beaches, hills and heaths, green meadows and thickets of low-growing birch. The traditions of Gaelic Scotland and ancient taste preferences are preserved here - strong alcohol and hearty, hearty food. But tourists can also be attracted by bird colonies, seal rookeries and whale watching.

Sights and artifacts

All the Hebrides are primarily famous for their gloomy, monumental ancient castles, such as Kimisul and Dunstaffnage, Skipness and Dunolly. The Benedictine monastery on Iona and the cathedral in Saddel are beautiful. The islands have preserved places of worship of ancient aborigines, the most prominent of which is Callanish. It is precisely located in the Outer Hebrides, on the Isle of Lewis.

This megalithic group is the largest Neolithic site in the British Isles, although due to its remote location it is not as famous as Stonehenge and Avebury. Here, on the largest landmass of the Outer Hebrides, a unique artifact known as the “Isle of Lewis Chess” was found in 1831. They represent 76 figurines carved from walrus tusk, presumably in the 12th century, by carvers from Trondheim (Nidaros), the third largest city in Norway.

all Hebrides

There needs to be clarity about what the Isle of Lewis is all about. This is one of the parts of the largest island of Lewis and Harris, whose area is 2179 square meters. km. Historically, these two areas, Lewis and Harris, are referred to separately as islands, although this is not true.

The administrative center and largest settlement of the Outer Hebrides is Stornoway (population over 19,000 people). It is here that the largest factory producing Harris Tweed, a local fabric, is located. There is an airport 4 km from Stornoway, which has direct flights to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The nature of the Hebrides is amazing (photos are attached to the material). It should be noted that there are high mountain lakes on the Isle of Lewis. Their fresh water, flowing out, rushes into the ocean along wide rocky ledges. One such terrace called Grimersta is one of the main attractions of this island.

Inner Hebrides

The Inner, or British, Hebrides are located along the coast of Great Britain. The largest of them is Sky.

These islands, according to the same Treaty of Perth, also went to Scotland, but in 1707 they were taken from her and became part of the British Kingdom. The total area belonging to the Inner Hebrides is 4,158 thousand square kilometers, the permanent population living here exceeds 19,000 people.

The most beautiful island

The largest of the Inner Hebrides is the aforementioned with an area of ​​1656 square meters. km. This is followed by Mull (875), Islay (620) and so on. Skye is part of a small archipelago known as the Askribe Islands. An interesting site to visit is the tidal Sunday Island. Tidal is an area of ​​land that is separated from the mainland or a neighboring island by an artificial or natural channel that disappears at low tide. And at low tide, you can go to the very picturesque island of Canna, located next to Sunday, along the watts - coastal shallows, exposed with the outflow of water. The island of Aova with its basalt slopes is incredibly beautiful. And how impressive is Dunvegan Castle, located on the Isle of Skye!

Most visited by tourists

The Hebrides (photos are presented in the article), and Skye especially, are very picturesque.

This island was connected to the mainland by a bridge in 1995. In addition, a ferry connecting the port village of Mallai with the island is always at the service of tourists. Skye has been called "Scotland in miniature". It should be noted that in this entire area of ​​the British Isles the production of woolen fabrics - tweed - is developed. Therefore, sheep, from whose wool it is made, are found here in huge quantities. The Inner Islands boast Fingal's Cave (Staffa Island). It so impressed Felix Mendelssohn, who visited here in 1829, that he wrote a concert overture called “The Hebrides, or Fingal’s Cave.”

Nature of the Hebrides

As noted above, the region where the Hebrides Islands (northern Atlantic Ocean) are located is very harsh - the average temperature in January is 4-6 degrees Celsius, and in July - 12-14. It rains very often, precipitation falls up to 2000 mm per year. The weather can change dramatically within half an hour. And, of course, constant winds blow here. As for the local flora and fauna, which is somewhat poor compared to the larger British Isles, it can boast of several species found only in this territory and listed in the Red Book. These include the long-faced seal, the chough, the white-tailed eagle, and the common guillemot.