About Eilean Siar
Eilean Siar is a group of islands that form the most westerly part of the British Isles. Eilean Siar is the Gaelic name for the islands, in English they are referred to as the Western Isles.
There are around 20,000 people living on the islands of Lewis and Harris (actually part of the same land mass), making it the most populated island in the UK.
In addition to Harris and Lewis, the islands include Taransay, Benbecula, North & South Uist, Barra and St Kilda. They are also referred to as the Hebrides.
Stunning white beaches and turquoise waters are in abundance in the islands, and even in the summer it’s possible to have a beach all to yourself.
The BBC television programme Castaway 2000 brought Eilean Siar to the attention of the rest of the UK, and probably helped to bring more visitors to the region.
Eilean Siar are the top location in Scotland for nature enthusiasts, with such an abundance of wildlife that St Kilda is actually owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
The island is a World Heritage Site (a place of outstanding cultural or heritage value) and is home to over one million birds including the largest colony of guillemots in the world, the oldest and largest colony of fulmars and the largest colony of puffins in Britain.
The Future
The priority for the future of Eilean Siar is maintaining and ideally encouraging growth in the population through promotion of business opportunities and the unique way of life.
Conservation, renewable energy and sustainable living projects will all ensure that the Hebridean Islands’ natural resources benefit the community. This will also contribute to the changes taking place in other parts of Scotland.
- Western Isles Alternative & Renewable Energy Partnership
- Western Isles Energy Innovation Zone
- Western Isles, Skye & Lochalsh LEADER+ sustainable development project
- Marine Special Areas of Conservation
- Wildlife Hebrides
Would you like to live in Eilean Siar?
Find out more about the practicalities of Moving to Scotland
