10 fascinating facts about… the Outer Hebrides

Scotland’s islands have a rich and fascinating history – and that’s especially true in the Outer Hebrides.

Here, we present 10 facts about Lewis and Harris.

The Outer Hebrides is a 130-mile long archipelago of around 220 islands.

Just over 26,000 people live on the 15 inhabited islands.

The islands have three National Nature Reserves and 55 Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

The Callanish Standing Stones were erected around 5,000 years ago.

Vikings began to invade the Western Isles in about 900AD.

A visitor looking at the Lewis chessmen at the British Museum

The Lewis Chessmen, a collection of 12th century figures, were found on a beach in 1831. Eleven of the 93 are on display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, with the rest at the British Museum in London.

The Outer Hebrides were ceded to Scotland in 1266 but it wasn’t until 1493 that King James IV asserted Scotland’s military authority over the islands.

Gearrannan Black Village, a collection of traditional dwellings, was built in around 1600.

Commercial Harris Tweed production began in 1846.

Dun Carloway Broch was excavated in 1972.

• Click HERE to read 10 fascinating facts about Dumfries and Galloway.
• Click HERE to read 10 fascinating facts about Lanarkshire.
• Click HERE to read 10 fascinating facts about Mid Argyll.
• Click HERE to read 10 fascinating facts about Orkney.
• Click HERE to read 10 fascinating facts about Perth.
• Click HERE to read 10 fascinating facts about Perthshire.
• Click HERE to read 10 fascinating facts about Royal Deeside.
• Click HERE to read 10 fascinating facts about Speyside.
• Click HERE to read 10 fascinating facts about The Isle of Bute.