Hebrides

Hebrides or Western Islands, archipelago of about 500 islands, islets, and reefs, western Scotland, in the Atlantic Ocean. The islands are divided into two groups, the Outer Hebrides and the Inner Hebrides, by the North Minch and Little Minch straits (The Minches) and the Sea of the Hebrides. The Outer Hebrides form the Western Isles (Eilean Siar) area, and the Inner Hebrides are divided between the Highland Council and the Argyll and Bute Council. The chief islands of the Outer Hebrides, which extend about 210 km (130 mi) from north to south, are Lewis and Harris, North Uist, South Uist, and Barra. The largest of the Inner Hebrides is Skye (administered by the Highland Council), and the other important islands of the group are Mull, Islay, Jura, Tiree, and Coll. Fewer than 100 of the Hebrides are populated, and most of the inhabitants live on Lewis and Harris, Skye, and Islay. The area of all the islands together is 7,510 sq km (2,900 sq mi). The climate of the Hebrides is comparatively mild.

The archipelago has a rocky terrain, which is broken by many bogs, moors, lakes, and valleys. The only forests of importance are on Lewis and Harris, Skye, Mull, and Jura islands. The fauna include Highland cattle, red deer, and wild goats. Approximately 101,170 hectares (250,000 acres) of the total area is used to grow crops by farmers, many of whom are crofters (tenant farmers). Fishing, the raising of livestock, and tourism during the summer months are the principal occupations. Other economic activities include the growing of oats and potatoes, distilling, quarrying, and the production of woollen textiles, especially Harris tweed. Regular boat and air connections are maintained between the mainland and the principal islands, and in October 1995 a road bridge was opened between Skye and the mainland. The largest town in the Western Islands is Stornoway, on the island of Lewis and Harris.

In ancient times the archipelago was known as the Hebudae or the Ebudae. In 563, the Irish missionary St Columba established a Celtic monastery on the tiny island of Iona in the Inner Hebrides. During the 8th century the islands were invaded by Norwegian Vikings, and Norway retained control of the Hebrides until 1266, when the archipelago was transferred to Scotland. During the next few centuries, Scottish chieftains, primarily the leaders of the clans MacDougall and MacDonald, ruled the islands. The royal house of Scotland gradually reduced the influence of the chieftains, a process continued and accelerated by the Hanoverian monarchs after the union with England in 1707. After putting down the Forty-Five rebellion, they gained full control over the Hebrides by 1748. The Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott, whose Lord of the Isles (1815) dealt with the Hebrides, and several other Scottish and English authors including James Boswell and Sir Compton Mackenzie have given vivid portrayals of the islands.