outer known scottish islands strangers long_island island chain west coast mainland scotland islands geographically council areas scotland form separated scottish mainland waters little predominant spoken language areas english speakers form majority islands bedrock formed ancient rocks climate mild oceanic inhabited islands total population substantial islands roughly kilometres important prehistoric structures pre date written references islands roman greek authors western isles norse kingdom lasted years sovereignty transferred scotland treaty perth control islands held clan chiefs principal 19th century devastating effect communities recent years population levels ceased decline land local control commercial activity based tourism fishing weaving sea transport crucial variety ferry services operate islands mainland scotland modern navigation systems dangers past stormy seas claimed ships religion music sport important aspects local culture numerous designated conservation areas protect natural environment geography main islands form archipelago major islands include lewis harris north south lewis harris area hectares largest island scotland largest british isles great_britain ireland incorporates lewis north harris south frequently referred individual islands joined land border island common english referred lewis harris lewis harris harris lewis etc largest islands deeply arms sea freshwater outer total scotland lewis particular landscapes high percentage freshwater maze complexity shapes harris fewer large bodies water small kilometres long large islands midst including surface area mean depth metres island north said probably britain approaches complexity outline south largest kilometres long cuts island western coastline islands fertile low lying lewis comparatively flat largely consists blanket highest south west harris mountainous large areas exposed rock archipelago reaches height collectively referred sandy beaches wide cultivated areas west virtually mountainous areas east highest peak metres immediate combined area hectares includes islands link bridges hectares extent rugged interior surrounded extensive beaches flora fauna archipelago protected habitat including islands surrounding waters sites special scientific interest largest north hectares acres hectares acres extent south national nature reserve owned managed reserve covers hectares range local habitats species flowering plants recorded reserve nationally scarce south considered best place aquatic plant considerable controversy animals native islands having introduced 1970s reduce garden spread posed threat eggs ground nesting birds undertook area halted trapped animals relocated mainland nationally important populations breeding present outer including common islands provide habitat important species golden eagle offshore shark species whale seen regularly islands populations international significance northern amounting world population breeding pairs european population pairs northern pairs respective totals important breeding ground pairs european population var endemic local variants dark green green white butterflies subspecies range confined islands bears population inhabited islands total population time census figure period scottish island populations grew largest settlement outer lewis population addition major south ford connect north northern south islands linked smaller bridges bridge connections lewis harris respectively linking southern means inhabited islands connected island land transport route islands islands greater size hectares acres outer including islands common main island chains scotland remote islands abandoned 19th 20th centuries cases continuous prehistoric period islands identified outer example identified eighty archaeological sites island majority pre medieval date 18th century population native left island completely lighthouse smaller islands continue contribute modern culture boat song evocative island life written abandonment island hosted bbc television series played scottish history young charles edward stuart hid men days whilst royal_navy vessels patrolled smaller isles island groups pepper north_atlantic surrounding main islands outer cases culturally kilometres west lewis lies small military base similar distance north lewis small remote islands support small population grew grain raised cattle rock thousands northern nest special arrangement young known harvested annually men status kilometres west north island act decreed remains matter international dispute geology islands bedrock formed oldest rocks europe having formed period billion years ago addition outer form basement deposits scottish mainland west thrust islands rocks largely origin mixed marble later granite delicate pink colours exposed islands referred old boy granite found parish west lewis forms summit plateau mountain harris granite similar composition rocks found mountains moon relatively small sandstone near formed later respectively sandstone thought old red sandstone climate outer cool temperate climate remarkably mild steady northerly latitude influence average temperature year january summer average annual rainfall lewis millimetres sunshine hours range year summer days relatively long august period winds key feature climate summer constant according writer visitor asks weather forecast like answer dry wet sunny quote figure scale day butt lewis small fish blown grass metre high cliffs winter storms originally settled era diversity important prehistoric sites north constructed circa scotland earliest type artificial island stones dating finest example stone circle scotland primary metres high creating metres diameter south site prehistoric found impressive ruins lewis date etymology earliest written references survived relating islands elder natural history states makes separate reference watson concludes outer writing years later drawing earlier naval expeditions distinguished writes possibly meaning early celtic means deep sea isle probably took information visited britain possible information west coast scotland poor quality breeze suggests lewis harris largest island outer single island long_island watson states meaning unknown root pre celtic murray claims originally derived meaning isles edge sea idea repeated firm evidence emerged early written references include flight people ireland mentioned 12th century 13th century poem concerning heir throne isles said broken gate means plain precise meaning text clear irish mythology islands home described huge ugly ship men sea pirates tribute coasts ireland kings mac son goddess ruled deep seas modern islands referred collectively long_island outer isles islands foreigners strangers heard occasionally originally mainland islands ruled norse individual island place names outer mixed norse origins terms repeatedly islands called meaning tidal island history scotland way life troubled extinguished rome asserted abandoned permanent occupation writes years studies period roman conquest major medium long term impact scotland present evidence terms environment economy society impact appears limited general picture remains broad continuity disruption roman presence scotland little series brief longer indigenous development romans direct impact highlands islands evidence actually landed outer later iron age inhabitants northern western probably historical record sparse hunter states relation king sixth century western isles inhabitants appear culture speech time likely regarded fairly distant presence island site stone extant symbol stone outer 6th century shows flower rod lunar crescent added later somewhat crude cross norse control viking raids began scottish shores end 8th century came norse control settlement ensuing decades especially following success battle western isles dominant figure mid 9th century time amassed substantial island realm variety alliances norse leaders nominally owed allegiance norwegian crown practice control fairly limited norse control scotland formally signed islands norway scottish acceptance iii king isles came norwegian king conquered swift campaign earlier year directed local norwegian leaders islands petty kingdoms capturing islands imposed direct royal control price recorded lewis fire played high heaven flame houses king dyed sword red blood thompson provides literal translation fire played trees mounted heaven far wide people driven flight fire houses kingdom isles rulers kings norway kingdom parts south isles encompassing situation lasted time outer remained norwegian control broke royal house following ill fated expedition norway outer yielded result treaty perth contribution islands found personal archaeological record norse period limited best known find time lewis date mid 12th century scots rule norse era drew close norse speaking princes gradually replaced speaking clan chiefs including lewis harris transition little relieve islands strife early 14th century isles based theory chiefs feudal superiors managed exert control growing threat posed scottish crown led dissolution isles king power subdue organised military immediate successors lacked ability provide alternative form governance attempts control outer little expeditions earl besieged captured castle cannon james conducted royal tour forcing clan chiefs accompany followed period peace soon clans king authorised gentleman initially successful colonists driven local forces commanded based forces colonists tried result attempt successful course time lewis held later pursued approach investing fishing particular historian moved write end seventeenth century picture lewis people pursuing peace plenty establishing orderly government island great deal rescue people ignorance found immersed sphere economics policy apparently little service community royalist led lewis garrisoned wars kingdoms troops destroyed old castle fought royalist battle new era involvement affairs wider world commence british era implementation new kingdom great_britain clan distant monarch strong considerable number came support earl response rising muted nonetheless aftermath decisive effectively ended hopes stuart restoration widely felt british government strategy clan chiefs turn descendants english speaking main concern revenues estates brought welfare lived brought peace islands following century came terrible price 19th century destroyed communities highlands islands human populations evicted replaced sheep farms example colonel gordon owner south evicted thousands cruelty offered sell government colony islands completely cleared populations today subject recalled bitterness resentment areas position exacerbated failure islands industry 18th century end napoleonic wars large scale emigration endemic example hundreds left north cape nova scotia pre clearance population island fallen remained new economic opportunities emerged export cattle commercial fishing tourism summer season 1860s 1870s thousand inhabitants lewis found mainland scotland employed fishing boats nonetheless emigration military service choice archipelago populations continued late 19th 20th centuries population north work passing act helped social unrest continued july grazing land raided men isles took legal action raiders visiting judge took view neglected duties landowner long indifference gone far drive continuous occupation notwithstanding islands abandoned process involved transition places perceived relatively self sufficient agricultural economies view held island residents outsiders alike lacked essential services modern industrial economy gradual economic improvements visible replacement traditional accommodation modern design creation highlands discovery substantial deposits north_sea oil establishment local authority islands recently sector contributed degree economic stability recent decades yard history significant employer oil industries local authority employs people making largest employer outer area plan economy economy modern commercial activities centre tourism fishing weaving including manufacture harris larger islands development support local economy striking contrast 19th 20th century domination thirds western isles population lives community owned estates economic position islands remains relatively western isles including defined highlands islands enterprise economically fragile area estimated trade deficit million overall area relatively reliant primary industries public sector fishing fish farming particular vulnerable environmental impacts changing market pressures european legislation optimism possibility future developments example energy generation tourism education declines 20th century population politics local government passing scotland act lewis formed county ross rest archipelago including harris outer council area rest scotland similar councils established islands formed council areas cover country council officially known terms names scotland act council base lewis known locally simply councils scotland majority elected members independent run run coalition constituency covering area seat held angus scottish parliament constituency area incumbent scottish independence referendum led debate constitutional position linked similar initiatives language outer historically strong scottish speaking area census reported parishes speaking including areas high population density education scotland act led generations forbidden speak native language classroom recognised having dealt major blow language people living recall beaten speaking school nonetheless areas speaking exception south census island overall speaking south harris north lewis speakers total speakers outer strongly coherent speaking area scotland areas speaking areas highest density near harris whilst areas lowest density speakers scotland act enacted provide continuing support language overall percentage speakers outer fallen transport scheduled ferry services operate following routes harris north lewis summer ferries operate islands services available onward journeys stations direct services glasgow parliamentary approval notwithstanding plans 1890s lay railway connection unable obtain sufficient funding scheduled flights airports inter island mainland airport world scheduled flights landing beach high water sea flight times vary tide bus services operated bus based numerous operators run bulk services archipelago exposed wind tide sited aid navigation locations south north numerous sites wrecked ships isles location enduring mystery occurred december lighthouse keepers vanished trace immigrant ship liverpool bound montreal canada struck rocks storm tuesday september minutes ship began founder break casting people raging sea spite conditions tried rescue passengers crew remains men women children buried dunes beach small monument marks site tiny east coast lewis site sinking hours worst maritime disasters united_kingdom waters 20th century sound provided inspiration novel politician ran aground cargo single religion culture sport christianity deep roots owing mainly different clans past people northern islands north historically predominantly presbyterian southern islands south predominantly roman catholic time census population identified affiliated roman catholic christian churches group belong known strict stated religion western isles scottish council area smallest percentage population small congregations lewis harris outer diocese isles catholic traditions music popular islands lewis plays active role promoting genre began aim developing practice study language literature music drama culture islands week festival inspired scotland founded lewis harris society outdoor activities including rugby football golf fishing riding athletics multi sports popular adventure race run daily stages takes place length islands includes hill road running road mountain short sea demanding sea sections main sports centres swimming pool sports centre western isles member south home golf course oldest links outer designed old use 1930s existence largely forgotten restored morris original design know going british drama romance film set outer depicting local lifestyles speech
Outer Hebrides