Council area in Scotland
| Coordinates: | 57.71, -6.84 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | NG 11 79 |
Na h-Eileanan Siar is the council area covering the archipelago more commonly called the Outer Hebrides or Western Isles, a chain of islands off Scotland’s north‑west coast. It includes the larger islands such as the Isle of Lewis, Harris and Barra, with Stornoway as the main town. The landscape is marked by machair and peatland, wide sandy beaches, dramatic coastlines and important seabird colonies, while ancient sites like the Callanish standing stones testify to a long human presence.
The area has a strong Gaelic culture with lively music, storytelling and ceilidh traditions and remains a centre for crofting, fishing and the world‑famous Harris Tweed industry. Tourism and renewables are growing alongside aquaculture, but low population density and demographic change are ongoing challenges; local community ownership and development initiatives have become important tools for sustaining services and the island way of life.