Activities in the Hebrides - Inner and Outer Hebrides Scotland

Activities in the Hebrides

 

Boat Trips

There are boat trips to suit everyone in the Hebrides, from a traditional Hebrides sail boat, fast RIB trips, to cruises. Local boats throughout the Hebrides can take you out to watch wildlife, go diving, try sea angling.

 

Diving

The crystal clear waters of the Hebrides give up to fifty metres visibility, you can explore our sandy bays, kelp forests, reefs, pinnacles, many wrecks and the sea life. Twenty three species of cetacean can be found in this area, an ideal place for divers and underwater photographers. St Kilda is famous for being one of the world's best diving sites.

 

Kayaking

The Hebrides are an increasingly popular destination for kayakers in the last few years. The Hebrides coastline is made up of a labyrinth of interesting bays, secret coves, inlets, amazing cliffs, sandy beaches and many small islands to explore.

Kite Surfing

The Hebrides are a kite surfing paradise. They are the location for some of the finest and largest sandy beaches in Europe. One of the most diverse, dramatic and unspoilt landscapes on Earth, the Hebrides is simply exellent for kiting and kite surfing.

 

Surfing

The Hebrides has a broad selection of beautiful beaches from white shell sands to pebble strewn shores which are often empty, making it a surfer's paradise. It has the most consistent surf in the whole of Europe and offers world-class beach and reef breaks. Please be aware that some beaches have very strong currents and rips during certain swells. If you are not an experienced surfer, please contact the local surf shop or the coastguard for information on the area where you intend surfing.

 

Windsurfing

The Hebrides has many fine surfing beaches, such as on Tiree, and is reckoned by many to be one of the surfing Meccas in the UK. Windsurfing first came to Tiree in the early eighties and has grown hugely in popularity with the tourists and islanders alike.

Tiree has an average wind speed of 17mph, numerous sandy white beaches and boasts the most sunshine hours in the whole UK. It has Atlantic swells in abundance. The island is the ideal shape for windsurfers, it is flat and has very little to block or divert the wind. There are beaches facing in all directions and a shallow loch with a flat sandy bottom that provides excellent sport for beginners and experts.

Tiree in the Hebrides offers an idyllic windsurfing destination and has countless sailing locations for visitors to the island.

 

Walking

The Hebrides has many walks to suit everybody, from gentle strolls along white sand beaches, to heavy treks through the rugged hills and mountains. Walks where you can view stunning panoramas of land, lochs and islands. Take a walk to discover the ancient settlements and archaeological sites in the area. While walking it is very likely you will encounter the abundant wildlife on your way. Otters, corncrakes, red deer and golden eagle soaring high in the sky. An ideal location to explore pure nature.

 

Cycling

Experience cycling in the Hebrides and explore a land of quiet roads, magnificent scenery, amazing wildlife and the friendly Gaelic culture. The islands offer some of the most challenging off-road cycling in Europe but also have many easier road routes, which pass sandy Atlantic shores, bays, coves and beautiful machair meadows. The Hebrides offer an extremely diverse environment, beaches, meadows, cliffs, hills and mountains on what is the oldest exposed rock on Earth.

There are six main islands in the Hebridean chain; Islay, Jura, Skye, Mull, Harris and Lewis with many smaller islands to explore, often connected by causeways. Each of the islands has its own character offering truly unique experiences from each other. They have different landscape scenery and wildlife throughout. The only consistent feature the islands have in common is the warm Gaelic welcome you will get wherever you are. Come and experience the Hebridean culture in this incredible natural environment.

The road signs can be in Gaelic or English, occasionally interchanging, so it's always a good idea to carry a map with you. The Official Hebrides Tourist Map for the islands shows both the Gaelic and English place names.

There is no shortage of things to do in Hebrides even if there is the odd rainy day, the only problem is fitting it all in!

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