WESTERN ISLES © LonelyPlanetPublications Western Isles Isles Western 234 sandy beachesandacentralknotofrollinghillsaffordinggreat panoramicviews. among whichHeclaisaformidableobjective. Furthest south,Barraisadelight,withsuperb Eaval, almostsurroundedbywater. Alongchainofmountainsdominates slender SouthUist, billiard-table flatbutafew small,attractive theirheadsupskywards, notably hillspoke ing Clisham (799m),thehighestinWestern Isles. Continuingsouth, Uistismostly North mountainous oftheisles,containingdozens ofimpressively rocky,steep-sided peaks, includ- cliffs, secludedcoves andexcellentwalking. Harris,Lewis’ southernneighbour,isthemost andfacingthewildAtlantic outwest,youwillfindrugged illusion –inthefarnortheast, sandy beachesformonthsofexplorationonfoot. are scattered throughouttheisles,andthere are enoughhills,glens,rockycoastsandvast feeling ofunhurriedness. walkswithstronghistoricalandnatural-historythemes Waymarked stretched time. Western Islescommunitiesare lively anddynamic,butthere isarelaxed senseofspaceinthevastskyandlimitlessocean,afeelingan extraordinary of and landinthe of Uists, andthecompactness Barra. However, theyallshare twoqualities: from thepeatlandsofnorth Lewis andtherockymountainsof Harris, tothemosaicofwater travelling toislandsandyousoonrealise different theseislesare strikingly fromeachother; qualities thatsoonbecomereal, almosttangible. There’s alwayssomethingspecialabout The very nameWestern Isles( Eileanan Siar)expresses remoteness, difference andmystery,
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