Outer Hebrides and Skye

The Outer Hebrides, from the Norse word Harbredey meaning the isles at the edge of the sea, also known as the Western Isles have been inhabited for more than 6000 years. The isles include Harris and Lewis the largest island in Scotland and the third largest in the British Isles.

The Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills.

Caolas an Scarp - Harris - Outer Hebrides

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Caolas an Scarp - Harris - Outer Hebrides

A few hundred yards north from the white sandy beach at Hushinish lies a narrow stretch of water between the mainland and the island of Scarp which was abandoned in 1969. Huisinis and Scarp were the scene of a unique experiment in 1938. German scientist Gerhard Zucher was experimenting with using rockets to deliver mail to remote areas. The mile wide Sound of Scarp was often impassable during bad weather and made it an ideal place for the experiment. A solid fuel rocket was launched full of mail for the first over-water flight in November 1938. It exploded, showering the beach with slightly singed letters. The letters were later delivered by the traditional method and the rocket mail never caught on.

National Scenic Area seascape sea island beach hills coastal coastline