The Outer Isles are Scotland's three main groups of off-shore islands: Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles (aka Outer Hebrides).

All these are sparsely inhabited and provide a remoteness that makes discovering their well-preserved ancient archeological sites and experiencing their slow-paced traditional life particularly rewarding – so don't miss out if you have the extra time they require.

Ferries to the islands take several hours and demand time spent pouring over ferry timetables to plan a trip. You'll also have to plan for far fewer services: restaurants, cafes and shops are in shorter supply, with only modest offerings and limited opening hours.

The Western Isles

The string of off-shore islands in Scotland's far west, known as the Western Isles, are also referred to as the Outer Hebrides.