The '''Western Isles''' (Gaelic: ''Na h-Eileanan Siar''), also known as the [[Outer Hebrides]], are a chain of Scottish islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the north-west coast of [[Scotland]]. The main islands are [[Lewis]] and [[Harris]] (which form one island), [[North Uist]], [[Benbecula]], [[South Uist]] and [[Barra]]. The two Uists and Benbecula are connected by bridges and causeways and are collectively known as 'the long island'. The administrative centre of the Western Isles is [[Stornoway]]. The islands, formerly divided between [[Invernessshire]] and [[Ross & Cromarty]], became a region of Scotland in 1975 and a county in 1996. | The '''Western Isles''' (Gaelic: ''Na h-Eileanan Siar''), also known as the [[Outer Hebrides]], are a chain of Scottish islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the north-west coast of [[Scotland]]. The main islands are [[Lewis]] and [[Harris]] (which form one island), [[North Uist]], [[Benbecula]], [[South Uist]] and [[Barra]]. The two Uists and Benbecula are connected by bridges and causeways and are collectively known as 'the long island'. The administrative centre of the Western Isles is [[Stornoway]]. The islands, formerly divided between [[Invernessshire]] and [[Ross & Cromarty]], became a region of Scotland in 1975 and a county in 1996. |