| | South Uist (Gaelic: ''Uibhist a Deas'') lies towards the southern end of the [[archipelago]], between Barra and Benbecula. Its population is mainly [[Roman Catholic]] (the island was one of the very few areas in [[Great Britain]] where the [[Reformation]] never gained a foothold) and [[Gaelic]]-speaking. The main settlement is Lochboisdale (''Loch Baghasdail'') at the southern end of the island, which has a ferry terminal with services to Barra and to [[Oban]] on the Scottish mainland. | | South Uist (Gaelic: ''Uibhist a Deas'') lies towards the southern end of the [[archipelago]], between Barra and Benbecula. Its population is mainly [[Roman Catholic]] (the island was one of the very few areas in [[Great Britain]] where the [[Reformation]] never gained a foothold) and [[Gaelic]]-speaking. The main settlement is Lochboisdale (''Loch Baghasdail'') at the southern end of the island, which has a ferry terminal with services to Barra and to [[Oban]] on the Scottish mainland. |
| − | Lewis and Harris, the largest island in the Outer Hebrides, is a single island which has been divided into two parts of land<ref> "Although treated as two separate islands with distinct characteristics, Harris and Lewis form a single landmass." [http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/harris.htm Isle of Harris accommodation and travel]</ref><ref>"The island was divided between two Macleod sons and that artificial division has remained." [http://www.rampantscotland.com/visit/blvisithebrides4.htm ] </ref> by Loch Seaforth and the hills of Harris. It is linked by ferry to the island of North Uist and to [[Uig]] on the [[Isle of Skye]]. It has given its name to the rugged woven woolen cloth known as 'Harris Tweed', the term ''tweed'' being a corruption of ''tweel'' (twill) and nothing to do with the [[River Tweed]] in south-eastern Scotland. The land is flat and relatively fertile, much being divided into crofts (smallholdings). The main town, [[Stornoway]] (''Steornabhagh''), is also the administrative center of the Western Isles. The megalithic standing stones at Callanish on Lewis are one of Scotland's major cultural monuments. | + | Lewis and Harris, the largest island in the Outer Hebrides, is a single island which has been divided into two parts of land<ref> "Although treated as two separate islands with distinct characteristics, Harris and Lewis form a single landmass." [http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/harris.htm Isle of Harris accommodation and travel]</ref><ref>"The island was divided between two Macleod sons and that artificial division has remained." [http://www.rampantscotland.com/visit/blvisithebrides4.htm Outer Hebrides - Lewis and Harris] </ref> by Loch Seaforth and the hills of Harris. It is linked by ferry to the island of North Uist and to [[Uig]] on the [[Isle of Skye]]. It has given its name to the rugged woven woolen cloth known as 'Harris Tweed', the term ''tweed'' being a corruption of ''tweel'' (twill) and nothing to do with the [[River Tweed]] in south-eastern Scotland. The land is flat and relatively fertile, much being divided into crofts (smallholdings). The main town, [[Stornoway]] (''Steornabhagh''), is also the administrative center of the Western Isles. The megalithic standing stones at Callanish on Lewis are one of Scotland's major cultural monuments. |