The tourism industry is continually seeking out new vacation destinations to satisfy the ever increasing demands of the modern tourist however many are also taking a new interest in places which have been popular destinations of the past. The reasons for the decline in the areas popularity with tourist may not be applicable today (such reasons could include such things as wars ending). The Western Isles of Scotland are one of the most fascinating and beautiful places, in the world, which are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of folk taking vacations there.

The early UK tourists could be said to be more like explorers, than their modern counterparts, often traveling to difficult places to get to which were not often visited except for locals. European travel was generally limited to the very rich who indulged in the “Grand Tour of Europe” for educational reasons but mainly to meet new important friends and to generally have a wild time abroad.

For the adventurous tourist with a suitable budget there was always a visit to the unique islands of the Western Isles with the most interesting (and inaccessible) islands being at St Kilda. For the average working man choices were often limited to the annual works outing (where their places of work would close for the vacation) which was usually to somewhere not too far away.

When air travel became cheaper more people could afford to travel abroad. Over time the family vacation was less to the British holiday camps like Butlins and Pontins and more to European destinations. Usually this was to Spain or, at least, somewhere with a beach and a bar. As some British destination fell into disuse the better transportation systems meant that areas previously considered inaccessible, such as the Western Isles and other places in Scotland, were now a possible vacation destination for the masses including visitors from Canada, America and elsewhere.

Today the tourism industry is extremely diverse but, maybe due to the increased knowledge of the dangers of over exposure to the sun, there seems to be a decreased interest in typical beach vacations and an almost corresponding increase in the number of people visiting inland destinations or other destinations which offer something unique. People are visiting the UK city of Liverpool in more numbers than ever before. Although this is, in part, due to the city being the European Capital of Culture this year it is also true that the steady increase means that it is now an important part of the local economy of that city.

The Western Isles of Scotland (mentioned above) are a small group of islands just off the Scottish west coast. Although there are over two hundred Isles only thirteen are still inhabited. These islands are amongst the most unique in Europe with unique landscapes, flora and fauna and it is for their uniqueness that many visitors choose to tour the islands.

Also known to many as the Outer Hebrides the group, of over 200 islands, has a few which are inhabited and well known. The Isles of Harris, Lewis, North and South Uist, Barra and Benbecula are the most well known and most popular with tourists but there are several other small inhabited islands such as Scalpay which have some interesting aspects for the visitor, not least the incredible Gaelic culture (which has Celtic and Norse influences).

Prehistoric man has left his distinctive mark upon the islands, of the Outer Hebrides, in the form of numerous standing stones and stone circles of varying sizes. The largest stone circle is to be found at Calanais (Callanish) on the Isle of Lewis. The standing stones at Calanais are generally considered to be amongst the most important sites in Europe and they are the only example of a stone circle with avenues (forming the shape of a crucifix). Calanais is a “must see” tourist attraction.

The growth in the Internet has also had an impact in the number of people visiting the Western Isles. Many people now use the Internet to trace their family roots and, as the people from the islands are amongst the most widely traveled in the world, many can trace their families back to Harris, Lewis or one of the other islands (some of which are no longer inhabited). More and more people are visiting the islands to take their research further and to experience the land of the ancestors.

Most probably the main reason why so many people visit the islands of the Hebrides these days is the simple fact that they are far more accessible than they ever were before. Although the Hebrides Isles are still considered difficult to get to the fact that you can now fly to a few places there is vastly different than only a few decades ago when it could take a few days.

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