The Hebrides are a group of islands off the West coast of Scotland in the United Kingdom from which a very large number of people left to settle in Canada and America when they were forcefully removed from their land during a time known as the 'clearances'. Today there are a great many people who can trace their roots back to these islands which has led to a steady increase in tourism. The Hebrides consist of two groups the Inner Hebrides, which include the Isle of Skye, and the Outer Hebrides, which include the Isle of Lewis and the adjoined Isle of Harris (often referred to as the Long Island) and numerous other inhabited and uninhabited islands also known as the Western Isles.

The Outer Hebrides are well known for their areas of outstanding natural beauty which include some of the finest beaches you are likely to see in Europe (including those at Uig on Lewis and many on Harris). They are also known for their ancient historical sites of international importance with the most widely known site being the standing stones at Callanish (now known as Calanais), on the West side of the Isle of Lewis, which are considered as important as Stonehenge and other stone circles in Europe.

Even more recent history has created a massive interest in the islands of the Outer Hebrides. St. Kilda is an archipelago which lies a fair distance from the Isle of Harris far out in the Atlantic Ocean which where famously evacuated in the early twentieth century. Their society has long been of interest to scientists as it was run in an almost communist fashion where almost everything was communally shared. It is still possible to visit Hirta (the main island) but this depends heavily upon the severity of the weather as the Hebrides are, at times, extremely windy.

Driving in the Hebrides is a pleasure beyond words with some of the finest driving in the whole of the UK. So good is the experience that the popular UK television series about cars called 'Top Gear' have been known to travel there to record driving scenes. If you have never visited the Outer Hebrides prepare yourself to be amazed, although the roads have been massively improved over the last few decades, much of the road system consists of single track road which twists and winds up, down and around the islands passing through varied, but always breathtaking, scenery. Awe inspiring mountains, beautiful lochs, spectacular beaches, small villages, ancient sites, incredible and rare wildlife are just a few of the things you will experience along your journey. One of the most winding roads is to be found on Harris and is known as the 'Golden Road' and, if you can handle a car well it is well worth traveling down.

Before driving in the Hebrides it is extremely important that you understand some of the laws and traditions of the highway, especially when driving along the single track roads. Although the roads are often empty of traffic there are times when you will be met by pockets of traffic. Locals will be aware of such times with the obvious being during the usual times when people travel to and from work but there are other times, such as when a ferry is due, when there will be more cars on the road. Always remain aware that there are people going about their usual business and, at the earliest opportunity, allow any vehicles behind you to pass. Locals drive very fast because they know the roads well and, who knows, that car behind you could be racing to catch a ferry and as ferries to and around the Hebrides can run as little as once every couple of days (in the winter) it is extremely important that they do not miss it.

Along the single track roads you will see signs saying "Passing Place" they are small extensions to the road to help in overtaking and will be on the left or right hand side. To allow vehicles to pass safely you should pull into the left at all passing places, pull into those on the left and pull up to the left when they are to the right as both oncoming traffic and that behind will drive into that passing place and around. Only pull into one to the right if the vehicle wishing to pass is very large or long and would find it difficult to pass otherwise. Always indicate early. If you have both oncoming traffic and some behind pull in and those behind will pull in behind you but keep your indicator on so that when the oncoming traffic has passed the traffic behind will know to pull out and overtake. There is simply nothing more annoying than driving in the Hebrides stuck behind a car driven by tourists that are driving slow while taking in the sights and over using their brakes when they spot something of interest. Always keep an eye out for oncoming traffic but also consider those that may appear behind.

When you are driving in the Hebrides there are times when the road simply disappears before you, it might be a blind summit, a sharp bend or a winding road carved through a hillside or, sometimes a mixture. You should approach all such obstacles very slowly keeping as far left as possible. Please be aware that you should avoid pulling off the road as there is, more often than not, a drop and, in some cases, the drop can be extreme. Also the ground on either side of the road is very rough and even off road vehicles can struggle. There may be times when you meet an oncoming vehicle between passing places, if you are certain that it is safe you may attempt to pull far left but it is best to reverse back to the nearest passing place to allow the vehicle to pass.

The Hebrides offer unique challenges to drivers so many that they could not be fully covered here but there are very few accidents and you can ensure your safety by following the tips above and driving carefully at all times. A trip or vacation to the Hebrides is a lifetime experience drive safely and you will want to return again and again.