Na h-Eileanan Siar
§ This page gives an overview of the Na h-Eileanan Siar local authority district, bringing together key facts, maps, and data to help you quickly understand the area. One of 361 district profiles on Baseview.
Overview ⁞ Na h-Eileanan Siar, also known as the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides, is a chain of islands off the north-west coast of Scotland, stretching for over 100 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Its geography is dramatic and diverse, with rugged mountains, sweeping moorlands, freshwater lochs, and some of the UK’s most spectacular beaches with white sands and turquoise waters, particularly on Harris and North Uist. Lewis, the largest island, is home to Stornoway, the main town and cultural hub, as well as the ancient Calanais Standing Stones. Harris is famed for its mountains and handwoven Harris Tweed, while North and South Uist, Benbecula, and Barra showcase a patchwork of machair grasslands, crofting villages, and coastal scenery. Smaller inhabited islands such as Eriskay and Great Bernera, along with countless uninhabited islets, add to the archipelago’s character. The islands’ landscapes, wildlife, Gaelic culture, and remote beauty make Na h-Eileanan Siar one of Scotland’s most distinctive regions.
The administrative boundary of Na h-Eileanan Siar can be viewed on OpenStreetMap: District Boundary of Na h-Eileanan Siar.
Key Facts about Na h-Eileanan Siar
What region is Na h-Eileanan Siar in? Na h-Eileanan Siar is in Scotland, a statistical region and also a country in United Kingdom.
Is Na h-Eileanan Siar a city? No, Na h-Eileanan Siar is not a city. (Note: the UK has 76 officially designated cities.)
Who governs Na h-Eileanan Siar? The local government for this district is: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Scotland Council Area).
▶ Official website of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 🔗 cne-siar.gov.uk
Which police force covers Na h-Eileanan Siar? Policing in Na h-Eileanan Siar is provided by Police Scotland 🔗 scotland.police.uk, which covers the whole of Scotland.
Constituencies in Na h-Eileanan Siar
A constituency is a specific geographical area that elects one Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the House of Commons. The United Kingdom is divided into 650 parliamentary constituencies, 57 of them are in Scotland. We have this list page for easy browsing of all UK parliamentary constituencies: List of Constituencies.
Wards in Na h-Eileanan Siar
Na h-Eileanan Siar is divided into 11 wards, listed below in alphabetical order.
- An Taobh Siar agus Nis
- Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh
- Loch a Tuath
- Na Hearadh
- Sgìr Ùige agus Càrlabhagh
- Sgìre an Rubha
- Sgìre nan Loch
- Steòrnabhagh a Deas
- Steòrnabhagh a Tuath
- Uibhist a Deas, Èirisgeigh agus Beinn na Faoghla
- Uibhist a Tuath
In the UK, a ward is a subdivision of a local authority area, used mainly for electoral and statistical purposes. Defined by the ONS, wards represent the primary unit for local elections, each returning one or more councillors to the local council. Wards are also used as a key geography for presenting population and census data.
Built-up Areas in Na h-Eileanan Siar
Na h-Eileanan Siar covers 21 built-up areas, listed below in alphabetical order.
- Aird Tong
- Barvas
- Bragar
- Castlebay
- Cliasmol
- Col
- Habost and Swainbost
- Lionel
- Liurbost
- Lower Bayble
- Melbost
- North Tolsta
- Sandwick (Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
- Shader
- South Dell
- Stornoway
- Swordale
- Tarbert (Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
- Tong
- Uachdar
- Upper Bayble
In the UK, a Built-up Area (BUA) is a continuous urban area of at least 20 hectares (0.2 km²), defined by the ONS as land where buildings are generally no more than 200 metres apart, such as towns, cities, or large villages. (Note: A BUA name marked with an asterisk (*) indicates that the area is situated partly in the district of Na h-Eileanan Siar.)