Outer Hebrides: a top travel destination
Discover 'unspoiled beauty' of the Western Isles
National Geographic's latest list of the 25 best places in the world to visit in 2025 ranges from medieval Italian monasteries to the "alpine paradise" of India's Suru Valley. Tucked in the middle of the list of must-sees is the UK's own Outer Hebrides.
The beautiful backdrop for the BBC's upcoming Gaelic-language drama "An t-Eilean" ("The Island") is a serene destination for your next trip. The archipelago's "dramatic landscapes and Celtic heritage" are best explored while cycling or walking the Hebridean Way, which spans 200 miles across 10 islands and includes "silvery beaches, whisky distilleries, wildflower-bedecked machair grasslands", said NatGeo.
As soon as you arrive and take in the "unspoiled beauty" of the black cliffs and vast expanses of white sand and blue water you will feel "a sense of stepping back in time", said Peter May in The Guardian.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
If you missed the recent aurora borealis sightings, the Calanais Standing Stones, a neolithic monument older than Stonehenge, is highly rated for catching the Northern Lights free from the light pollution of major cities, said Janani Venkateswaran in the Express. While you are out looking, keep quiet as the Outer Hebrides is a "wildlife enthusiast's haven" and you have a chance at "abundant" dolphin, otter and eagle sightings.
The location means a bounty of "fresh and local" seafood, from food trucks serving "traditional local fare" to "creative dishes" at Lochmaddy Bay Prawns, wrote May.
The "stunning" isles have affordable stays too, with backpackers hostels as low as £25 per night and Airbnb options for families from £100 per night.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Antibiotic resistance: the hidden danger on Ukraine’s frontlinesUnder The Radar Threat is spreading beyond war zones to the ‘doorstep’ of western Europe
-
‘Capitalism: A Global History’ by Sven Beckert and ‘American Canto’ by Olivia NuzziFeature A consummate history of capitalism and a memoir from the journalist who fell in love with RFK Jr.
-
Who will the new limits on student loans affect?The Explainer The Trump administration is imposing new limits for federal student loans starting on July 1, 2026
-
The 8 best comedy series of 2025the week recommends From quarterlife crises to Hollywood satires, these were the funniest shows of 2025
-
8 touring theater productions to see this winter, all across the United Statesthe week recommends New shows and reconsidered productions are on the move
-
10 upcoming albums to stream during the winter chillThe Week Recommends As the calendar turns to 2026, check out some new music from your favorite artists
-
One great cookbook: Natasha Pickowicz’s ‘More Than Cake’the week recommends The power of pastry brought to inspired life
-
11 extra-special holiday gifts for everyone on your listThe Week Recommends Jingle their bells with the right present
-
The real tragedy that inspired ‘Hamlet,’ the life of a pingpong prodigy and the third ‘Avatar’ adventure in December moviesThe Week Recommends This month’s new releases include ‘Hamnet,’ ‘Marty Supreme’ and ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’
-
A postapocalyptic trip to Sin City, a peek inside Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras’ tour, and an explicit hockey romance in December TVthe week recommends This month’s new television releases include ‘Fallout,’ ‘Taylor Swift: The End Of An Era’ and ‘Heated Rivalry’
-
December’s books feature otherworldly tales, a literary icon’s life story and an adult royal rompThe Week Recommends This month's new releases include ‘The Heir Apparent’ by Rebecca Armitage and ‘Tailored Realities’ by Brandon Sanderson