11 Facts About Hebrides

The Hebrides have less biodiversity than mainland Scotland, but a significant number of seals and seabirds.

Hebrides stated it was a gloomy journey amongst uninhabited islands, but he had visited one which was the retreat of holy men.

Hebrides mentioned neither the druids nor the name of the island.

North of Dal Riata, the Inner and Outer Hebrides were nominally under Pictish control, although the historical record is sparse.

Viking raids began on Scottish shores towards the end of the 8th century, and the Hebrides came under Norse control and settlement during the ensuing decades, especially following the success of Harald Fairhair at the Battle of in 872.

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Norse control of the Hebrides was formalised in 1098 when Edgar of Scotland formally signed the islands over to Magnus III of Norway.

However, in the mid-19th century, the inhabitants of many parts of the Hebrides were devastated by the Clearances, which destroyed communities throughout the Highlands and Islands as the human populations were evicted and replaced with sheep farms.

Residents of the Hebrides have spoken a variety of different languages during the long period of human occupation.

Nevertheless, as late as the end of the 19th century, there were significant populations of monolingual Gaelic speakers, and the Hebrides still contain the highest percentages of Gaelic speakers in Scotland.

Many contemporary Gaelic musicians have roots in the Hebrides, including Julie Fowlis, Catherine-Ann MacPhee, Kathleen MacInnes, and Ishbel MacAskill .

This, and her powerful evocation of the Hebrides—she was from Skye—has made her among the most enduring Gaelic poets.