Lewis and Harris form the northernmost island in the Hebrides. Though actually part of the same land mass, they are thought of as different islands and each has its own distinctive culture, traditions and heritage. Lewis in the north is the largest island in the group and its main town of Stornoway is a busy centre of island life, its natural harbour a thriving fishing port.

Harris is home to the world-famous Harris Tweed, which has to be made on these islands if it carries the name.

Further south still sit a string of tiny, flatter islands including North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Barra.

The Hebrides remain the heartland of Gaelic culture, with the language spoken by the vast majority of islanders, though its everyday usage remains under constant threat from the national dominance of English.