Guida delle Ebridi

Mull, the largest, is dominated by the former volcano Ben More (900 m) and is cut through by very narrow roads, served by resting areas. Landing at Craignure, you can admire, nearby, Duart Castle (13th century), the ancient stronghold of the Mac Lean clan, perched on a rocky outcrop and Torosay Castle, framed by a splendid garden. The highlight of the island, however, is Tobermory, the capital, with its delightful little harbor, brightly colored houses, and the dense carousel of sails and rigging. The coastal road reaches Fionnport, from where you embark for Iona, dominated by the evocative abbey complex in austere grey stone, founded by Saint Columbanus (563 AD).
A very important place for the spread of Christianity in Scotland, where clan chiefs and Scottish kings have also been buried. The Outer Hebrides, are about 64 km from the coast and represent a microcosm with strong Celtic and Presbyterian customs: road signs are written in Gaelic, as well as in English; and, on weekends, public establishments (restaurants, shops, gas stations…) observe the utmost rest. Beaten by wind in all seasons, inhabited more by sheep than by men (famous for the tweed, still woven on wooden looms in many farms and private houses) and crossed by very narrow and winding roads, these islands open up landscapes and environments of a rough but seductive charm. Lewis is the largest and is connected to Harris by an isthmus of land; then come North and South Uist, Benbecula, and the small Barra.
An absolute must-see are the Callanish Standing Stones, on the northwest side of Lewis, an astounding archaeological site with a circular layout, scattered with haunting ritual monoliths, some as tall as 3 meters, erected between 300 and 1500 BC. And the Carloway Broch, a structure vaguely shaped like a nuraghe, dating back to the Iron Age.