by Angus MacLeod
In the never ending search for interesting vacation destination tourists continue to open up new areas to tourism. However there are plenty of highly fascinating areas of the world that have always had a small degree of tourism which more and more people are now discovering to their delight. Also there are a number of vacation destination which were in decline but are now experiencing renewed interest. One of the most interesting places in the world which are seeing a marked increase in tourism are the Western Isles of Scotland.
The early UK tourists could be said to be more like explorers, than their modern counterparts, often traveling to difficult places to get to which were not often visited except for locals. European travel was generally limited to the very rich who indulged in the “Grand Tour of Europe” for educational reasons but mainly to meet new important friends and to generally have a wild time abroad.
As the working classes began to take time off to visit places they usually did so in large numbers to somewhere very local (when their factory or workplace would close for the duration of the vacation). This led to an increase in the number of vacation destinations within easy access of industrial areas. During the 1950s and 60s a number of holiday camps opened in more picturesque places aimed at the domestic market but many people began to look at more exotic destinations. Those people with more money were able to afford to travel to many more places and destinations such as St Kilda in the Western Isles of Scotland became interesting places to visit for small numbers of folk.
With the development of air travel, and its steady decrease in cost and increase in wages, many British families were now able to afford to take European vacations. Instead of taking the family to the likes of Pontins and Butlins holiday camps in the UK, families now visited beaches in Spain, the South of France and the Mediterranean. Alternatively visitors from abroad started to visit the UK and many chose to visit places with unique aspects such as the Western Isles of Scotland, which started to become extremely popular with American and Canadian visitors as a vacation destination.
While younger tourists still opt for the typical beach and bar vacation destinations more discerning tourists, who understand the dangers of binge drinking and sunburn, tend to look for something a little more educational, inspiring and altogether more cultural. Many of the United Kingdoms’ major cities seem to becoming highly popular with tourist with Liverpool being in the vanguard (Liverpool is this years Europena Capital of Culture).
As well as the United Kingdom being an island itself it is surrounded by a large number of smaller islands (the majority of which are uninhabited). Places like the Isle of White have, for a long time, been popular vacation destinations but more distant islands, such as the Western Isles of Scotland, are becoming incredibly popular. The Western Isles have much to offer that is simply not available elsewhere and their appeal has much to do with the many unique aspects of the islands, which include unique flora and fauna as well as some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK.
Also known to many as the Outer Hebrides the group, of over 200 islands, has a few which are inhabited and well known. The Isles of Harris, Lewis, North and South Uist, Barra and Benbecula are the most well known and most popular with tourists but there are several other small inhabited islands such as Scalpay which have some interesting aspects for the visitor, not least the incredible Gaelic culture (which has Celtic and Norse influences).
The islands of the Outer Hebrides have been inhabited by man since prehistoric times. Driving around the islands you will immediately notice the enormous number of single standing stones and small stone circles. The most spectacular prehistoric site is to be found on the Isle of Lewis and is considered one of the most important stone circles in Europe. Just by the village of Calanais (Callanish in English) is a most interesting stone circle with four avenues and a number of satellite stone circles in the surrounding area. Every visitor to the islands should make a point of taking the trip out to see them.
Another reason why the Western Isles are becoming increasingly popular as a vacation destination is the incredible increase in interest in genealogy (tracing your family roots and ancestors). Life has always been hard in the Hebrides and for generations many young men and young families emigrated, to America, Canada and other places, in search of a better life of opportunity. During a period known as the clearances massive numbers of Scots were forcefully removed from their land and sent abroad and this means that a great many people return to the islands in search of their roots.
There are many reasons why more and more folk are choosing to visit places that were once inaccessible. However the simple fact that they are now easily accessed by road or air (and sometimes rail) is the main reason that there are now a great many people visiting such places. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that places like the Western Isles/Outer Hebrides have not yet been commercialized that makes them such a popular vacation destination but for how long they remain unchanged is uncertain.