The Western Isles are an archipelago situated not too far off the Scottish West coast.  The isles of the Inner & Outer Hebrides have been inhabited since the Mesolithic period and throughout their history the language and culture has been immensely influenced by various races and today the culture of the Hebrides is a blend of Norse, Celtic, Scottish and English influences. The majority of people speak in the Gaelic language and although many talk in English, it is commonly their 2nd language. Not too many years ago visits to the Inner and Outer Hebrides were only for folk with plenty of money and those who could afford plenty of time. These days it is far, far to get to the Western Isles/Outer Hebrides, you can travel by car and ferry or take a flight to a number of destinations on the islands. Regrettably it is not possible to get all of the way by train but it is possible to travel coast and then travel by coach for the rest of the journey. Often the only problem that can turn up is sorting out accommodation especially if  you are searching for accommodation for groups on the Isle of Harris which is more often than not booked up twelve months in advance.

One of the most common factors in attracting visitors to the Outer Hebrides is that the the landscape and the culture of the Isles are dramatically unique.  On the Isle of Harris are to be found some of the most breath takingly beautiful golden sandy beaches in all of Scotland, and many folk say the U.K. Here and there you will notice a standing stone on the Harris coastline however it is on the Isle of Lewis that you will discover the best stone circle at Calanais not a huge distance from the town of Stornoway the only town in the Outer Hebrides. The Calanais standing stones is said to be second only to Stonehenge in England.

Deciding which island, Harris or Lewis, to stay on is often a difficult decision and more and more people are settling to spend a short time on each. B&B accommodation on Lewis is frequently available than Isle of Harris accommodation, so you should try to book as early as possible.

Bed and breakfast in Stornoway is is far easier to book but again to be certain book well in advance. Virtually all accommodation in the Hebrides is of a very high standard and the hospitality is the best you are likely to witness and the folk friendly and helpful.

Besides the Isle of Lewis and the Isle of Harris there are a few other inhabited isles that are easy to visit. The most popular are North and South Uist, Barra and Benbecula and you will find a ferry which runs from North Uist to Harris at Leverburgh, a small village on South Harris.

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Ever since the time of the Picts there has been a settlement at Dundee. Dundee, Scotland’s fourth largest city, has long been associated with commerce and trade. The three primary industries, in the city of Dundee, were “journalism, jam and jute”.  Although the city of Dundee could be described as post-industrial it has a mixed economy and has a large percentage of its inhabitants employed in the manufacturing industry (by comparison to the rest of Scotland), approximately 13.5%. Recently the tourism trade has started to become a crucial part of the Dundee economy and there are an increasing number of hotels and guest houses providing Dundee bed and breakfast accommodation and in the article below I discuss readers to 3 Dundee attractions; Verdant Works, Sensation Science Centre and Discover Point Visitor Centre:

The Discover Point Visitor Centre

Discovery Point is a immensely interesting and award-winning Dundee visitor attraction which tells the story of the most heroic  voyages of exploration ever carried out, the story of the world famous explorer of the Antarctic , Captain Robert Falcon Scott, and his first ship,  RRS Discovery. On the 21st of March, 1901, the Discovery was launched from the Panmure Shipyard in the town. Captain Scott and his crew set off for Antarctica on August the 6th nineteen hundred and one, reaching their destination in January 1902. The RRS Discovery is the most prestigious part of the centre having been fully renovated from the top to the bottom. Steep stairs and narrow passageways can cause difficulty for those with mobility issues, fortunately, visitors will find there is an audio visual presentation at the dockside.

Sensation Science Centre

If you are searching for an attraction which will provide entertainment for all the family, then Dundee’s Sensation Science Centre is the perfect place to go. Sensation Dundee is the Great Britain’s only science centre which focuses upon the body’s five senses. You can explore the miracles of sciences  through the body’s senses through over eighty hands-on exhibits. You will also find live science shows and demonstrations, demonstrating how common household ingredients can be utilised to amazing effect. Visitors interested in surgery are even able to try their hand at keyhole surgery. Sensation brings science to life in a large number of incredibly interesting ways.

Verdant Works

Verdant Works  was, in the past, a working jute mill. At it’s height, in the 1860’s and ’70’s, the industry in Dundee employed around 50,000 folk in excess of 60 factories scattered across the city of Dundee. These days,  Verdant Works brings this industry to life, by utilising a range of displays including, film shows, interactive computers and original machinery. This incredible museum once housed three massive steam engines which powered seventy looms and nearly three thousand spindles.  There was also 5 hundred workers working there, spinning and preparing jute for it to be weaved in another factory over the road. Restoration of the jute mill began in nineteen ninety two and it opened its doors to the public for the first time the 16th of September 1996.

If you are thinking about a short vacation in Dundee you will discover plenty of online hotels and guest houses offering bed and breakfast accommodation in Dundee. You will discover a massive listing of Dundee accommodation at http://dundee.hotelreservationhelper.com/

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