The road less travelled

26 Sep

It is always with a sense of excitement that we board the ferry to our beautiful Hebridean island. The simple act of crossing water feels like the start of an exciting adventure and is one of the great joys of travelling to and from, as well as around, the Outer Hebrides.

Time spent on the open sea is an invigorating and elemental experience with nothing but a wide expanse of blue both below and above. It quiets the mind and soothes the soul. They say that being near the water, or what they call ‘blue space’, can potentially make us happier. Thankfully the sea is never far away in the Outer Hebrides, which might explain why the islanders are considered some of the happiest people in the UK.

Whether looking back at the harbours and mountains of the Scottish mainland, as they disappear from view, or the ethereal silhouette of the islands as they appear against the horizon, travelling by sea certainly provides a different perspective on the landscape,. Of course, there is also the opportunity to spot sea-life in its natural habitat, including whales and dolphins, cutting through the waves, seals basking on the shore and a huge variety of sea birds on the water or soaring high above.