The Western Isles are steeped in storytelling tradition.
Until relatively recently most people could recite tales of the Feinn and the faerie folk, the clans and their battles, and folklore stretching back for centuries.
Here, however, we have gathered the real histories of people from the Western Isles, their own stories of their upbringing in the islands’ villages, of people’s journeys away from their homeland, and of the history of the islands themselves.
Explore Further
Tell us your story
If you have a story of family members who left the Western Isles and settled in another part of the world, and would like the … Read more
Emigrant Stories
The first recorded emigrations from the islands took place in the mid-1700s. The first recorded emigrations from the islands took place in the mid-1700s in … Read more
Village Histories
These stories are excerpts taken from Bill Lawson’s Croft History books. There are now almost sixty Croft History books, all available in our shop. Many … Read more
The People of the Western Isles
The history of modern people in the Outer Hebrides begins with the melting of the icesheets and the arrival of Mesolithic Man. The oldest site … Read more