The western coast of the Outer Hebrides has some of the finest beaches in Europe — vast stretches of white sand backed by machair, a distinctive coastal grassland covered in wildflowers in summer.
Barra (north end) — Barra is served by a circular bus route. The island's airport sits on the beach at Traigh Mhòr on the east side; from there it is a short walk across to the west coast, where a long sandy beach runs round the northern end.
Seal Bay, Barra — About halfway up the west side of Barra, this beach is easy to reach by bus. As the name suggests, seals haul out on the rocks here.
Valtos, Lewis — A remote spot on the west coast of Lewis requiring a car to reach, with a large beach, dunes, and an offshore island. Nearby, the Uig peninsula is where the Uig Chessmen — a set of 12th-century Norse chess pieces, now in the British Museum — were found in 1831.