The Outer Hebrides or Western Isles, sometimes known as the Long Isle or Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of mainland Scotland. The islands form part of the archipelago of the Hebrides, separated from the Scottish mainland and from the Inner Hebrides by the waters of the Minch, the Little Minch, and the Sea of the Hebrides. The Outer Hebrides are considered to be the traditional heartland of the Gaelic language. The islands form one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, which since 1998 has used only the Gaelic form of its name, including in English language contexts. The council area is called Na h-Eileanan an Iar and its council is Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
Harris is the southern and more mountainous part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Although not an island itself, Harris is often referred to in opposition to the Isle of Lewis as the Isle of Harris, which is the former postal county and the current post town for Royal Mail postcodes starting HS3 or HS5.
Stornoway is the main town, and by far the largest, of the Outer Hebrides, and the capital of Lewis and Harris in Scotland.
Leverburgh is the second largest village, after Tarbert, in Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Leverburgh is within the parish of Harris. In 1971 it had a population of 223.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is the local authority for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It is based in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.
Ceann a' Ghàraidh is the location of the ferry terminal on the south-western side of the island of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It provides a service across the Sound of Barra to Ardmore on the island of Barra The placename literally means "The head of the garden". This location is so called due to the presence of the old crofting boundary walls, which can no longer be seen.
Rainish Eilean Mòr is an uninhabited island in Loch Orasaigh, north of the village of Leurbost in the area of South Lochs on the Isle of Lewis, Lewis and Harris. At 27 hectares in extent, it is one of Scotland's larger freshwater islands, but it is probably the largest relative to the size of the body of water in which it sits, Loch Orasaigh being only about 125 hectares in area.
Elections to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election was the second one using the 9 wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. Each ward elected three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system: a form of proportional representation. A total of 31 Councillors were elected.
Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas was one of the nine wards of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Created in 2007, the ward elected four councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system. As a result of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, the ward was abolished in 2022.
Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch was one of the nine wards of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Created in 2007, the ward elected three councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system. As a result of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, the ward was abolished in 2022.
Sgir’ Uige agus Ceann a Tuath Nan Loch was one of the nine wards used to elect members of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. It elected three Councillors.
Sgìre an Rubha is one of the 11 wards of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Created in 2007, the ward elects two councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system. Originally a three-member ward, the number of members elected in Sgìre an Rubha was reduced following a boundary review and it has elected two councillors since the 2022 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election.
Steòrnabhagh a Deas is one of the 11 wards of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Created in 2007, the ward elects four councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system and covers an area with a population of 4,013 people.
Steòrnabhagh a Tuath is one of the 11 wards of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Created in 2007, the ward elects four councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system and covers an area with a population of 3,748 people.
Loch a Tuath is one of the 11 wards of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Created in 2007, the ward elects three councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system and covers an area with a population of 2,654 people.
An Taobh Siar agus Nis is one of the 11 wards of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Created in 2007, the ward elects three councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system. Originally a four-member ward, the number of members elected in An Taobh Siar agus Nis was reduced following a boundary review and it has elected three councillors since the 2022 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election.
Elections toComhairle nan Eilean Siar took place on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using the single transferable vote (STV) system – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward, and voters rank candidates in order of preference.
Sgìre nan Loch is one of the 11 wards of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Created in 2022, the ward elects two councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system and covers an area with a population of 1,793 people.
Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh is one of the 11 wards of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Created in 2022, the ward elects two councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system and covers an area with a population of 1,820 people.
Na Hearadh is one of the 11 wards of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Created in 2022, the ward elects two councillors using the single transferable vote electoral system and covers an area with a population of 1,795 people.
