North Uist, Scotland

Another card from the Western Islands in Scotland and also from Sarah (who doesn't seem to be active on postcrossing anymore :( ). I received this one last year as well, but it's such a lovely card that it definitely deserves a spot here. :)



This card shows Vallay Strand in North Uist. Uist (or The Uists) are the central group of islands in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The Outer Hebrides is a chain of more than 100 islands and small skerries located about 70 kilometres west of mainland Scotland. There are 15 inhabited islands in this archipelago, which is also known as the Western Isles and archaically as the Long Isle.

Lewis and Harris is the largest island in Scotland and the third largest in the British Isles, after Great Britain and Ireland. It incorporates Lewis in the north and Harris in the south, both of which are frequently referred to as individual islands, although they are joined by a land border. The largest settlement in Lewis and in the Outer Hebrides is Stornoway.

The Outer Hebrides had a population of 26,502 in 2001. The area has historically been a strong Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) speaking area. Despite recent declines, in the 2001 census more than 50% of the resident population in each island was able to speak Gaelic, for an overall total of 15,842 speakers throughout the archipelago. The modern economy centres on tourism, crofting, fishing, and weaving, the latter of which includes the manufacture of Harris tweed. The archipelago is exposed to wind and tide, and there are numerous lighthouses as an aid to navigation.