He brides

or Western Islands , a general name for the islands on the west coast of Scotland (save the islands of the Firth of Clyde), about 500 in number, of which 100 are inhabited; they belong to the counties of Ro , Inverne , and Argyll, and are divided by the Little Minch and the Minch into the Outer He brides, of which the chief are Lewis, Harris, North and South Uist, Benbecula, .; and the Inner He brides, including Skye, Rum, Mull, Iona, Staff a, .; they have wild and rocky coasts, but are picturesque and verdurous, and are much frequented by tourists; the climate is mild and moist; cattle and sheep rearing and fishing are the chief industries.