Isle Of Benbecula
Benbecula is an island of the Outer Hebrides, in the Atlantic Sea off the west shore of Scotland. In the 2011 census it had a normally resident population of 1,283, with a substantial percent of Roman Catholics. It forms part of the location provided by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar or the Western Isles Council. The island is about 12 kilometres from west to east and a comparable distance from north to south. It exists in between the islands of North Uist and South Uist; it is connected to both by roadway causeways. Travel to any one of the other Hebridean islands, or to the British landmass, is by air or sea. Benbecula Airport on the island has everyday flights to Glasgow, Stornoway and Barra. A direct solution to Inverness was presented in 2006 but terminated in May 2007. There are no direct ferryboat solutions from Benbecula to the landmass, but a service run by Caledonian MacBrayne from Lochboisdale on South Uist gives a five-hour crossing to Oban on the landmass, whilst one more solution from Lochmaddy on North Uist supplies a two-hour going across to Uig on the Inner Hebridean island of Skye, as well as thus to the mainland by means of the Skye Bridge. Ferry services from the islands of Berneray (linked by embankment to North Uist) as well as Eriskay (linked to South Uist) connect to the various other Outer Hebridean islands of Harris and Barra respectively. There is a thick cluster of lochs throughout almost the entire island, and almost all of the island is listed below 20 metres in altitude.