This windswept archipelago has a wild charm to it. The sea batters the coastline of the main island. The shore, be it rocky and cragged or sandy and smooth, is extremely beautiful, enlivened by birdsong and colourful flora. The islands have archaeolgical treasures, bearing witness to the earliest human inhabitants and the Viking period. The local dialect, festivities and music have a cultural uniqueness which owes as much to Scandinavia as to Scotland.