Have you ever considered working in the Western Isles? Commonly known as the Outer Hebrides, these islands are situated off the North West coast of Scotland. With stunning landmarks and good travel links, this is a fantastic location to work in as a locum doctor. The hospital in the Western Isles is a rural general hospital located in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Stornoway is the main central town of the Western Isles and the capital of Lewis and Harris in Scotland. With a population of around 6,953, this is the largest town in the Outer Hebrides with an area of 3.16 km².

Below, we’ve accumulated just some of the reasons why you should consider working in the Western Isles.

Working as a locum in the Western Isles

    • When working as a locum in the Western Isles, you can get your travel expenses either partially paid for or in most cases, paid for in full. To help with expenses further, your accommodation can sometimes also be partially paid for.
    • Due to the flexibility of being a locum, this gives you a vast amount of time to be able to explore the Western Isles’ hidden treasures and visit some of the outstanding local  destinations in your down time.
    • There is a strong community feel in the Western Isles, making it one of the safest environments in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, the residents of the Outer Hebrides are ranked some of the happiest people in the United Kingdom.

Getting to the Western Isles

We understand that you may not have heard of the Western Isles before or if you have, you may think it’s in the middle of nowhere. We’re here to reassure you that the travel route isn’t as complicated as it may seem and you can get to the Western Isles in a matter of hours!

When travelling from either Gatwick, Heathrow or Luton airport, in just a 90 minute flight you will find yourself in Inverness, Scotland. Then, after a short drive to Ullapool on the mainland, you can then get a 2 hour 45 minute ferry straight to Isle Lewis (which is where the hospital is located). Once aboard the ferry, you will have access to a range of facilities such as their café, bar, bakery, TV lounges and much more to ensure your journey is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

Stunning landmarks to visit

  • Northern Lights – did you know you can see the Northern Lights from certain points of the Western Isles? You can take your pick from Lewis, Harris, Uist or Barra – islands all within the Western Isles. With the right weather conditions, each of those islands will allow you to get a breath-taking and clear view of the Northern Lights.  From these points in the Western Isles, you can also see many other astronomical phenomenon’s such as the Milky Way and the Orion Nebula.
  • Calanais Standing Stones – the Calanais Standing Stones are one of Scotland’s most extraordinary and best-preserved monuments in the country. Erected 5,000 years ago, the Calanais Stones were famous for ritual activity during the Bronze Age and hold great historical importance. You can now visit these cross-shaped stones all year-round for no cost!
  • Lews Castle – this stunning mid-nineteenth century building overlooks the town on Stornoway on the Island of Lewis. With the Lews Castle museum open all year round, the exhibitions on offer to the general public range between a variety of dates that are just unmissable. As well as this, the upper floors of Lews Castle now have luxury apartments and contemporary suites to allow you to stay in this incredible castle overnight.
  • Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris – the Luskentyre beach is the largest and most picturesque beach of all the Harris beaches. With stunning white sand and turquoise water that stretches along a three mile wide estuary, it’s no surprise that this has been rated one of the world’s most impressive and popular beaches to visit in the world.

Are you a locum doctor currently looking for a change or wondering what your next career move could be? Get in touch with a member of our team or check out our new vacancies to find your next dream role in the Western Isles.