Main image

John Hughes CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Hellisay

Island

A small Scottish island in the Outer Hebrides, Hellisay draws birdwatchers, kayakers and sailors seeking rugged coastlines, tidal channels and quiet anchorage rather than developed facilities.

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In this guide

Hellisay essentials

Country: United Kingdom
Driest months: Apr-Jun
Pay in: Pound (£)
Language: English

Hellisay at a Glance

Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Hellisay

Best attempted in summer when small-boat operators run charters from nearby islands; always check tides and weather before setting out.

Summer (Jun-Aug)
June-August · 8-15°C
The mildest weather and the longest daylight; sea conditions are still fickle but visits are most feasible.
Shoulder season (May & Sep)
May and September · 6-12°C
Quieter, with strong chances of rough seas-good for photographers who don't mind dramatic skies.

Weather & Climate near Hellisay

Climate

Hellisay's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 4°C to 15°C. Abundant rainfall (1332 mm/year), wettest in October.

Air Quality: AQI 21 Good
Best Time to Visit
AugustAprilMay
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
19°
Warmest Month
0°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Poor 4° - 8° 1° 146 mm overcast 81% 8.7 m/s 0.0 low 7.1h
February Poor 4° - 8° 1° 105 mm overcast 81% 8.8 m/s 0.1 low 9.2h
March Poor 4° - 8° 1° 112 mm overcast 82% 8.1 m/s 0.3 low 11.6h
April Acceptable 5° - 9° 3° 72 mm overcast 83% 7.0 m/s 0.6 moderate 14.1h
May Acceptable 7° - 12° 6° 61 mm overcast 84% 6.2 m/s 1.0 moderate 16.4h
June Acceptable 9° - 14° 11° 70 mm overcast 87% 6.2 m/s 1.2 high 17.6h
July Acceptable 11° - 15° 13° 86 mm overcast 87% 5.7 m/s 1.1 high 17.0h
August Acceptable 11° - 15° 13° 101 mm overcast 86% 5.7 m/s 0.8 moderate 15.0h
September Poor 10° - 14° 12° 130 mm overcast 85% 6.6 m/s 0.5 low 12.6h
October Poor 8° - 12° 10° 155 mm overcast 83% 7.6 m/s 0.2 low 10.1h
November Poor 6° - 10° 4° 149 mm overcast 81% 7.9 m/s 0.0 low 7.8h
December Poor 5° - 9° 2° 145 mm overcast 81% 8.0 m/s 0.0 low 6.4h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Hellisay

There is no regular public transport to Hellisay. Visits are normally arranged by private boat from islands like Barra or from the larger isles of the Outer Hebrides; small charter skippers operate from Castlebay (Barra) and nearby harbors. Tidal conditions and offshore weather determine feasibility-book a local skipper with up-to-date charts.

Tips for Visiting Hellisay

  • If landing on Barra or South Uist, hire a local skipper-small craft are the only practical way to visit and tides matter.
  • Bring waterproofs and warm layers: weather swings quickly even in summer and the wind off the Atlantic is relentless.
  • Respect private croftland and sheep grazing patterns; many ruined cottages are on fenced farmland and should be admired without crossing stock gates.