The Western Isles hopes to capitalise on a boost in visitor numbers thanks to a rare solar eclipse this week.
Astro tourists are expected to visit the Outer Hebrides, as well as Orkney, Shetland and the north of the country to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon, due to be visible on Friday morning.
Remoter parts of these regions offer perfect ‘dark skies’ and very little light pollution
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Lewis will be the one of the darkest places in the UK to see the eclipse with 98% of the sun likely to obscured by the moon moves in front of it, casting the Earth into shadow.
A live BBC Stargazing Live television broadcast -
The Callanish Visitor Centre and Cafe will be open from 6am and Stornoway Astronomical Society will hand out 100 pairs of eclipse viewing glasses free of charge to visitors attending the event at Callanish.
Three ships operated by Cruise and Maritime Voyages will be stopping off in Scotland on special solar eclipse voyages, with more than 2,500 passengers heading north to witness the cosmic event.
Alan MacKenzie, island manager at VisitScotland, said: “The solar eclipse is a hugely exciting and rare phenomenon, and Lewis, in particular, is in the right place at the right time. We will have 98% darkness on Lewis during the eclipse so this will be the best place in the whole of the UK in to witness the phenomenon.”
Islands in best spot to see rare eclipse of the sun
17 March 2015