TIME Team star Tony Robinson is encouraging people to visit the islands' archaeological sites.
Best known for his role as Baldrick in Blackadder, Mr Robinson launched VisitScotland's new Archaeological Treasure Trail on Incholm Island last week which includes itineraries for the Outer Hebrides.
He visited the Western Isles back in 2007 with the Time Team to carry out a dig at Allasdale on Barra.
Commenting on the new initiative, he said: "The islands of Scotland are the perfect place to visit during the summer months and this trail is the ideal way to incorporate an archaeological quest into your trip. It doesn't matter how old or young you are, or how much you already know. This is your chance to step back in time and discover 'Scotland's Stonehenge', explore ancient burial monuments and wander through prehistoric villages complete with stone beds, dressers and central hearths. Who knows what else is buried out there just waiting to reveal its treasures and tell us more about our ancestors of old."
New research by Opinion Matters on behalf of VisitScotland reveals that 63 per cent of UK adults have visited an archaeological site.
Natasha Ferguson of the University of Glasgow's Centre for Battlefield Archaeology, which recently discovered that the famous Battle of Prestonpans actually took place 500 metres further east than originally thought, said: "There has definitely been an increase in the number of people showing an interest in archaeology. People love engaging with the past - it sparks the imagination, especially among children. It's all very well people being told about historical events, but having the artefacts in front of them makes them feel they are actually touching the past."
The itineraries for the Western Isles and other Scottish islands feature details of exhibitions and museums, information about recent high-profile finds, popular visitor attractions, listings for local guides and suggestions for walks, accommodation and dining.
Highlights of the trail include the atmospheric Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle and Henge in Orkney, part of The Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site dating back to 3000BC.
The trail will be available to view, along with the downloadable itineraries, online at www.visitscotland.com/perfect until the autumn.
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