Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearWestern Isles school holidays 2026/27
Western Isles's school holidays and term dates for 2026/27, from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Western Isles schools break up for Christmas on Tuesday 22 December 2026 and go back on Tuesday 5 January. For a parent, the best value is Christmas 2026: book 3 days, get 11 off (Fri 25 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027). October holidays 2026 are Fri 9 Oct to Wed 21 Oct 2026 (one week and 4 days), longer than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 10 Oct to Sun 18 Oct 2026 (one week, 11 of 32 councils).
Western Isles school holidays 2026/27
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| October holidaysone week and 4 days, past | 9 to 21 Octback Thu 22 Oct | 9 days → 13 off |
| November mid-term2 days | 27 to 30 Novback Tue 1 Dec | 1 day → 4 off |
| Christmas holidaysone week and 4 days | 23 Dec to 4 Janback Tue 5 Jan | 5 days → 13 off |
| February mid-term3 days | 12 to 16 Febback Wed 17 Feb INSET day | 3 days → 5 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 26 Mar to 11 Aprback Mon 12 Apr | 10 days → 17 off |
| May mid-term2 days | 30 Apr to 3 Mayback Tue 4 May | 1 day → 4 off |
| Summer holidayssix weeks and 2 days | 26 Jun to 10 Augback Wed 11 Aug | 31 days → 46 off |
Training (INSET) days set by the council: Wed 21 Oct 2026 and Wed 17 Feb 2027. Pupils are off. Check with your school: schools set their other training days themselves.
Each row is a month, from the 1st on the left. The yellow stickers are the school holidays.
Term dates 2026/27
| Term | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | Thu 13 Aug 2026 | Tue 22 Dec 2026 |
| Spring term | Tue 5 Jan 2027 | Thu 25 Mar 2027 |
| Summer term | Mon 12 Apr 2027 | Fri 25 Jun 2027 |
The terms between Christmas, Easter and the summer; Scottish councils often number them 1 to 4. Half terms and the other holidays above fall inside them.
How Western Isles compares
- October holidays 2026 are Fri 9 Oct to Wed 21 Oct 2026 (one week and 4 days), longer than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 10 Oct to Sun 18 Oct 2026 (one week, 11 of 32 councils).
- Christmas 2026 is Wed 23 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027 (one week and 4 days), a week later than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027 (two weeks and 1 day, 12 of 32 councils).
- February mid-term 2027 is Fri 12 Feb to Tue 16 Feb 2027 (3 days), longer than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 13 Feb to Tue 16 Feb 2027 (2 days, 8 of 32 councils).
Its Easter holidays and summer holidays match the most common Scottish dates.
Compared with the 32 Scottish councils we have 2026/27 dates for. Every Scottish council side by side.
The best days of leave to book in 2026/27
To be off for every school holiday day in 2026/27 you'd need 61 days of leave, including the council's INSET day. Full-time workers are entitled to at least 28 days a year, and that can include the bank holidays, so most families mix leave with a second parent, family and holiday clubs. These are the holidays where a day of leave goes furthest:
Christmas 2026: book 3 days, get 11 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Easter holidays 2027: book 5 days, get 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Summer holidays 2027: book 4 days, get 9 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
About these dates: Na h-Eileanan Siar. Teachers also have in-service days 10 to 12 August 2026, before pupils start. The October holiday covers the National Mod.
Source: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's term dates page, checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Which schools use these dates
These are Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's dates for its own schools. Independent schools set their own, and some local holidays vary from school to school, so check with your school before you book.
We don't have Western Isles's 2027/28 dates yet. We'll add them once they're published and checked.
Taking children out of school in term time has its own rules: can I take my child on holiday in term time? Work in a school? Teachers and annual leave.
Questions
When do Western Isles schools break up for Christmas 2026?
The last day of term is Tuesday 22 December 2026. The holiday runs Wed 23 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027, and schools go back on Tuesday 5 January 2027.
When are the summer holidays 2027 in Western Isles?
Sat 26 Jun to Tue 10 Aug 2027: six weeks and 2 days off school. The last day of term is Friday 25 June.
What's the best time to book annual leave around the Western Isles school holidays?
Christmas 2026: book Tue 29 to Thu 31 Dec (3 days) and you're off Friday 25 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027, 11 days with the children. Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and 2nd January are bank holidays, so they come free.
How much annual leave do I need to cover the Western Isles school holidays?
61 days in 2026/27, to be off for every school holiday day and the council's INSET days, Monday to Friday. With 25 days of leave that's about 41% of 2026/27.
Do all schools in Western Isles follow these dates?
These are Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's dates for its own schools. Independent schools set their own, and some local holidays vary from school to school, so check with your school before you book.