Ouessant is the southern entrance to the western English Channel, the northern entrance being Land's End in England. Although an island in the Channel, Ouessant is not part of the Channel Islands.

The island comprises a rocky landmass of some 8 km by 3 km (15 square km in total), with only one significant community, the village of Lampaul. Ouessant has a total population of about 800 people.

Ouessant is famous for its maritime past, both as a fishing community and as a key landmark in the Channel approaches. It is named in the refrain of the sea shanty Spanish Ladies:

We'll rant and we'll roar like true British sailors,

We'll rant and we'll roar across the salt seas,

Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England,

From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues.

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