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15 Most Amazing Scottish Islands to Visit

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Scotland is a vast country, with a lot to discover, and travelers should be sure to include a few of its many islands in their itineraries. The country has more than 900 different islands, some inhabited and some not, and most can be found off the west coast of Scotland in the Inner Hebrides and Outer Hebrides. Whether you're looking for a cultural experience or to find some of the best beaches around, Scotland has an island for every traveler. From Isle of Skye to St. Kilda, here are the 15 best islands in Scotland.

Isle of Skye

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Arguably Scotland's most famous island, the Isle of Skye is vast, with lots to see and do. The island is accessible by car from Inverness or Glasgow, and features numerous campsites, holiday cottages and small hotels. Don't miss Dunvegan Castle & Gardens, Eilean Donan Castle and the infamous Fairy Pools. There's lots of hiking throughout the island, including the trek to the Old Man of Storr, and the small towns, like Portree, are worth exploring.

Isle of Mull

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Isle of Mull, located off the west coast of Scotland in the Inner Hebrides, is a large island known for its wildlife, outdoor activities and cute small towns. It's accessible by ferry via Oban, Lochaline, and Kilchoan, and can be quite busy during the summer months. Be sure to visit Duart Castle, explore the colorful town of Tobermory and embark on a wildlife tour to spot eagles, seals, and red deer. Book with Mull Magic Wildlife Walks and Tours for a themed outdoor excursion.

Isle of Islay

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Islay, part of the Inner Hebrides, is home to several whiskey distilleries, including Lagavulin and Laphroaig, making it an ideal destination for those looking to enjoy a dram of Scotland's finest. Beyond the distilleries, Islay boasts an annual jazz festival, several golf courses, and opportunities for fishing, cycling, and hiking. The best time to visit is between April and July, and the island is accessible by ferry or plane with flights from Edinburgh and Glasgow. The islands of Jura and Colonsay are nearby, so it's easy to do some island hopping.

Isle of Arran

Travel to the Firth of Clyde to discover the Isle of Arran, a vast island with both mountain peaks and scenic beaches. It's great for those who love the outdoors, but it's equally fun for foodies and culture aficionados, who will enjoy Brodick Castle, the Arran Distillery, and the delicious Island Cheese Company. It's worth staying overnight as the island has several high-end, historic hotels, and it's also a great spot for a few rounds of golf overlooking the firth.

Isle of Jura

Adjacent to the Isle of Islay, the Isle of Jura has only a small population of inhabitants. Visitors come to discover the wildlife, sweeping mountains, and extensive walking and hiking trails. Most come via the Isle of Islay, and you can opt to stay overnight in a holiday cottage or bed-and-breakfast, most of which operate year-round. Be sure to try the whiskey at the Isle of Jura Distillery, and hop on a boat tour to the Corryvreckan Whirlpool, one of the largest permanent whirlpools in the world.

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Iona, a small island in the Inner Hebrides, is known as "the cradle of Christianity" thanks to its history with missionaries. Today you can see the remains of Iona Abbey, founded in 563, and the ancient prayer site of Sìthean Mòr. Visitors to Iona also come in search of its golf, fishing, and hiking, as well as the boat trips available from Iona Pier. It can be a trek to get to Iona, which is accessible via the Isle of Mull by ferry boat. Once on Mull, visitor cars are not allowed, so look into renting bikes once you arrive.

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Found in the Outer Hebrides, Barra has particularly inviting beaches. Even the island's small airport is located on a beach, with flights landing on Traigh Mhor between the tides. Visitors can also jump on a ferry from Oban to Castlebay, the island main town. Be sure to include a trip to Kisimul Castle, the so-called "Castle in the Sea," and a visit to the galleries of Dualchas Heritage Centre on your itinerary. Some of the island's popular beaches include Seal Bay, Halaman Bay, and Tangasdale, but you can't go wrong with any of them. Try your hand at sea kayaking and paddle boarding with Barra Surf and Coastal Adventures , a great way to experience Scotland's outer coast.

Isle of Lewis and Isle of Harris

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Isle of Lewis and Isle of Harris are technically two parts of the same island, easily discovered via ferry from the mainland of Scotland. The island is quite rugged, with lots of hiking trails and wind-swept beaches, however there's also a lot of history to experience around the area. The Calanais Standing Stones, which date back over 5,000 years, should not be missed, and the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village showcases a traditional village (that visitors can actually stay in). There are many beaches to pick from, but travelers should be sure to stroll along Garry Beach in the village of Tolsta, which marks the start of the 10-mile Tolsta Heritage Trail.

Isle of Tiree

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Explore the small island of Tiree, found in the Inner Hebrides, where visitors come for the fishing, camping, and long stretches of quiet beach. It's accessible by ferry or plane, and you will find lots of wide open spaces on the island, which has many historic ruins worth seeing. There are numerous hotels and bed-and-breakfasts scattered around the area, but consider taking advantage of the temperate weather by pitching a tent at Balinoe Campsite (which is best booked in advance). Tiree is also a great place for star gazing thanks to its small population and lack of buildings. Balevullin is a "Dark Sky Discovery Site," but you can get amazing glimpses of the night sky all over the island.

Isle of Eigg

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The Isle of Eigg, one of the smallest Inner Hebrides, might be compact, but it is home to a lot of beautiful sights. Whether you're looking for unoccupied beaches or scenic walks, there's a lot to discover around Eigg's coastline. Take a hike to the peak of An Sgurr, or visit Singing Sands, a quartz beach that "sings" as you walk across it. There are places to stay on the island, though many visitors come just for a day. Arrive by ferry from Mallaig or Arisaig and note that you can't bring a car to the island (like many islands in Scotland), so plan to walk or rent a bike once you're on Eigg.

Great Cumbrae

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Take a short ride on the ferry from Largs to Great Cumbrae, a small island in the Firth of Clyde. The island makes for a great day trip from Glasgow or the surrounding area, or visitors can opt to spend a few days exploring the town of Millport and the scenic coastline. Be sure to check out the Museum of the Cumbraes, the Robertson Museum & Aquarium, and the Sportscotland National Centre for Watersports, where you can try all kinds of watersports, including kayaking and windsurfing. Golfers will also want to book a round or two at the Millport Golf Course, which has views of Ailsa Craig, Bute and the Cowal Peninsula.

St. Kilda is a remote archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, with the largest island being Hirta. It's best known as the home of the U.K.’s largest colony of Atlantic puffins, which is reason enough to visit. The only way to visit St. Kilda is via boat, and there are not a lot of amenities available, so visitors should arrive prepared and wear study shoes and rain gear in case of bad weather. There is a small campground on Hirta, but most travelers come for the day from the outer islands or the Isle of Skye. Be sure to follow all the instructions posted to help preserve the wildlife and natural beauty of St. Kilda.

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Orkney, an archipelago off the northeastern coast of Scotland, features 5,000-year-old Neolithic sites and historic remnants of the Vikings. Don't miss the Ring of Brodgar, the Orkney Fossil and Heritage Centre, and the Standing Stones of Stenness. Orkney also has great hikes, numerous opportunities for wildlife sightings, and places to rent bikes. Getting to the island is easier than it may seem, too. Flights are available from cities all over Scotland, and visitors can also arrive via ferry boat (which allow cars).

Isle of Colonsay

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Located north of the Isle of Islay, the Isle of Colonsay has a tiny population and miles of beaches. Ferries bring visitors to the island from Oban daily, but you can also fly from Connel or Islay on specific days. On the island, explore the Colonsay House Gardens, play a round at the Colonsay Golf Course or walk along the sand at Kilroan Bay, one of the area's prime beaches. Colonsay is also home to several annual festivals, including the Colonsay Food & Drink Festival and the Colonsay Book Festival.

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Shetland is made up of hundreds of islands (only 15 are inhabited) and can be found to the far north of Scotland. Visitors come to the islands by overnight ferry, plane, or cruise ship, and then explore the various areas via inter-island ferries, as well as car and bike rentals. There's a lot to see and do, so you should narrow down your itinerary to focus on a few highlights, which could include historic sites, hiking, and boat tours. You can, of course, see the famous Shetland ponies, who can be found freely roaming the islands.

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24 Best Scottish Islands (List + Map + Tips)

Last updated on November 28, 2023 by Claire Robinson - this article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I get a small commission ( more )

No trip to Scotland can be complete without visiting one of the Scottish islands . But there are so many, which ones to choose? After an introduction about the best Scottish isles, I share a map to get you oriented and the things to do on 24 of the biggest islands. Plus, practical tips to plan your trip.

Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Scotland:

My favorite platform to rent a car in Scotland: DiscoverCars

The unmissable boat tour: Seal spotting on Loch Linnhe from Fort William

My favorite excursion from Edinburgh: Glenfinnan and Glencoe

My favorite places to stay:

• Edinburgh: see best rated hotels – e.g. Balmoral Hotel
• Glencoe: see best rated hotels – e.g. The Glencoe House Hotel
• Portree: see best rated hotels – e.g. The Cuillin Hills Hotel
• Inverness: see best rated hotels – e.g. Kingsmills Hotel

Best Scottish Islands Map

As I was preparing my trip to Scotland, I started researching all the Scottish islands. I spent hours researching and planning. So, I decided to share the results with you, in the hope it will help you too. This article presents 24 of the main islands in Scotland. Let’s start with a map to help you get oriented:

Planning a trip to mainland Scotland with side trips to some islands? Check out my eBooks to help you plan your road trip :

Plan your dream trip in Scotland thanks to my guide

• 15 maps to easily plan your itinerary
• 170+ pre-selected locations
• GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
• Tips to make the most of your time
• 170+ original photos to help you choose

Which Scotland Islands to visit

Scotland has over 790 islands , so of course I am not mapping and listing every single one of them. But the list below includes 24 of the main Scottish isles.

Best Scottish Islands

A solution could be to list only the best islands. But, well, it is really hard to list the best Scottish islands. It really depends on what you enjoy. As you can see for each one in this article, I wrote what they are great for. So, here, I am just going to list the most famous isles and you can read about them further in the article.

• Skye is famous for its iconic landscapes – see my article guide
• Islay … for its whisky distilleries
• Jura … for its pristine environment
• Iona … for its role in Christianity
• Arran … for being the ‘Scotland in Miniature’
• The Shetlands islands … for their remoteness and the ponies
• The Orkneys … for their high number of archaeological sites and their wildlife – see my article guide
• Lewis … for one of the best stone circles and wild beaches
• etc etc etc

About my selection

And for those interested in my choice of Scottish Islands for my own trip: considering the limited time I had, I  decided to spend most of my time on mainland Scotland and only visit Skye and Mainland Orkney. And they both have made it on my Top 5 of Scotland Destinations .

If I had more time, I would have also picked Arran, Jura, Lewis and the Shetland Islands.

Need to rent a car in Scotland?

• Compare prices on my favorite platform:   Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
• Prefer a  compact car  for the single-lane roads
• Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind! 
• Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See all my tips

Best Scottish island tours

If you don’t want to plan and book everything by yourself, companies offer tours specialized on islands, such as:

• the Isle of Skye in 3 days from Edinburgh – check out program & latest prices
• Multi-day Orkney experiences from Edinburgh or Inverness – check out programs & latest prices
• 6 days to cover the Isle of Skye and the Outer Hebrides – check out program & latest prices

SCOTTISH ISLANDS LIST

If you haven’t any ideas yet, you can just scroll this article.  But if you are looking for particular isles, open the menu below and click on the Scottish islands that interests you.

Open Menu for direct links to islands

And keep track of your own trip!

SOUTH INNER HEBRIDES

Isle of arran.

Arran is often considered the little Scotland or Scotland in Miniature with highlands in the North and lowlands in the South. 

Great Island for: Scotland in miniature

Getting to Arran

• Can be visited in 1 day
• Main ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick – 1 hour crossing – Car ferry company: Caledonian Macbrayne Car Ferry
• Less frequent smaller ferry from Claonaig on the Kintyre peninsula to Lochranza – 30 min crossing
• Check out ferry times and prices on Directferries.com

Getting around Arran

• You can take the ferry with your car
• Or you can take the bus between the 3 main Towns 
• One main road circling the island and 1 main road crossing in the center 

Things to do and see

• Stone circles: Auchagallon (15 stones), Machrie Moore (6 tall stones), Moss Farm Road Cairn (mostly covered)
• Landscapes: Glen Chalmadale Valley, Whiting Bay, Lamlash Bay, Drumadoon Bay, 3-hour hike up to the tallest point Goat Fell
• Castles: Lochranza (ruins surrounded by water), Brodick with its garden (open to the public in Summer)
• Balmichael center: fun park and retail store for Island wares
• Remnants of old structure: Kilpatrick Dun, Torr A’Chaisteal fort, Torrylin Chambered Cairn
• Golf course
• Check the  ARRAN island’s website  for more details on the things to do.

Accommodations in Arran

You can find accommodations all around the island: a Mix of Hotels, Guesthouses and B&Bs. For example:

• The Douglas Hotel in Brodick – Check out pictures and prices
• The stunning Butt Lodge in the North of the island – Check out pictures and prices
• or check out accommodation options on the isle of Arran

Called the Queen of the Hebrides, this Scottish island is famous for its beaches, friendly people and whisky distilleries.

Great Island for: Whisky

Getting to and around Islay

• Flight from Glascow
• Ferry from Kennacraig (North of the Kintyre peninsula) to Port Ellen and to Port Askaig – 2h20 crossing – 3 to 4 times a day (2 times on Sunday) – Car ferry company: Caledonian Macbrayne Car Ferry
• Check out Ferry times and Prices on Directferries.com
• Getting around: come by car or take the bus, or hire a car
• Landscapes: good for easy walks: beach, woodland and pastures + views of Jura from Port Askaig, Soldier’s rock
• 8 well known distilleries: by alphabetical order, Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin and Laphroaig
• Museum of Islay Life in Port Charlotte presenting the history of the island
• Finalaggan: loch with 3 islands, one with remains of the 13th century defenses
• Monuments: Kildalton cross, American monument
• 2 RSPB sites (small reserves) near Kinnabus and Lecht Gruinart
• Check the  ISLAY island’s website for more details on the things to do.

Accommodations in Islay

You can find a reasonable selection of accommodations all around the island: a Mix of Hotels, Guesthouses and B&Bs. For example:

• The Glenegedale House in the South – Check out pictures and prices
• The Burnside Lodge at the end of the peninsula – Check out pictures and prices
• or check out accommodation options on the isle of Islay

Jura is considered the island of wildernesses with 3500 deer and half of the island covered by the Jura forest.

Great Island for: Hiking, Landscapes

Getting to and around the Isle of Jura

• To be visited in 1 or 2 day
• Ferry from Tayvallich to Craighouse – less than 1 hour crossing – with Jura Passenger Ferry (not on Wednesdays and only once on Sunday)
• Ferry from Port Askaig (on ISLAY island) to Feolin (at least every hour), short trip possible by car
• Getting around: come by car, take the bus or a private tour with Jura island Tours.
• Hike the Paps of Jura
• Isle of Jura distillery (built by the Campbell’s in 1810)
• Jura house Garden 
• Just walk in the wild and enjoy the wildlife
• Check the  JURA island’s website for more details on the things to do.

Small island west of Jura, it is home to 135 inhabitants and displays sandy beaches and a fertile land.

Great Island for: Beaches, Birdwatching

Getting to and around Colonsay

• Can be visited in 1 or 2 day
• Ferry from Oban – 2h25 hour crossing – Car ferry company: Caledonian Macbrayne Car Ferry (aligned with train from Glasgow)
• or Ferry from the Scottish island of ISLAY
• or Flight from Connel Airport in Oban
• Getting around: come by car, walk or hire a bike from the Colonsay hotel. No public transport
• Boat trips around the island
• Discover the beaches and abundant birdlife, especially on its smaller neighbor Oronsay
• Colonsay House Gardens (open Wednesdays and Fridays)
• Check the  COLONSAY island’s website for more details on the things to do

MULL & IONA

Mull is an island for the whole family with history and nature. Iona is in continuity of its South peninsula and is considered the cradle of Scottish Christianity.

Great Island for: History and communities

Getting to and around Mull and Iona

• Can be visited in 1 or 2 days
• Ferry from Oban (mainland) to Craignure (east of Mull) – 45 minute crossing – Car ferry company: Caledonian Macbrayne Car Ferry
• Ferry from Lochaline (on Morvern peninsula) to Fishnish Pier – short ride – Car ferry company: Caledonian Macbrayne Car Ferry
• Getting around: come by car or take the bus, a taxi or rent a car – Pay attention! Most roads are single lane.
• Check out ferry times and Prices on Directferries.com
• Landscapes: easy hiking in the mountains up to 900m, beaches, Eas Fors Waterfall
• Castles: 6 on the islands: Duart Castle, Torosay Castle, Glengorm Castle, Moy Castle, Dun Ara Castle and Aros Castle
• Standing stones: Circle Lochbuie from the Bronze age and other sets of stones hidden in the forest.
• Geology: Fossil Tree (12m high sea cliffs from cooled lava, walk accessible if you do not have vertigo), cave and Carsaig arches
• Wildlife cruises and wildlife walks
• Aquarium and swimming pool
• Tour to Iona (ferry at Fionnphort) or part of boat tours – chapel, Abbey, Hermit cell and maybe Quarry
• Check the  MULL island’s website  or the  IONA site for more details on the things to do.

Accommodations on Mull

• Sleeping in style at the Glengorm Castle – Check out pictures and prices
• Ardoran House on Iona – Check out pictures and prices
• Or check out accommodation options on the isle of Mull

TIREE & COLL

Tiree is the most westerly island of the Inner Hebrides. It is a flat island often described as a ‘raised beach’. Its neighbor Coll offers peace and quiet with nature walks and stunning beaches.

Great Island for: Beaches and Walking

Accessibility & Planning

• Can be visited in x day
• Ferry from Oban – 4 hour crossing (Stopping first at Coll 3h and then Tiree) – car ferry company: Caledonian Macbrayne Car Ferry
• Or fly from Glasgow or Oban
• Getting around: come by car or take a taxi, hire a bike, Ring’n Ride service on Tiree – your car, a taxi or bike on Coll (no public transportation on Coll)
• Tiree: Skerryvore Lighthouse Museum, Sandaig Museum, walk on the beach or get to Ben Hynish the highest point for views of the island (141 m high at the South point)
• Coll: Standing stones, forts, duns, souterrain as well as beaches and nature walks
• Check the  TIREE website  or the  COLL site for more details on the things to do.

And smaller / less visited Scottish islands of the Inner Hebrides: Herrera, Lismore, Bute, Cumbrae…

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SKYE ISLAND and surroundings

The most famous of all Scottish islands, Skye shall not be missed. With the advantage of being reached via a bridge, you can easily enjoy its iconic landscapes.

Great Island for: Iconic Scenery and wildlife

• Can be visited in 2 to 3 days
• By car via the Skye bridge
• Ferry from Glenelg to Kylerhea or Caledonian Macbrayne Car Ferry from Mallaig to Armadale
• Or Ferry linking it to the Outer Hebrides
• Getting around: come by car or take the bus, taxis or tours
• Landscapes: Old Man of Storr ,  Quiraing , Loch Coruisk and Kilt Rock
• Hiking with fairies at the Fairy Pools or Fairy Glen
• Talisker Distillery
• Several Duns and Cairns and the Castles of Dunvegan, Armadale and Dungaith (ruins)

Check out my detailed guide about the things to do in Skye island , including video, photos, map and accommodation suggestions.

And the Isle of Skye is included in both my travel guide eBooks:

Plan your dream trip to Scotland with my guides!

• 15 easy-to-plan maps
• GPS coordinates 
• Useful planning tips
• 170+ large photos 

• 8 easy-to-plan maps
• 60+ pre-selected locations
• 115+ large photos 

Famous for its pitchstone ridge (the largest in Britain) and singing sands, the island is home to vibrant community and stunning landscapes.

Great Island for: Unique landscapes

• Ferry from Mallaig on the small isles route – 1h30 crossing – ferry company: Caledonian Macbrayne Car Ferry
• In Summer, fast boats from Algol on Skye with Aqua Explore
• Getting around: you cannot come with a car, so discover it on foot or hire a bike near the pier
• The Singing Sands: walk on the beach and listen to the quartz
• An Sgurr, the largest pitchstone in the UK with great views of the islands
• Kildonan Graveyard and the ruins of the chapel
• Grelin abandonner farms and the nearby Massacre and Cathedral caves
• Check the  EIGG website for more details on the things to do.

Rum is a National Nature Reserve with its volcanic natural heritage and abundant bird life.

Great Island for: Hill walks, wildlife

• Ferry from Mallaig to one of the small isles route – 80 min crossing – Car ferry company: Caledonian Macbrayne Car Ferry
• Getting around: on foot or bike
• Accommodations: Hostel and campsite
• Edwardian Castle of Kinloch
• Hill walks and mountaineering including 2 heritage trails
• Admire the wildlife including sea eagles
• Check the  RUM website for more details on the things to do.

CANNA & SANDAY

Boasting stunning scenery, a temperate climate and a sheltered harbor, Canna is the most westerly of the Small Isles of the Inner Hebrides, and also one of the most hospitable.

Great Island for: Beaches and Birdwatching

• Ferry from Mallaig – 2h30 crossing (1 hour after the RUM stop (not everyday) – Car ferry company: Caledonian Macbrayne Car Ferry
• Or via tours from the island of Skye during the summer months
• Seabirds colonies
• Walk to the island of Sanday at low tide (but not the Sanday island from the Orkneys of course)
• Check the  CANNA Island website for more details on the things to do.

And smaller / less visited Scottish islands around Skye… Raasay, Muck, Scalpay, Rona, summer isles

OUTER HEBRIDES

Isle of lewis & harris.

Lewis is the largest island in the Outer Hebrides. It is famous for its pristine white sand beaches and the best prehistoric site in Scotland

Great Island for: Best Stone circle in Scotland, Stunning White sand beaches

• Ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway (3-hour crossing) or from Skye (2h) or North Uist islands (1h) – ferry company: Caledonian Macbrayne Car Ferry
• Fly from Glasgow or Benbeculas via Flyby
• Getting around: come by car or take the bus (good service)
• The Callanish Standing Stones and other monuments such as the Carloway Borch, the Lews castle, the Trussel stone
• White sand beaches including Luskentyre and Borve beaches
• Drive to Harris islands famous for tweed and knitwear
• Check the  LEWIS Island website  and the  HARRIS Island website for more details on the things to do.

Accommodations in Lewis and Harris

• Uig Lodge, right by the beach on the isle of Lewis – Check out pictures and prices
• Amhuinnsuidhe Castle on the South end of Lewis – Check out pictures and prices
• Harris White Cottage on Harris island – Check out pictures and prices
• or check out accommodation options on the isles of Lewis and Harris

NORTH AND SOUTH UIST

North Uist is home to Europe’s largest breeding colony of seals and is also heaven for bird watchers.

Great Island for: Beaches, Wildlife and Birdwatching

• Can be visited in 1 to 2 days
• Ferry from the island of Skye to North Uist (2h crossing) or from Oban to South Uist (6h30 crossing) – car ferry company: Caledonian Macbrayne Car Ferry – or ferry from Harris/Lewis islands
• Or Fly from Glasgow
• Getting around: come by car or take the bus, car hire available
• Barpa Langass, a 5,000-year-old burial chamber and the Langais stone circle
• Landscape: Eaval peak, beaches
• Uist Animal Visitor Centre Farm with rare Scottish breeds such as Eriskay Ponies
• Viewpoint where on a clear day you can see the Monach Islands and supposedly all the way to Saint Kilda
• Check the  NORTH UIST  Island website and the  SOUTH UIST Island website for more details on the things to do.

BARRA & VATERSAY

More white sand beaches and strong community as the most western Outer Hebrides Islands.

Great Island for: Old way of life & Stunning beaches

• Ferry from Oban (5h30 crossing) or from the neighbor island of South Uist (2h crossing) – car ferry company: Caledonian Macbrayne Car Ferry
• Or fly from Glasgow
• Getting around: come by car or take the bus between the main town, car and bike hire
• Vatersay is connected to Barra
• Medieval Castle of Kisimul
• Standing and fallen stones and a dun
• Old settlements, old deserted villages at Balnabodach
• Check the  BARRA Island website for more details on the things to do.

And the many smaller / less visited Scottish islands in the Outer Hebrides… Ericksay, Grimsay, Vatersay, Taransay, Mingulay, Berneray, Benbecula, Baleshare…

ISLANDS OF ORKNEY

Mainland orkney.

Rich in archeological sites, mainland Orkney is a dynamic island with low fertile grounds and abundant wildlife.

Great Island for: Variety

• Can be visited in 2 days
• Ferry from Aberdeen to Kirkwall (7-hour crossing) or from Scrabster to Stromness (2h crossing) – car ferry company: Northland Ferry
• Fly from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen or Inverness
• Getting around: come by car or take the bus (good network) – rent a car or a bike
• Monuments: St Magnus Cathedral, Palaces in Kirkwall, Skara Brae (stone village) and the Broch of Gurness as well as the Ring of Brodgar , Standing Stones of Stenness and Maeshowe (Chambered Tomb)…
• The famous wildlife of the Orkney islands

Check out my detailed guide about the  things to do in Orkney Scotland . The Orkneys are included in my travel guide eBook:

Famous from its huge sea stack, Orkney’s second largest island offers dramatic cliffs and glacial valleys

Great Island for: Coastal landscape

• Various ferries from different islands in the Orkneys
• Getting around: come by car or take the Hail and ride community busses – or hire a bike
• Check out Ferry times and Prices on Dirrectferries.com
• The Old Man of Hoy sea stack (3h return hike from Rackwick)
• Dwarfie stone (5000-year old rock cut tomb)
• Martello tower
• Check the  ORKNEY Islands website for more details on the things to do.

NORTHERN ORKNEY ISLANDS

There are many smaller islands North of Mainland Orkney with different features and history. The main ones are Rousay, Westray and Papa Westray, Sanday

Great Island for: Archeology, Wildlife, Unspoiled environment  

• Various ferries from different islands in the Orkneys (1h to 3h crossings from mainland Orkney)
• Getting around: come by car, car hire, few buses, taxis, bike…
• Rousay: dramatic cliffs, bird colonies and over 150 archeological sites – it is known as the ‘Egypt of the North’
• Westray and Papa Westray: Notland castle, Knap of Howar (farmstead predating the Pyramids), Viking house, heritage center, puffins, rural life
• Sanday: Low-lying island with Beautiful beaches, bays and dunes – Quoyness Chambered Tomb, Start Point Lighthouse…
• Check the  ORKNEY Islands website for more details on the things to do.

And the many smaller / less visited Scottish islands in Orkney… Flotta, Shapinsay, Burray, Eday, Stronsay, Papa Stronsay, North Ronaldsay and South Ronaldsay

SHETLAND ISLANDS

Mainland shetland.

The Shetland Scottish Islands are a subarctic archipelago North of Scotland. Its main isle is called Mainland. Archeological sites, Cliffs, wildlife, fort, Mainland has it all.

Great Island for: Variety and remoteness

• Can be visited in 2 or 3 days
• Overnight ferry from Aberdeen (14h) or 7-hour ferry from the Orkney Islands with Northlink Ferry
• Flight from Glasgow and other major cities
• Getting around: main city is Lerwick – rent a car or use the good public transportation system
• Archeology: Settlements of Jarlhoh and Scatness, Clickimin Broch
• Landscapes: cliffs of Eshaness, beaches
• Monument: Scalloway castles Fort Charlotte
• Check the SHETLAND Islands website for more details on the things to do.
• You can also check Migrating Miss’s article about the reasons to visit the Shetland islands .

Accommodations in the Shetland islands

• Scalloway hotel, nor far from Lerwick – Check out pictures and prices
• Maryfield House Hotel in the town of Lerwick – Check out pictures and prices
• Drumquin Guest House in the North of mainland – Check out pictures and prices
• Or check out accommodation options on the Shetland Islands

Yell is the largest of the Shetland’s North Isles and is known for its wildlife, especially skuas and otters thanks to the low-lying shoreline.

Great Island for: Wildlife

• Inter-Island Ferry from Toft in Mainland Shetland to Ulsta operated by the Shetland Islands Council
• Getting around: come by car – some busses between the main towns. Taxis also available.
• Old Haa Museum
• Go watch otters
• Check the  Shetland Islands website for more details on the things to do.

Unst is the northernmost large island of Scotland and is being developed as a great walking destination.

Great Island for: Landscape, birdwatching, coastal trails

• Inter-Island Ferry from Gutcher in Yell to Belmont operated by the Shetland Islands Council
• Getting around: come by car – some busses between the main towns. Taxis also available. Organized tours can be a good option.
• Landscapes: cliffs of Hermaness, beaches such as Skaw, farmland
• Stony desert with unique flowers (if you are there at the right season)
• Shetland ponies
• Birdwatching
• Check the  SHETLAND Islands website for more details on the things to do.

And the many smaller / less visited scottish islands in the Shetland… Papa Stour, Bressay, Isle of Noss, Walsay, Fetlar Muckle Roe, Foula Island, Buray…

REMOTE SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Located between the Orkneys and the Shetland Scottish islands, the isolated Fair Isle is famous for birds, knitwear and shipwrecks.

Great Island for: Cliffs, Knitwear, birdwatching

Getting to Fair isle

• Fly in or get onboard the mailboat for 2h30 coming from the Shetland Islands
• Getting around: bike! it is just 5km long and 3km wide
• Just explore the whole isle
• Take your time to enjoy birdwatching
• Check the  FAIR ISLE website  or its section on the  Shetland Island Website for more details on the things to do.

SAINT KILDA

Saint Kilda is an isolated archipelago West of the Outer Hebrides. The largest island is Hirta. It is one of the remotest parts of Great Britain. It was evacuated n 1930

Great Island for: Cliffs, Birdwatching

Getting to Saint Kilda

• Day trips with tour companies from Harris and Lewis islands
• Car ferry company: Caledonian Macbrayne Car Ferry
• Getting around: on foot – there are no roads
• Admire the cliffs and sea stacks
• Discover the history of this isolated place and the few archeological sites
• It is a Unesco World Heritage site
• Check the  SAINT KILDA website for more details on the things to do.

Want to see more of the best Scotland has to offer?

• Most beautiful landscapes in Scotland – read article
• Best things to do in Scotland – read article
• Best Scotland destinations – where to go? – read article
• Best Scottish Castles – read article
• Most beautiful lochs in Scotland – read article
• Most scenic drives in Scotland – read article
• The magnificent Isle of Skye –  read my best-of guide
• The magnificent Wester Ross region –  read article
• The Borders Abbeys including  Melrose Abbey  and the photogenic  Jedburgh Abbey

Planning a trip to Scotland?  

Check out my travel guide to help you plan:

Want to see more of Scotland’s beauty?

SCOTLAND ACCOMODATIONS

SCOTLAND ITINERARIES

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Reader Interactions

May 8, 2016 at 11:39 PM

Walking around the Isle of Skye is very high on my ‘burning desire’ list! I can’t wait to see how you like it and to see your photos Claire.

May 9, 2016 at 10:14 AM

Thanks Melinda. I am looking forward to Skye. I just need to decide which walks I am going to do and if I am also planning a boat tour. I will for sure share a lot of pictures 🙂

June 1, 2019 at 11:29 AM

Wow thank you very much for all the wondrful info, Planning a Scottish islands trip , this is perfect information.😎

June 2, 2019 at 7:55 AM

Excellent. Glad you found it useful Have a great trip!

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Best Scottish islands to visit

Book your individual trip , stress-free with local travel experts

• roughguides.com
• a-guide-to-the-best-scottish-islands

written by Helen Ochyra

updated 19.06.2019

If asked to guess, how many islands would you say there are in Scotland ? A few dozen perhaps, or a couple of hundred? Would you raise an eyebrow if we told you it’s actually more than 700? And that Scotland has more than 10% of Europe’s entire coastline? That’s a lot of islands to explore – and a whole lot of ferry journeys. So, which ones are worth crossing the seas to see? Here’s our guide to the finest Scottish islands.

1. For history: Mainland, Orkney Islands

2. for walking: arran, 3. for food: skye, 4. for whisky: islay, 5. for a leisurely exploration: the isle of mull, 6. best scottish islands for birdwatching: treshnish isles, 7. for mountains and beaches: lewis and harris, 8. for fishing: south uist & north uist, 9. for outdoor activities: inchmurrin island, 10. for distilling tours: raasay.

The information in this article is inspired by The Rough Guide to the Scottish Highlands & Islands , your essential guide for visiting Scottish islands.

Tailor-made travel itineraries for Scotland, created by local experts

20 days  / from 3018 USD

The Great British Road Trip

Get ready to explore Britain on this unique self-drive road trip. Choose the car of your liking before you hit the road: from the Cotswolds and its picturesque villages over the Beatle's favorite hang-out in Liverpool to Scotland's capital Edinburgh: this trip includes many highlights to be explored

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Festive Feelings around Christmas in Scotland

Experience the magic of Christmas in the heart of the Scottish Highlands! Lovely Christmas Markets and winter festivals await visitors during the winter months, but this itinerary can also be turned into a summer festival hop!

11 days  / from 1079 USD

Scotland's Wildest Natural Scenery

Want to lose yourself in Scotland's wildest natural scenery? This itinerary is a breath of fresh air and perfect to explore the most enchanting landscapes of the Highlands. It will allow you to get to know the wildest landscapes of Scotland, its fast-paced history and its amazing traditions.

Tailor-made trips for   Scotland

To an Orkney islander “mainland” does not mean Scotland, but the largest among Scottish islands in this archipelago. This is where you’ll find one of Europe’s most important UNESCO World Heritage sites – the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. This monument harks back to the prehistoric era, and you can stand among ancient stone circles or even lay a palm on a prehistoric monument at the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar.

You can delve further into the life of a Neolithic community at the surprisingly modern-looking Skara Brae. Each sunken dwelling here has stone beds, dressers and seats; add a roof and you could live in these homes today – albeit uncomfortably. The settlement dates back some 5000 years and was only uncovered by a storm in 1850, hence its excellent condition.

Nearby, Maeshowe is not to be missed. This is the finest building of its time in northwest Europe, a masterpiece of Neolithic design and stonework – also some 5000 years old. Enter the grassy mound and find yourself inside a perfectly constructed tomb, made in part with whole stone slabs weighing up to three tonnes.

The experience is truly magical, especially for three weeks before and after the winter solstice when sunlight floods the tomb each day at sunset, illuminating, in more ways than one, the intelligence of Neolithic man.

Where to stay on Orkney Islands

• For B&B: Ardconnel Bed and Breakfast
• For rural setting: The Old Smokery

Find more accommodation options to stay on Orkney Islands

Ring of Brodgar, Orkney Islands © Jule_Berlin/Shutterstock

A well-worn cliché it may be, but Arran ’s moniker “Scotland in miniature” sums it up: Arran is part Highland drama, part Lowland lushness. The Highland Boundary Fault runs right through this chunky island, a dramatic granite ridge that dominates the landscape and provides plenty of great hiking .

The temptation is always to head straight up to Goatfell , the highest peak on the island at 874 metres, and it's well worth doing if you’re fit enough and the weather is behaving. It takes about five hours from Brodick Castle, the most popular ascent starting point, and involves steep but fairly straightforward terrain. The view is an apt reward for the physical exertion; you even can see Ireland from here on a clear day.

Alternatively, hike the Isle of Arran Coastal Way, which runs around the island for 65 miles, taking in sandy beaches and cliffs, caves and waterfalls, on its rambling circular route around the coastline. This six-day hike is the best way to get to know one of the most beautiful Scottish islands.

Where to stay on Arran Island

• For couples: Ormidale Hotel
• For boutique stays: The Douglas Hotel

Find more accommodation options to stay on Arran Island

Cir Mhor Saddle, Arran, Scottish Islands © James Linighan/Shutterstock

Scotland’s larder groans with exquisite shellfish, quality meats and tasty cheeses – and Skye has some of the very finest on its doorstep and around its coastline.

The best restaurant on the island is acknowledged far and wide to be the Three Chimneys , which has twice been included in Restaurant Magazine ’s world’s top fifty restaurants list and has a loyal following. A small building by the sea, it may not look much from the outside but miss it at your peril, for here you will find chubby scallops the size of a fist, the sweetest lobster and oysters dragged from the water just hours before.

Indulge in the Isle of Skye showcase menu here for a mouthwatering, eight-course introduction to the island’s produce before heading out around its dramatic landscape to feast on fresh local lamb, Skye-smoked fish, wild raspberries and the island’s whisky, Talisker.

On this tailor-made Highland Tour , you will discover the beautiful region of Perthshire, the famous Loch Ness and Inverness – the capital of the Highlands. Get a chance to admire Europe’s oldest mountain, stroll along the sandy beaches of the Scottish islands, and visit the mysterious Isle of Skye.

Where to stay on Skye

• For stunning views: Skeabost View Pods Skye
• For location: Tingle Creek Hotel

Find more accommodation options to stay on Skye

Old man Storr, Skye, Scotland © AdamCh/Shutterstock

Far be it from us to name Scotland’s best whisky (frankly, we wouldn’t dare), but Islay can lay an assured claim to being one of the leading Scottish islands when it comes to a wee dram.

On the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides islands, you’ll find eight distilleries, most located around the coastline. The three southern distilleries are perhaps the most famous – Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig – and make use of the local peat to produce full-flavoured whiskies with glass-filling smokiness.

All three offer distillery tours where you can learn the age-old secrets of traditional whisky production. However, savouring their produce is best-done fireside at the Ballygrant Inn’s whisky bar where the drinks menu runs some 300, dozens of them from Islay itself.

Where to stay on the Isle of Islay

• For coastline and beaches: The Islay Hotel
• For tranquil stays: Dha Urlar

Find more accommodation options to stay on the Isle of Islay

Scotch whisky-barrels, Islay island, Scotland © Rebecca Schochenmaier/Shutterstock

Related articles from the blog

The second largest of the Inner Hebrides, Mull is by far the most accessible: just forty minutes from Oban by ferry. As so often, first impressions largely depend on the weather – it is the wettest of the Hebrides (and that’s saying something) – for without the sun the large tracts of moorland, particularly around the island’s highest peak, Ben More (3169ft), can appear bleak and unwelcoming.

There are, however, areas of more gentle pastoral scenery around Dervaig in the north and Salen on the east coast, and the indented west coast varies from the sandy beaches around Calgary to the cliffs of Loch na Keal.

The most common mistake is to try and “do” the island in a day or two: flogging up the main road to the picturesque capital of Tobermory, then covering the fifty-odd miles between there and Fionnphort, in order to visit Iona. Mull is a place that will grow on you only if you have the time and patience to explore; a couple of nights here at least is recommended.

Where to stay on the Isle of Mull

• For sea views: Western Isles Hotel
• For location: Isle Of Mull Hotel and Spa

Find more accommodation options to stay on the Isle of Mull

Isle of Mull © Shutterstock

Northwest of Staffa lie the Treshnish Isles, an archipelago of uninhabited volcanic islets, none more than a mile or two across. The most distinctive is Bac Mór, shaped like a Puritan’s hat and popularly dubbed the Dutchman’s Cap. Lunga, the largest island, is a summer nesting place for hundreds of seabirds, in particular guillemots, razorbills and puffins. The last of these are the star attraction, and, for many, the main reason for visiting.

It’s also a major breeding ground for seals. The two most northerly Scottish islands, Cairn na Burgh More and Cairn na Burgh Beg, have remains of ruined castles, the first of which served as a lookout post for the Lords of the Isles and was last garrisoned in the Civil War. Cairn na Burgh Beg hasn’t been occupied since the 1715 Jacobite uprising.

This tailor-made trip to Scotland's Wildest Natural Scenery is a breath of fresh air and perfect to explore the most enchanting landscapes of the Highlands. It will allow you to get to know the wildest landscapes of Scotland, its fast-paced history and its amazing traditions.

Puffins @ Shutterstock

Shaped rather like the top of an ice cream cone, Lewis is one of the largest Scottish islands. You’ll find the best-preserved prehistoric remains on this coast – Dun Carloway (Dùn Charlabhaigh) and the Callanish standing stones.

The landscape is mostly peat bog – hence the island’s Gaelic name, from leogach (marshy) – but the shoreline is more dramatic, especially around the Butt of Lewis, the island’s northernmost tip. To the south, where Lewis is physically joined with Harris, the land rises to over 1800ft, providing an exhilarating backdrop for the excellent beaches that pepper the isolated western coastline around Uig.

Harris, whose name derives from the Old Norse for “high land”, is much hillier, more dramatic and much more immediately appealing than Lewis , its boulder-strewn slopes descending to aquamarine bays of dazzling white sand. The shift from Lewis to Harris is almost imperceptible, as the two are, in fact, one island, the “division” between them embedded in a historical split in the MacLeod clan, lost in the mists of time.

Nowadays, the dividing line is rarely marked even on maps; for the record, it comprises Loch Resort in the west, Loch Seaforth (Loch Shìphoirt) in the east, and the six miles in between. Harris itself is more clearly divided by a minuscule isthmus, into the wild, inhospitable mountains of North Harris and the gentler landscape and sandy shores of South Harris.

Where to stay on Lewis and Harris Islands

• For Harris: Dunarain Bed & Breakfast
• For Lewis: Lews Castle

The Rough Guides to Scotland and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

Find more accommodation options to stay on Lewis and Harris Islands

Lewis Island in Scotland © Shutterstock

Compared to the mountainous scenery of Harris, North Uist – seventeen miles long and thirteen miles wide – is much flatter and for some comes as something of an anti-climax. Over half the surface area is covered by water, creating a distinctive peaty brown lochan-studded “drowned landscape”. Most visitors come here for the trout and salmon fishing and deerstalking, all of which are critical to the survival of the economy.

Others come for the smattering of prehistoric sites, the birds, the otters, or the sheer peace of this windy isle and the solitude of North Uist’s vast sandy beaches, which extend along the north and west coasts.

South Uist is the largest and most varied of the southern chain of Scottish islands. The west coast boasts some of the region’s finest machair and beaches – a necklace of gold and grey sand strung twenty miles from one end to the other – while the east coast features a ridge of high mountains rising to 2034ft at Beinn Mhòr. There are few places to stop for food and drink until you get to the south of the island

A cottage perched on the Isle of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland © Shutterstock

Inchmurrin Island is a lake island on the freshwater lake of Loch Lomond. It is about 1 mile long and about half a mile wide and is located at the lake's southern end. The island is part of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

Inchmurrin Island is popular with visitors for its natural beauty and serenity, as well as plenty of options for outdoor activities. Here you can enjoy hiking, fishing, boating and wildlife watching.

There is also a hotel and restaurant on Inchmurrin Island, giving visitors the opportunity to stay on the island and fully enjoy their stay. The island can be reached by boat, with regular ferry services operating from several points along Loch Lomond.

Inchmurrin Island on Loch Lomond, Scotland © Shutterstock

The hilly, fourteen-mile island of Raasay (Ratharsair) – meaning “Isle of the Roe Deer” – sees few visitors. Yet in many ways, it’s the ultimate Skye escape, with plenty of walks and rich flora and fauna, including golden eagles, snipe, orchids and the unique Raasay vole, not to mention the castaway thrill of a small island. Most visitors come on foot – if you come by car, be aware there’s no filling station.

The ferry docks in Churchton Bay, near Inverarish, the island’s tiny village set within thick woods on the southwest coast. The chief attraction here is the Isle of Raasay Distillery, a state-of-the-art facility which began distilling in 2017. You can partake in one of three different tours; the views from here are fantastic. You can stay here, too, at Borodale House .

Raasay Island in Scotland © Shutterstock

Ready for a trip to Scotland ? Check out the snapshot of The Rough Guide to Scotland or The Rough Guide to the Scottish Highlands & Islands .

If you prefer to plan and book your trip to Scotland without any effort and hassle, use the expertise of our local travel experts to make sure your trip will be just like you dream it to be.

We may earn commission from some of the external websites linked in this article, but this does not influence our editorial standards - we only recommend services that we genuinely believe will enhance your travel experiences.

Helen Ochyra is a Scotland-obsessed freelance travel writer and author of the critically acclaimed Scottish travel book "Scotland Beyond the Bagpipes", a Times Travel “book of the week” and one of Wanderlust’s “best travel books of 2020”. Helen specialises in British travel and is currently studying towards a Masters in British Studies at the University of the Highlands and Islands. Helen's work has recently appeared in the Times, the Telegraph and Grazia among many others. She lives in London with her husband and two young daughters.

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Best Scottish Islands for your Scotland trip (+ map and tips)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: December 13, 2023

Discover the beautiful islands of Scotland in our complete guide and decide which to include in your Scotland itinerary with our practical tips and information.

Your suitcases are open and ready to be packed, you’ve got all the time off you need and now you’re ready to plan that trip of a lifetime. The question is…where do you want to go?

The possibilities seem endless. Does strolling along a white sandy beach with turquoise water lapping at your toes sound pretty good? Of course, it does.

What about lacing up those hiking boots and powering your way up a mountain or two? Amazing!

You could also visit a remote region with a rich cultural heritage and then take a deep dive into thousands of years of their history.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a destination where all three of those travel dreams could become a reality?

Pack your bags and visit Scotland for an island-hopping getaway.

Do you dream of visiting the Scottish islands? Unsure of planning your visit independently? Why not take a tour and have the logistics sorted for you? We recommend Rabbie’s award-winning tours including this 17-day island hopping extravaganza which includes Skye, Iona, Orkney & the Outer Hebrides or this 3 day Orkney Explorer tour.

⭐️ Click here for more great tours of Scotland from Rabbie’s

How to choose the best Scottish islands for your trip

Islands of the clyde, shetland islands, orkney islands, the inner hebrides , the outer hebrides , northern orkneys, which of these best scottish islands will feature in your scotland itinerary.

When people think about visiting Scotland , they tend to forget about its islands — 94 are inhabited and 24, in particular, offer a range of sights and activities that will satisfy anyone’s wildest vacation aspirations.

Each has its own character. Most have a wide variety of wildlife and some can boast the best bird watching the world has to offer.

If you like gorgeous scenery, rugged coastlines, moody moors and tranquil beaches, then you won’t do much better. Add in a little whisky sampling, storytelling, epicurean delights and archaeological intrigue to the mix as well.

Whether you have a week or a month, deciding to spend your holidays on the Scottish islands is an easy choice to make. The complication is deciding which islands to visit.

Take the time to consider each group of islands, what they have to offer and which ones will be the right fit for you and your family’s ultimate Scottish adventure.

Introduction to the Scottish Island Groups

On the western coast of Scotland, in the Firth of Clyde, there is a small island group called the Islands of Clyde .

Though there are 40 islands, only four are populated and of those, Bute and Arran are the best known. They may not be as famous as other islands of Scotland but don’t count them out — they’re easy to reach and just as charming.

Arran is often called “Scotland in miniature” and has a little bit of everything Scottish including its own highlands and lowlands.

Bute is smaller and fun to explore, offering dramatic coasts, history and a variety of wildlife.

For those with limited time, the Islands of the Clyde may prove to be your best bet.

You’ll find the Shetland Islands between Scotland and Norway.

There are over 100 islands but only 15 are inhabited, with Mainland, Yell, Unst and Fair Isle being the most well-known. They all share dramatic scenery, like awe-inspiring jagged cliffs and cosy sheltered beaches.

The wildlife varies from seabirds to seals and of course, those famous Shetland ponies.

The culture and history go back thousands of years — the Shetlands were a favourite destination for Viking invasions. It may be a trek to get there but one that is well worth the effort.

If you’re looking to travel to islands off the north coast of Scotland, you won’t go wrong visiting the very popular Orkney Islands.

There are 70 islands, some uninhabited while others have a sparse population. Mainland and Hoy are most popular to visit but so are the Northern Orkney Isles if you’re after some peace and quiet.

No matter where you go, you’ll find dramatic sea cliffs atop churning seawater and ancient archaeological sites like standing stone circles that are older than Stonehenge .

Don’t forget the sea stacks — those gravity-defying geological formations that rise, Jenga-like, out of the sea.

The Inner Hebrides are an incredibly popular collection of islands off the Scottish coast and some of the best Scottish islands for wildlife. Some are impossibly beautiful while others are rugged and sparsely populated.

Whether you’re after magical landscapes, varied wildlife or turbulent history, you won’t run out of things to do.

Explore castles , scale mountains, hike along the coast and discover some of the best bird watching in the world.

Don’t forget about the scotch — some of the world’s best are crafted in the Inner Hebrides.

You could spend days island hopping within the Inner Hebrides and never do the same thing twice!

Looking for beautiful Scottish Islands? Off the northwest coast of Scotland, beyond the Inner Hebrides, you’ll find the Outer Hebrides.

There are 119 islands in total but only five are inhabited, including Lewis, Harris, North and South Uist and Barra.

They are full of surprises. Who would expect sugary white sand beaches with turquoise water? Cliffs, heather-covered moors, not to mention a rich Gaelic culture.

Whether you’re looking for an active, outdoor vacation or a tranquil place to kick back, the Outer Hebrides has something for everyone.

Of all Scotland’s islands, the Isle of Arran is almost like a miniature version of Scotland. Dramatic windswept glens, castles, mountains, cultural heritage with some golf thrown in for good measure.

It’s hard to do everything in a single visit but start with Lochranza Castle — its creepy underground prison is a must-do. Steady your nerves at the Arran Distillery and then seek out other local favourites like traditional oatcakes or Arran’s artisan cheese.

If the great outdoors is your passion, take a stroll along the coast — you may spot a soaring golden eagle or a seal playing near the shoreline.

If you’re really motivated, climb all 2,866 feet of Goatfell , the tallest mountain in Arran.

• Food and drink
• Outdoor adventure
• Water sports

How to get there: There’s a ferry across the Firth of Clyde from Ardrossan. How to get around: By car, bus or bicycle. How long to stay: You could easily spend a few days exploring Arran.

Bute is the smaller of the two Islands of Clyde. You’ll disembark from the ferry in the charming port town of Rothesay. Its Victorian promenade features ice cream shops and old-school pubs as well as stylish boutiques and esoteric bookshops.

Find The Discovery Centre — it has a wealth of information and history about Bute. For architecture buffs, Mount Stuart is a Gothic-style mansion with impressive grounds.

Outside of the town, craggy moors and windy glens will be a hiker’s delight. On the southern part of the island, the ruins of St. Blane’s Chapel and its creepy graveyard are just waiting to be explored. Don’t forget to look up, you’ll be treated to stunning views of Arran.

• History & heritage
• Nature & wildlife

How to get there: From Wemyss Bay, Bute is a short ferry ride across the Firth of Clyde. How to get around: By car, bus or bicycle. How long to stay: Plan to spend a day or two.

Mainland is the largest island in the Shetlands. Lerwick , Mainland’s busy fishing port, has a population of 7,500 and offers many big-city amenities like restaurants, bars and clubs.

Walk along its historic waterfront and then visit the Shetland Museum for a dose of local history, mythology, geology and culture.

On the island’s southern end, you’ll find Sumburgh Head Lighthouse , Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve. Tour the lighthouse or just marvel at the view.

In the north, the volcanic cliffs of Eshaness are dark and mysterious and one of the most dramatic sights on the island.

How to get there: Nightly ferries leave from Aberdeen. There are also flights from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Inverness, Edinburgh or Kirkwall. How to get around: Car, rental car or limited bus service. How long to stay: If you use Mainland as a base to explore other islands, you could easily spend several days there.

At 82 square miles, Yell is the largest of the Northern Isles and has a population of just under 1,000. Its coasts are alive with seabirds, otters and seals.

If you’re lucky, you’ll be greeted by Shetland ponies at the pier. Make time for the Old Haa Museum . It has island artifacts, local whaling history, a tearoom and a gift shop.

Then, seek out the White Wife of Queyon , a ghostly figurehead from the ship Bauhaus, lost in 1942. Also, if you’re brave, Windhouse is a ruined 18th-century manor home that is considered to be the most haunted house in Shetland.

• Nature and wildlife

How to get there: There’s a car ferry from Mainland. How to get around: Car and limited bus service. How long to stay: A day trip to Yell is ideal.

Looking for jagged cliffs, a rocky shoreline and Shetland ponies? Then it’s time to visit Unst, the UK’s northernmost inhabited island.

Only 12 miles long and 5 miles wide, you’ll probably see those world famous Shetland ponies munching grass by the roadside.

Unst has walking paths that snake through its sprawling grasslands, moors, peat bogs and along the shore.

At the Hermaness National Nature Reserve at the northwestern tip of the island, you can see a variety of seabirds, arctic alpine plants and unique blooms.

Visitors shouldn’t miss the Shetland’s only museum, Unst Boat Haven . Learn about the island’s history and the fisherman who have called it home for generations.

How to get there: From Mainland Shetland, you’ll need to take two ferries. How to get around: Car, bicycle (rentals available) and limited bus service. How long to stay: You can do a day trip but spending the night will leave you less rushed.

Tiny Fair Isle is the most remote inhabited island in the UK. It’s only 3 miles long and 1 ½ mile wide and sits between the Orkney and Shetland Islands.

It’s breathtakingly beautiful, like a verdant green jewel peppered by a few simple white cottages. There are 70 inhabitants, many of whom make their living producing traditional hand-knitted sweaters.

Fair Isle is a bird-watching paradise. Its jagged shore and steep cliffs provide excellent habitat for some of the most elusive seabirds on earth.

The Fair Isle Bird Observatory is a must-visit — even non-birdwatchers will be amazed by their fascinating scientific work.

How to get there: There is a 12-passenger ferry from the Shetlands southern tip. There is also an 8-seater plane that leaves from Tingwall Airport but flights are often rescheduled for the weather. How to get around: Bicycle or walking. How long to stay: Given that it’s one of the most difficult islands in Scotland to get to, plan to spend at least a few days.

Mainland is the largest of the Orkney Islands and makes a great base for exploring the other islands.

Kirkwall, its main city, has been a trading centre since the 11th century. Today, it has theatres, restaurants and a choice of accommodations. St. Magnus Cathedral is there as are shops with local crafts, jewellery and clothing.

For a wee dram, visit Highland Park, the northernmost distillery in the UK. In 1999, Mainland was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its archaeological treasures like the ancient Ring of Brodgar , a 5000-year-old stone circle and Skara Brae , the ruins of a stone age settlement.

READ MORE – Things to do on Orkney

• History and Heritage

How to get there: There are flights from Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen or Edinburgh. There are multiple ferries, one of which is from Aberdeen. How to get around: Car, bus or taxi. How long to stay: You could easily spend several days exploring Mainland. If using it as a base to explore other islands, plan on several more days.

The Vikings named Hoy “High Island” because it rises up out of the sea. Its dramatic cliffs, glacial valleys and heather-covered moors create a landscape of other-worldly beauty.

The Orkney Islands are known for sea stacks, and Hoy has the UK’s largest — The Old Man of Hoy. At 450 feet, it towers over the churning Atlantic. If you’re a walking enthusiast, take the path along Rackwick Bay to see the Old Man. It’s a five-mile, uphill journey but well worth it.

For something less strenuous, visit the RSPB nature reserve — 10,000 acres of gorgeous country and a bird nesting and migrating site.

How to get there: There is a car ferry from Houton and a passenger ferry from Stromness. How to get around: Car or walking. How long to say: Hoy is perfect for a day trip.

If you’re in Kirkwall and want to explore Scotland’s undiscovered country, take a ferry to one of Orkney’s North Isles. It’s nature in its most unspoiled state. Dramatic coastlines, windswept moors and an amazing array of wildlife, there are also historical and archaeological sites.

Sanday, Eday and Stronsay are the larger islands. Westray, Papa Westray and North Ronaldsay are smaller and even more remote. All have limited, no-frills accommodations available. If you’ve ever wanted to see seaweed eating sheep, North Ronaldsay is the place for you.

How to get there: Take a ferry from Kirkwall to any or all of these islands. You can also travel in between islands. How to get around: Car or bicycle. How long to stay: You could spend a few hours or a few days on each island.

Inner Hebrides

Attention whisky aficionados — Islay is known as Scotland’s whisky coast. It’s the local peat that gives the Islay single malts their famous smoky richness. There are eight distilleries on Islay to visit, so get ready. Still, there is more to Islay than just the whisky.

It’s the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides and one of the larger Scottish islands at 240 square miles. In Port Ellen , you’ll see the Carraig Fhada Lighthouse.

Portnahaven, a picturesque fishing village on Islay’s southwestern tip, is a great place to catch a glimpse of a seal. Toward the north, visit the Old Parish Church of Kildalton and see the Kildalton Cross — an 8th century carved Celtic cross.

How to get there: There is a car and passenger ferry from Kennacraig into Port Ellen. There are also two flights a day from Glasgow. How to get around: Car, car rental, bus and bicycle (rental available.) How long to stay: You could easily spend several days exploring Islay.

Mull is one of the best Scottish islands to visit because of its gorgeous landscapes, historical sites and diverse wildlife.

Tobermory , its largest town, makes for a picturesque scene with its colourful buildings overlooking the waterfront. It’s also home of the Tobermory Distillery, one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland.

Castle buffs should seek out Duart Castle , perched atop a cliff overlooking the Sound of Mull. It has a 13th-century keep, state room, banquet halls and hair-raising dungeons.

For the mountain climbers in your party, tackle Ben More —the only Munro (mountain over 3,000 feet) outside of the Isle of Skye. Calgary Beach is also lovely with its white-sand beaches and plenty of space for a relaxing walk next to the sea.

How to get there: Ferries cross to the island at three points: Oban, Lochaline and Kilchoan.  How to get around: Car, car rental, taxi and limited bus service. How long to stay: You should at least spend one day, maybe two.

The Isle of Skye is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations and unquestionably one of the most beautiful Scottish islands.

With breathtaking scenery and rugged landscapes, Skye has easy access to the mainland of the Scottish Highlands thanks to the Skye Bridge that spans Loch Alsh. Portree, Skye’s main village, has a harbour lined with pastel-coloured buildings, perfect for Instagram-able moments.

Don’t forget to check out the Old Man of Storr , a rocky hill that juts into the Scottish sky like a blade.

Drive along the Trotternish loop for some of the most amazing scenery you’ll ever see. If castles are your passion, you’ll need to explore the 800-year-old Dunvegan Castle and gardens. If not, then just go for a hike or a stroll, keeping an eye out for some of the island’s abundant wildlife.

Read – Isle of Skye Travel Guide & Best tours to Skye

How to get there: Car via the Skye Bridge or by ferry from Mallaig. How to get around: Car, rental car, bus or bicycle. How long to stay: You could spend several days exploring Skye but beware—accommodations are limited so book in advance.

While Islay is one of the most popular islands to visit in Scotland, Jura, only minutes away by ferry, is often overlooked. Its bleak geography makes it feel more remote than it is — only 5 miles from the mainland.

The Paps of Jura, three conical-shaped mountains, dominate the landscape. If you’re a hard-core hiker, consider tackling all three peaks with the 10 hours, 10-mile trek.

For something a little more mellow, visit Craighouse on the island’s southwest corner. It’s the only village on Jura and is home to the Isle of Jura Distillery. The Craighouse Village Hall sometimes has live performances and hosts ceilidh, a traditional Scottish storytelling gathering.

How to get there: Take the ferry from Kennicraig on the mainland and then a ferry from Islay.   How to get around: Car, rental car (from Islay), bicycle (rental available) and limited bus service. How long to stay: Jura makes a lovely day trip from Islay.

At first glance, Rum feels relatively barren. Only 30 people call it home and consequently, the goat population outnumbers the humans by 10:1. The landscape is hilly, treacherous and wet, ideal for wildlife and nature walks but more difficult for carving out a living.

Visitors should bring good hiking shoes and be prepared to walk uphill at least some of the time. They’ll be treated to breathtaking scenery and may even see a few red deer. Deer were introduced to the island when textile tycoon John Bullough purchased Rum as his hunting playground in 1888.

Today, visitors can see the outside of Kinloch Castle , a Victorian mansion built in 1900 by his son, George.

How to get there : There’s a ferry from Mallaig that only runs on certain days. How to get around: Walking or bicycling. How long to stay: Rum is perfect for a day trip

If you’re looking for peace and quiet, consider a jaunt to Colonsay. It’s 10 miles long and 2 miles wide and is known for having unspoiled, natural scenery.

Its craggy, heather-covered landscape is not as exposed as Coll and Tiree so it provides an ideal habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal life. If you’re lucky, you might see a wild goat or rabbit.

If it’s Wednesday or Friday, visit the Colonsay House Gardens , an 18th-century house with a 20-acre woodland garden. Their rhododendrons are some of the finest and most varied in Scotland.

Afterwards, drive to Kiloran Bay and you’ll find the island’s most beautiful beaches.

How to get there: There’s a ferry from Oban and a flight from Oban once per week. How to get around: Car, walking or bicycling. How long to stay: Colonsay is perfect for a day trip.

Many visitors to the tiny island of Iona report that it has a distinctly spiritual feeling, different from all other islands off of Scotland. Given that in 563, St. Columba established his monastery and made Iona the cradle of Christianity in Scotland, that holy feeling isn’t that surprising.

Iona is also incredibly beautiful. It’s small — four miles long and one-mile-wide — and has white sand beaches and fertile land, some of which is still tenet-farmed using traditional methods.

The Benedictine Abbey Church and the neighbouring Augustinian Nunnery are must-dos for any travellers.

How to get there: There’s a passenger ferry that leaves from Fionnphort in Mull. How to get around: Walking or taxi service. How long to stay: If you’re in Mull, Iona makes a perfect day trip. From the mainland, you’ll only have a 2-3 hours on Iona so you may want to spend at least one night.

Some have described Tiree as a 12-mile-long, 3-mile-wide raised beach. It’s flat, sandy and a lovely place to get away from it all. It’s the westernmost island of the Inner Hebrides and is known for its mild climate and long, sunny summer days.

Later in the year, Tiree becomes a haven for windsurfers from all over the world. It also has a variety of archaeological sites. On the north coast, you can visit Dun Mor Vaul, an iron-age broch, or roundhouse.

You can also explore the Hynish Heritage Trail . Start at the Skerryvore Lighthouse Museum in Hynish and then wind your way through the workshops and walled gardens of the past.

• Outdoor Adventure

How to get there: There’s a ferry from Oban. There are flights from Glasgow. How to get around: Car, walking or bicycle. How long to stay: For an overnight getaway, you could combine a trip to Coll and see everything on both islands.

Coll is a peaceful island known for wildlife, fabulous beaches and star-gazing.

Begin your visit in Arinagour , a little settlement of simple, white-washed cottages. Your next stop could be one its 20 beaches, many that have towering sand dunes and an assortment of seabirds, rabbits and otters.

Inland, if you visit the moors and meadows, keep your eyes peeled—you may see a corncrake, a rare local bird that darts about in the moor’s tall grasses.

In the summer, Coll is home to some of the longest daylight hours in the UK. Conversely, Coll has been deemed Scotland’s only “Dark Sky Community.” Its isolation and lack of light pollution make it an excellent location for star-gazing.

How to get there: There’s a ferry from Oban and flights from Glasgow. How to get around: Car or bicycle. How long to stay: For an overnight getaway, you could combine a trip to Tiree and see everything on both islands.

You cannot bring your vehicle when visiting Eigg but don’t despair — you won’t miss it. Walking or renting a bike will do just fine and is a perfect way to appreciate this small island’s quiet charm.

Eigg is one of the more wooded islands and is alive with birds like golden eagles, snipes, ringed plovers and gannets. Eigg is also home to An Sgùrr , Britain’s largest pitchstone ridge. Pitchstone is a form of volcanic glass but you’d never know by looking at the imposing geological feature that dominates the island’s southern end.

For those interested in the history of crofting or tenet farming, there is a small museum called Croft 6 on the north part of the island.

How to get there: There’s a passenger ferry at Mallaig. How to get around: Walking, biking or taxi. How long to stay: Eigg is perfect for a day trip.

If you’re looking to explore the smallest of the Small Isles, an archipelago within the Inner Hebrides, look no further than Muck. It’s like a tiny green jewel in a sea of blue and one of the most picturesque Scottish islands.

Your first stop will be the tea room at the pier which is also an information centre and craft shop. Be sure to look for the rugs and hand-knitted clothing made by the locals.

Because Muck is only two miles long and one mile wide, you can easily walk to Gallanach Beach on the island’s north side. If you want a strenuous hike, climb 137 meters to the top of Beinn Airein for a spectacular view of the Small Isles and Scottish mainland. You might even see a puffin or two if you’re lucky.

How to get there: There’s a passenger and car ferry from Mallaig. If you bring a car, you’ll need a permit to travel. How to get around: Walking. How long to stay: You can explore the entire island in only a few hours.

The tiny island of Canna is owned by the National Trust and is known for its seabirds, flowering plants and its Gaelic archive.

Canna is also one of the most tranquil places in Scotland. Spend the day walking up and down its beaches enjoying a quiet breeze.

If it’s bird breeding season, bring those binoculars — Canna’s coastline is home to over 20,000 birds including puffins and eagles. There’s also a fascinating assortment of archaeological sites ranging from the prehistoric to early 19th century.

How to get there: Ferry from Mallaig. How to get around: Walking. How long to stay: Canna is perfect for a day trip.

Outer Hebrides

Lewis is the third largest island in the Outer Hebrides. It shares a landmass with Harris, which makes up the southern third.

Lewis’s main town, Stornoway, has about 7,000 residents, about 60% of which speak Gaelic. It’s a charming place with a surprising variety of restaurants.

If you travel into the countryside, you’ll find fabulous, rocky coasts and sheltered beaches.

Don’t miss the highly atmospheric Callanish — mysterious standing stones even older than Stonehenge. Dun Carloway is an amazingly well-preserved broch from the iron age that overlooks a dramatic crashing sea.

Also, if you’re planning to spend the night in Lewis, you can stay in Gearrannan in a traditional Scottish blackhouse that’s been updated to meet the needs of a modern traveller.

How to get there: There are ferries from Ullapool to Stornoway. There’s also a ferry from Skye into Tarbert in Harris and from there you can drive to Lewis. There are flights from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Benbecula.   How to get around: Car, car rental or bus. How long to stay: You could easily spend several days exploring both Lewis and Harris.

While visiting Lewis, don’t forget about Harris — its more rugged southern counterpart. It’s got everything you could want in a Scottish Island experience — moors, lochs, castles and dramatic scenery galore.

On its eastern side, rocks have been found that are millions of years old. On the western side, there are beaches with water so blue and sand so sugary white they would put the Caribbean to shame.

It’s no wonder that Harris frequently tops the list of places with the best beaches in the world. Harris also has picture-perfect villages and of course is the home of Harris Tweed, some of the finest textiles in the world.

Tarbert, the quaint main town, has a population of 550 people and makes an ideal base for exploring.

How to get there: (See how to get to Lewis.) How to get around Car. How long to stay: You could easily spend several days exploring both Lewis and Harris.

Imagine a landscape covered in peat bogs, lochans—small lakes—and machair—flowering grass—alongside stunningly beautiful beaches. That would be North Uist.

Lochmaddy, formerly a herring fishing port, is the main settlement on the island’s west coast. While you’re there, check out Taigh Chearsabhagh, an arts centre and museum that has a gift shop and café.

If you like creepy burial chambers and archaeology, you’re in luck. Barpa Langais, a burial chamber that dates back 5,000 years. For something less ominous, Traigh lar is a dazzling beach with wind-sculpted sand dunes next to crystal clear turquoise water on the island’s west side.

How to get there: There are flights from Glasgow and from Lewis. There is a ferry from Skye as well as one from Berneray to Harris. How to get around: Car, limited taxi service and bicycle. How long to stay: Ideal for a day trip, especially if you’re staying in Harris.

Just a short drive from North Uist, South Uist has similar geography to its northern counterpart, with machair, lochen and boggy, sodden hills. South Uist does have a more foreboding feeling, however, probably because its sparse scenery feels slightly forlorn.

The main settlement is Lochboisedale, where you can catch a wildlife cruise. The eastern side of South Uist is mountainous and great for hiking. The western side has lovely, white-sand beaches.

Loch Druidibeg is a must-do for naturalists and is home to a wide variety of plants and birds. If you’d like to play a round of golf, try Askermish Golf Club. Designed by Old Tom Morris in 1891, it was recently restored to its current grandeur.

How to get there: There are flights from Glasgow and seasonal ferries from Lochboisedale to the mainland at Malliag. Many people arrive via North Uist and drive to South Uist. How to get around: Car and limited bus service. How long to stay: Like North Uist, it’s a perfect place for a day trip.

One of the coolest things about the small island of Barra is that flights can’t arrive at high tide because the runway is underwater.

Only 10 miles long and six miles wide, Barra has a one lane road that loops around the island. Castlebay is the main settlement, and out in the water you’ll immediately be charmed by Kisimul Castle.

You’ll need to take a five-minute boat ride to visit this medieval “Castle in the Sea.” It looks like something out of a fairytale and is the ancient seat of the Clan MacNeil.

When you return ashore, stop in to Dualchas or the Barra Heritage Centre on Castlebay’s western end to learn about local life and history of the island.

How to get there: There are daily flights from Glasgow and ferries from the mainland at Oban. How to get around: Car, rental car, bicycle, bus or taxi. How long to stay: Barra is perfect for a day trip.

With so many beautiful islands (and many other amazing places to visit ) you really are spoilt for choice in Scotland!

Read my other Scotland Travel Guides

• Edinburgh Travel Guide
• Inverness Travel Guide
• Scottish Highlands Travel Guide
• Fort William Travel Guide

If you are wondering about where to stay when you visit the islands my Scotland accommodation guide has you covered! And if spending the night in a Scottish castle is something you dream of click here for our selection of the best Scottish castle hotel stays .

For practical advice to help plan your travels in Scotland you will find everything you need to know in my Scotland Travel Guide or in my general UK Travel Planning Guide – a cheat sheet that will answer all your questions!

Read – Best UK Tours 2022/3 , our 14day Scotland road trip itinerary or our 14 days best of Britain by rail for more itinerary suggestions!

And if you still have questions why not join my UK and London travel planning group on Facebook!

Join my UK and London travel planning group on Facebook for more tips, inspiration and help from other travelers planning future travel to London and the UK.

The 23 most beautiful Scottish islands to visit

You don’t have to go abroad for an idyllic island getaway. Feast your eyes on these beautiful Scottish isles

We love relaxing on gorgeous beaches, soaking up the beauty of the world’s best natural landscapes and learning about different cultures.

But you don’t always have to travel long distances for exciting experiences as we’ve got a wealth of stunning beaches, amazing landscapes and interesting traditions right here in the UK.

There are over 900 offshore isles to explore, grouped into four main clusters: the northernmost Shetland Islands, the Neolithic Orkneys and the Inner and Outer Hebrides - famous for their white-sand beaches and brilliant outdoor activities.

Visitors will also find islands in Scotland 's inlets and firths and on its iconic freshwater lochs (just watch out for mythical monsters!). Yet somehow, Scotland's beautiful islands are still one of Britain’s best-kept secrets.

To make things easier, we’ve narrowed down our favourite Scottish islands and all of their best bits, with how you can visit, whether you love a spot of island hopping, travelling in luxury or you're after an eco-friendly escape.

There are some incredible trips to explore the Scottish islands this year. You could join TV weather star Carol Kirkwood on a boutique cruise that visits the islands of Eigg, Skye and Iona in May, as well as enjoy drinks and a talk from the Scotswoman. Or explore Mull and its pretty town of Tobermory with broadcaster and journalist Kirsty Wark in October . The trip combines some Highland highlights, including the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Urquhart Castle.

For something that takes in a dozen Scottish islands, hop on an expedition ship and feel like a real explorer as you venture to the Inner and Outer Hebrides in May 2023 or spring 2024 . The small cruise ship will take you to the Treshnish Isles, Gigha, St Kilda and other islands that are often missed by tourists.

Prefer to stick to one island? Take the ferry to Mull from Oban and make the Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa your base. There are indulgent spa treatments to try, the town of Tobermory is just half an hour away and you can enjoy a day trip to the island of Staffa, where porpoises and whales are often spotted.

Located in western Scotland’s Inner Hebrides, the Isle of Mull is the fourth-largest Scottish island, known for its white-tailed sea eagles, the 700-year-old Duart Castle and the colourful houses that line the waterfront of Tobermory.

This town, which is the largest on Mull and the inspiration for CBeebies’ Balamory, is sprinkled with pubs, eateries, specialist shops and nature trails.

Explore the Isle of Mull on an exclusive cruise with Scottish broadcaster and journalist Kirsty Wark in October. You'll sail through lochs on a yacht-style ship and experience a train journey that passes on the Glenfinnan Viaduct during the six-day break.

Alternatively, you can go island hopping in the Hebrides on an expedition cruise, where you will explore various islands and have time to discover picturesque Tobermory on Mull over 11 days, with departures in spring 2023 and 2024.

FIND OUT MORE

Or explore Mull during an incredible boutique cruise around the Highlands and islands of Scotland with TV weather star Carol Kirkwood in May. The eight-day cruise includes the chance to get to know the celebrity Scotswoman as you make your way to the likes of Skye, Eigg, Loch Ness and Oban.

If you'd rather check in to a hotel on Mull, you can get the ferry from Oban and stay at the Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa for a blissful island escape. There are spa treatments, afternoon tea and gorgeous views, plus an excellent two-night package from Good Housekeeping Holidays.

Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides is well worth visiting for its intriguing archaeological sites and glorious beaches.

There is evidence of a population on Colonsay going back as far as 7,000 B.C.E and you can spot signs of its long history all over the island. There are Iron Age forts and duns dotting the landscape, and even an entire abandoned village, the eerie but enchanting Riasg Buidhe.

There are also various soft sandy beaches to add to Colonsay’s appeal. The biggest and most well-known is Kiloran Bay, a crescent of golden sand that stretches over a mile, where you might spot adventurous surfers out on the Atlantic waves.

You can visit Colonsay on Good Housekeeping’s 11-day island-hopping cruise in May 2023 and April and May 2024. It will also take you to see the amazing birdlife, taste authentic whisky and visit freshwater lakes in the likes of Iona, Arran and St Kilda.

Treshnish Isles

The Treshnish Isles are a group of distinctive volcanic islands lying west of the Isle of Mull.

These uninhabited isles and skerries (rocky islets) are home to a wealth of wildlife, from colonies of kittiwakes to razorbills, guillemots and Atlantic grey seals.

But the real stars of the Treshnish Isles are the cute puffins that nest here. The best time to see these friendly little birds is from mid-April until early August. The puffins have little fear of humans, so it’s possible to watch them up close as they go about their business.

The Treshnish Isles are a stop on Good Housekeeping’s 11-day Hebridean island-hopping tour in May 2023 and April and May 2024. You'll travel on the Scandi-style Ms Spitsbergen, an environmentally progressive vessel that was designed to explore small islands.

Islay - also known as the ‘Queen of the Hebrides’ - is Scotland's whisky isle, where you can sip single malts in one of nine working distilleries.

It’s also the perfect spot for bird watchers, who will be keen to see the beautiful hen harriers up on Loch Gruinart Nature Reserve and the large flocks of wild geese who visit the isle every winter on their long journey to Canada.

Top tip: it’s pronounced 'eye-lah'.

You can visit Islay on a UK cruise with Good Housekeeping in May, June, July and August 2023. You'll also stop in Stornaway, Iona, St Kilda, as well as the Isles of Scilly in Cornwall and Fishguard in Pembrokeshire.

Alternatively, discover Islay during an Inner and Outer Hebrides cruise on an expedition ship in May 2023 or spring 2024. You'll spend 11 days getting to know the wildlife, whiskies and scenery o the Islay, Mull, Arran and more.

Although tiny Eigg is only home to 90 people, its community is also made up of marine animals and birdlife, including gorgeous Atlantic seals, minke whales, dolphins, porpoises and a variety of seabirds.

On Eigg you can climb Britain’s largest pitchstone ridge, watch eagles fly over dreamy white sand beaches and learn about the world’s first renewably powered electricity grid, plus it’s just a short sail to the town of Inverie in Loch Nevis, where you can have a drink at the most remote pub in the British Isles.

Visit Eigg on a luxury cruise with Good Housekeeping, where you'll meet Scotswoman Carol Kirkwood, who will tell you about her TV career and join you for a question and answer session and drinks. You'll also Oban, Loch Nevis and the Isle of Skye on this cruise in May.

Alternatively, visit tiny Eigg on a Hebrides cruise that takes you to a variety of small islands as you take in the nature and wildlife of the isles in May 2023 or spring 2024.

One of Scotland’s most popular islands, Arran packs in the culture. Time your visit to check out one of the many cultural festivals held on the island and make sure to taste the local cheese, beer and oatcakes.

You can also while away the hours admiring artworks inspired by the island scenery at Arran Art Gallery, or taking in the magnificent period furniture, waterfall and woodlands of Brodick Castle.

Other fun activities on Arran include seeing the early Christian carvings in King’s Caves, or a walk from Arran Brewery to Glen Rosa, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the Goatfell range’s scraggy peaks.

Arran is the first stop on Good Housekeeping's 11-day Hebrides cruise in May 2023 and spring 2024. It then takes you to Islay, Gigha, Iona, St Kilda, Lewis, Mull and Colonsay.

Shiant Isles

Privately owned since 1937, this tiny archipelago is in the middle of the Minch, the strait of water between the Outer Hebrides and Skye.

The Shiant Isles are one of the greatest bird havens in the world, with so many birds that ornithologists find it almost impossible to count them. According to their very best guesses, the Shiant Isles are home to around two per cent of all the puffins in the world, as well as thousands of guillemots and razorbills.

Keen birdwatchers can explore this archipelago on Good Housekeeping’s tour of the Hebrides in May 2023 and spring 2024. You'll also visit St Kilda and Isle of Lewis.

Lewis and Harris

Lewis and Harris are two real Scottish heritage islands. You’ll still hear Gaelic spoken on the streets of Stornoway, the island’s main town, and you can browse hand-woven Harris tweed clothing in the shops - perhaps what the area is most famous for.

Archaeology buffs will love the mysterious Neolithic landing stones at Callanish, which are even older than Stonehenge, and at the ancient blackhouse villages you can experience the unique Gaelic farming system of crofting.

You can visit Lewis during a cruise along the unique coastline of the British Isles between May and August 2023.

Alternatively, explore Lewis when you stop at Stornaway on an 11-day cruise around the Hebrides in May 2023 or spring 2024.

The Isle of Skye is on everyone’s bucket list, and with less foreign travel on the cards this year, we think now’s the perfect time to make the trip. Skye offers spectacular sunsets over the mountains and into the sea, delicious seafood with a French twist in the Michelin-starred Loch Bay and magical hikes around the otherworldly Fairy Glen.

Portree, the isle’s capital, has a lovely harbour fringed by dramatic cliffs which is great to stroll around - a walk up to the Apothecary’s Tower offers a view that’s simply not to be missed.

Visit Skye during an eight-day cruise on a yacht-style ship, where you'll also be joined by TV weather star Carol Kirkwood, explore Oban and discover Eilean Donan Castle. The cruise departs in May 2023.

Iona is a little island off the coast of the Inner Hebridean isle of Mull in. Only three miles long, tiny Iona has a population of around 170 permanent residents. Despite being such a small place, Iona has a long and illustrious history - it’s known as the last resting place of some 50 Scottish Kings and for being ‘The Cradle of Christianity’ in Scotland.

It’s a great place to hop to on the ferry for a day trip from nearby Mull. You can spend a few hours here taking in the white shell-sand beaches, looking for cute gifts in local craft shops, or visiting the many historic religious monuments, like the Benedictine Abbey.

You can visit little Iona on Good Housekeeping’s 11-day Hebrides cruise, which takes you to the Inner and Outer Hebrides. You'll sip whisky, visit charming towns and spot beautiful birds.

To arrive at this private tidal island on Scotland’s West Coast you have to cross a rattling wooden-decked bridge at low tide. But it’s worth it. The views across Loch Linnhe and its maze of small islands are spectacular, and the blue-green hills of Appin to the North and Morvern to the South stand proud in the distance.

There are also 300 acres of private gardens on Eriska, a gorgeous coastline, wildlife including deer, otters and badgers, and a Victorian mansion which was renovated into a luxury hotel and spa. Stay for pampering, sports and leisure, and walks through the secluded grounds.

Read Good Housekeeping's review and book a stay at the Isle of Eriska Hotel, Spa and Island.

Tiny Gigha (pronounced 'Gee'a') is the 'Good Isle' of the Hebrides, and is owned by the islanders themselves. The community here has been growing since the island was bought by its inhabitants back in 2002.

With a warm microclimate, Gigha is perfect for holidays taking in the sandy beaches and clear turquoise seas. Achamore House, set in over 50 acres of woodland gardens, has a renowned Rhododendron and Camellia Collection and exotic plants that are beautiful year-round.

Experience island hopping in the Hebrides with Good Housekeeping this May or spring 2024. You'll explore Gigha, Islay, Arran and more.

Inchconnachan

Another of Loch Lomond’s islands, Inchconnachan is in the Trossachs National Park and has an especially unusual feature: it’s home to a population of wallabies - yes, those cute marsupials native to Australia and Papua New Guinea!

It turns out the eccentric Lady Arran was fond of exotic animals and introduced them to Loch Lomond, where she grew up. You can visit the island on a ferry from Luss and stay at the old coaching inn, The Winnock (the hotel on our Scottish steam break ), which has been welcoming weary travellers passing through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs for centuries.

One of the craftiest of the Shetland Islands, Fair Isle’s past is interwoven with a rich history of wool, textiles, and the inimitable Fair Isle technique. Fair Isle knits, with their classic geometric patterns, were made famous by the royal family in the 20s and are still popular today.

Fair Isle is also the most geographically remote inhabited island in the United Kingdom. But don’t let that put you off - there are flights to the isle each weekday and a ferry from Shetland will take you there in around 2.5 hours, weather permitting.

Once you’ve made the journey, you’ll be rewarded with stunning coastal walks and a wonderful sense of rural tranquillity that comes with being so far from the mainland.

We’ve all heard of Orkney crab. Well, there’s nowhere you can have it fresher than here, in a restaurant on the craggy cliffs of Orkney’s wild Atlantic Coast. But there’s plenty more to do on Orkey.

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site to see the Standing Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar and the 5000-year-old village of Skara Brae - where remarkable dwellings appeared from beneath the sand dunes in a storm just 150 years ago. Interestingly, Gaelic was never spoken in Orkney, and locals - who speak a distinctive dialect of the Scots language - are called Orcadians.

Inchmurrin in Loch Lomond is the largest freshwater island in the British Isles. Now covered in woodland, it used to be a deer park owned by the Dukes of Montrose and features the atmospheric ruins of a castle.

Stay in self-catering accommodation on Inchmurrin to enjoy swims from one of its many pretty beaches and visits to the highly rated Inchmurrin bar and restaurant.

Although Hirta is a UNESCO double World Heritage Site and the 'jewel in the crown' of the National Trust for Scotland, a visit to the remote St Kilda archipelago is totally dependent on the weather - which is what makes it feel all the more dramatic.

The islands are the stunning remains of a volcanic crater, where thousands of seabirds like to nest. It’s also a spot known for sightings of minke whales. But it’s difficult to live on this exposed island. Although Hirta was inhabited for over 5,000 years, the remote island community all self-evacuated in 1930. Want to know more? Head to the tiny St Kilda museum.

Jura gets its name from the ancient Norse word for 'deer', so it’s no surprise this narrow Southern Hebridean island is one of the wildest places in Scotland, where the 200-odd inhabitants are outnumbered by the local deer.

Jura is a walker’s paradise and the west of the island is especially unspoilt - featuring wealth of wildlife, stunning views and a sense of total peace. It’s probably why George Orwell chose Jura as the place to finish writing his bestselling novel 1984 .

The Isle of Muck is part of the Small Isles, off the west coast of Scotland, along with the neighbouring islands of Canna, Eigg, and Rum. It’s the smallest of the four and one of the smallest inhabited islands in Scotland. But despite this, there’s plenty on offer for visitors to little Muck.

It’s a wonderful island to escape to for a relaxing weekend and is popular with families, wildlife enthusiasts, walkers, and anyone who enjoys the great outdoors.

Muck boasts stretches of white sandy beaches, secluded bays, and an impressive range of wildlife, including porpoises, whales, seals, otters, eagles, puffins and more.

The most western island in the Inner Hebrides , Tiree offers tranquillity, clean air, and an almost completely flat landscape, perfect for gentle walks with unobstructed sea views.

Tiree is also one of the sunniest of the Scottish islands. In fact, it’s one of the sunniest places in the UK. This makes it great for walks along the beach, where you can stop to paddle in sloping sea pools or admire the many types of birds flying overhead.

It can be a windy place too, but there are plenty of snug accommodation options where you can cosy up with a glass of whisky and admire the landscapes from your window.

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Lady’s 11 Best Islands to Visit in Scotland

Today I want to share my top picks for the best islands to visit in Scotland. This part of the UK is packed with isles, and they’re great places to get away from it all. From the Outer Hebrides to the east coast, there are a lot of great Scottish islands to travel to.

Best Islands to Visit in Scotland

Many of my favorite places to visit in the UK are islands. Their dramatic scenery, amazing opportunities for outdoor exploration, and beautiful views make them ideal British travel destinations.

Some of the most beautiful islands in the country are up north. The best islands to visit in Scotland are dotted along the coast of this part of Great Britain, beckoning the adventurous to their shores.

While some Scottish isles are firmly on the beaten path, others feel like they’re the most remote place in the UK . Whatever your preference, there’s a spot you’ll love.

This list isn’t meant to be comprehensive. I’ve traveled to far more islands than the ones in this post, but I want to give you a taste of some of the best isles to whet your appetite for Scottish island getaways.

1. Isle of Arran in Scotland

I’ll start my list of the best islands to visit in Scotland with the Isle of Arran . The largest island in the Firth of Clyde, it’s often referred to as Scotland in Miniature.

That’s because everything Scotland has to offer can be found here. From rugged coastline to medieval castles and whiskey distilleries making the most famous of Scottish drinks , this Scottish island has it all.

The Isle of Arran offers waterfalls hidden down quiet paths, ancient stone circles full of mystery, and enough sheep to keep one on cute overload at all times.

My Glaswegian grandmother spent her summers on the Isle of Arran when she was a child. I went for a visit once, and I could see why she loved it. I hope you’ll feel the same if you get a chance to travel here yourself.

2. Isle of Skye in Scotland

Next on my list of the best islands to visit in Scotland is the Isle of Skye. The largest island in the Inner Hebrides, it’s one of the most famous Scottish islands.

This is partly due to the fact that Skye is connected to Scotland’s northwest coast by bridge, making it easier to get to than many other Scottish isles.

The Isle of Skye is a popular stop on many Scottish Highlands tours . It’s an ideal place to take in the beauty of the Hebrides and enjoy the colors of towns like Portree.

Highlights of Skye range from enchanting fairy pools to powerful waterfalls. The island has some of the best restaurants in Scotland, too.

I’ve been visiting this Scottish island since I was a teenager. While it’s beautiful at any time of year, I particularly love the Isle of Skye in winter .

I’ve been twice in the colder months, and there’s a magic to the landscape on the Isle of Skye in January and other parts of winter.

3. Lewis and Harris in Scotland

Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides is another of the best islands to visit in Scotland. Despite the name, this is a single island divided by mountains.

The main island in the Outer Hebrides and the largest island in Scotland, Lewis and Harris is known for its beautiful beaches and rich cultural heritage.

From the white powder and turquoise water of Luskentyre Sands to the Neolithic Calanais Standing Stones and rugged shores of Loch Suaineabhal, there’s a lot of natural and historic beauty in this part of the Western Isles.

Add to that culinary offerings like Stornoway black pudding and sartorial highlights like the famous Harris Tweed, and this Scottish island has it all.

4. Coll Island in Scotland

Next on my list of the best islands to visit in Scotland is Coll. This island in the Inner Hebrides has crescent beaches, sand dunes, castles, and some of the best seafood I’ve had in the UK.

I visited Coll while spending a week sailing in the Hebrides with friends. I loved how sparsely inhabited and amazingly desolate it felt. Our mooring in a bay with a ruin on the beach was as romantic as anything I’ve seen on my travels.

The locals on Coll are friendly, too. A couple pulled over and offered my friends and me a ride to a local hotel restaurant when they saw us walking along the road.

They told us all about their love of the island along the way, and it was great to hear them sing its praises.

5. The Shetland Islands in Scotland

The Shetland Islands (also called Shetland) form an archipelago in the Northern Isles. Shetland is the northernmost part of the United Kingdom, too.

The Shetland Islands are some of the best islands to visit in Scotland for North Sea beauty. Their remote beaches, dramatic coastline, and Viking heritage lure visitors who want to get away from it all and experience the magic.

From the lanes in Lerwick, the capital, to the orca whales and Shetland ponies, there’s a lot to discover in this part of Britain.

6. Lunga Island in Scotland

Pint-size Lunga is another of the best islands to visit in Scotland. It’s one of the Treshnish Isles in the Inner Hebrides, and it’s known for its puffins and guillemots, among other bird species.

I visited Lunga in spring when bluebells carpeted the island and puffins walked all over the cliffs. It was amazing to watch the birds waddle about and fly in from the sea, their mouths full of fish.

Lunga also has great views over the water and of ships, boats, and ferries below. It’s a great island to visit for nature. You can see what I mean if you watch my Scottish Hebrides video .

7. The Orkney Islands in Scotland

Up north, the Orkney Islands (also called Orkney) form an archipelago in the Northern Isles. They’re some of the best islands to visit in Scotland for their remote beauty and rich history.

Orkney is known for Neolithic sites like Skara Brae, a 5,000-year-old village, and Maeshowe, a chambered burial tomb with carvings by the Vikings.

The islands are also famed for their stunning sandstone cliffs, seals, and dramatic coastline.

But it’s not just about natural highlights here. Orkney has an abundance of creative designers. From jewelry to furniture, local makers produce beautiful goods on the islands.

8. Isle of Rum in Scotland

The Isle of Rum is one of the Small Isles in the Inner Hebrides, and it’s another of the best islands to visit in Scotland. I traveled here on another sailing trip in the Hebrides , and I loved everything from its castle to its beaches.

The island’s notorious Kinloch Castle is what puts Rum on the map. Its original owners are rumored to have thrown scandalous parties back in Edwardian times, and today visitors can tour the interior.

Rum also has great walking paths through the fields, over the hills, and along the coast. From lone red phone boxes to wild deer and turquoise water, this Scottish island has a lot to offer travelers.

9. Isle of May in Scotland

Next on my list of the best islands to visit in Scotland is the Isle of May. Located on the east coast in the Firth of Forth, it’s a nature reserve famous for its seabirds and historic smuggling legends.

The Isle of May is a haven for avian species, which dominate the landscape and pack seemingly every cliff edge. From puffins to guillemots, it’s easy to spot them from the paths.

Bird life here is so important that the Isle of May is home to the oldest bird observatory in Scotland. Visitors can see it and other parts of this Scottish isle on boat trips from North Berwick and Anstruther in the warmer months.

10. Iona, Scotland

Next on my list of the best islands to visit in Scotland is one of the most legendary isles in the Inner Hebrides. Iona is known for its connections to Saint Columba and his 6th-century monastery.

From the Caribbean-blue water of the beaches to fluffy sheep in flowery pastures, Iona’s hills and shoreline are the stuff of island getaway dreams.

There’s a busier side to this Scottish isle, too. Sweet little shops, the ruins of a nunnery, and the renowned Iona Abbey lure sailboats and ferries alike.

But for me the real draw is the northern beaches in Iona. Their fine white sand and turquoise water is so unexpected it’s hard to believe they’re in the United Kingdom.

11. Barra in Scotland

Last on my list of the best islands to visit in Scotland is Barra. Along with Vatersay, it’s the most southerly of the inhabited Outer Hebrides islands.

Barra is unique among Scottish islands in a number of ways. The most unusual of them is that Barra Airport is the only one in the world where the runway is a tidal beach.

Scheduled flights have to time their landings to coincide with low tide if they want to avoid arriving when the runway is under water.

Beyond the airport, Barra has white sand beaches, stunning landscapes, deep historical roots, and a strong sense of community.

From the dramatic outline of Kisimul Castle to Neolithic sites and standing stones, there’s a lot to discover on this Scottish island.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my list of the best islands to visit in Scotland. There are a lot of enchanting isles to discover in this part of Britain, and they’re great places to get outdoors and away from it all.

If you want more, my guides to the best UK islands and the world’s best islands will give you travel inspiration for isles beyond Scotland’s shores. Happy island hopping!

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6 Comments on Lady’s 11 Best Islands to Visit in Scotland

Oh my goodness! I just traced my husbands family back to Orkney and Edinburgh! And I discovered that one of his ancestors wouldn’t take the oath of the Church of England and was therefore accused of witchcraft and sent to New Jersey on a ship named William and Frances. Now I really have to visit. Thanks for sharing these!

You’re welcome! I hope you can visit soon.

Great photographs and descriptions of the islands. Now I will consider adding a few on a trip to Scotland.

Thanks! I’m glad to hear that.

I would love to spend some time travelling around the Scottish islands. It’s been on the agenda for year so now, but keeps getting postponed. Of all the islands, I’ve only visited Arran and I’d go back in a heartbeat! What a wonderful place! Hopefully it won’t be too much longer before I make my Scottish islands trip a reality!

I hope you can go soon!

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A Cheat Sheet To Our Favourite Scottish Isles, From Arran To Iona

24 July, 2023

If you’re looking to escape the mainland this summer, Scotland’s beguiling islands beckon, offering untouched landscapes, vibrant culture, ancient history and modern-day wonders. Here are eight to have on your radar

L ooking Looking for an island adventure that promises sandy beaches as good as those in the Caribbean, pizzas to rival the pies found in Naples , world-class seafood, wildlife, culture and character-packed boutique stays? You don’t have to look very far. Scotland, with its necklace of dramatically beautiful islands tethered off its rugged coast, makes for a trip that can be as active – clifftop biking trails and hikes to ancient standing stones – or as dialled-down – cosy guesthouses and deserted, heather-flanked sandy coves – as you like. From a surfer-approved Hebridean hideout to a whisky-fuelled Highland hangout, these are the eight Scottish islands we think you’re going to want to know about.

The best Scottish islands to visit this summer

Welcome to the “Hawaii of the North” – no, seriously. This laid-back Inner Hebridian isle might not offer the warmth of its Pacific twin, but with gin-clear waters and 74km of scallop-coloured sands, Tiree gives the subtropics a run for their money. Regularly buffeted by North Atlantic swells, the island has impressive beach breaks throughout the year, but in summer, long daylight hours stretch beach days late into the evening. We’re booking a room at the intimate Reef Inn for a relaxed island guesthouse stay, and spending evenings at the Reef’s restaurant to scoff Tiree’s best pizzas and grilled local seafood, and enjoy a can (or three) of local craft beer.

Mainland Orkney

Orkney’s largest island is a must-visit for modern witches. Myths and mystery swirl across this storied isle, fuelled by the numerous Neolithic remains that pockmark its bracken-cloaked moors and granite-stacked coastal cliffs. Legend has it that the main island was created when a tooth of the slain Stoor Worm, a monstrous sea serpent, fell into the sea. If it’s your first time on Mainland, we’d recommend heading west. Here, fields are dotted with prehistoric sites such as the 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae and the Standing Stones of Stenness. The island capital, Kirkwall, is a warren of sandstone and siltstone cottages, shadowed by the majestic bulk of St Magnus Cathedral. Make your base The Storehouse , a former herring and pork curing plant transformed into a boutique inn with a tiptop restaurant attached. We’d wager magic is involved in its hand-dived Orkney scallops and tomato consommé dish – it’s that good.

Wandering down the white-sand beaches of Gigha in summer, you’d be forgiven for thinking the shallow, turquoise waters and curving coves looked more Isles of Scilly than Scotland. But the community-owned Gigha is very much of the tartan. Sat at the southern end of the long fray of Hebridean Islands on the country’s west coast, it’s just a 20-minute ferry ride from the Kintyre peninsula, but feels further. Start explorations in Ardminish, the island’s sole village, where you’ll be able to rent a bike (and grab an early lunch of prawn baps and smoked Gigha halibut bagels at The Nook ). Then, set off to explore the blousy summer excesses of Achamore Gardens and the lichen-licked ruins of the 13th-century Kilchatten Chapel. In the afternoon, the northern coast’s heather-framed beaches beckon. Later, stroll back to the cosy Beach View Cottage on the western coastline to freshen up, before venturing across to The Boathouse , a waterside restaurant that serves crab straight from the creel.

Despite its diminutive size, Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde – and Scotland’s seventh biggest. Less than three hours from Glasgow (including the ferry ride), the North Ayrshire isle resembles the Highlands in miniature, complete with moss-covered lowlands, rocky crags and heather-blanketed hills. Bring your hiking boots; some of the most breathtaking trails include walks to the ancient standing stones on Machrie Moor, and clambering up the granite steeple of Cir Mhor, a majestic mountain in Scotland’s smallest mountain range. Dinners on Arran inevitably involve seafood. Our pick? Mara Fish Bar & Deli , a fancy takeaway spot in Corrie on the island’s north-east coast, that boxes up fresh catches from island waters in inventive ways. Once you’ve had your fill of chimichurri-doused lobster, hand-dived scallops, and langoustines bathed in Café de Paris butter, make tracks down the coast to roost for the night: the inviting Altbeg promises an evening nightcap by an open fire.

Jura is a raw, rugged isle licked by fierce, untameable seas, home to more deer than humans, and capped with soaring, bald-headed mountains and desolate tawny wilderness. Life is hard here – and making whisky, even harder. Yet, this Inner Hebridean isle is famous for its golden nectar. On a visit, book in for a tour of the whitewashed local distillery (the only one on the island) to learn about mash, maturation and the distinctive ingredients that go into every dram of Jura (the distillers claim the water from the island mountain range, the Paps of Jura, gives the single malt its unique flavour notes). Then, pull on your hiking boots to explore the island’s remote edges, à la George Orwell, who once lived in these isolated hills. Whisky lovers will want to make the pilgrimage to Islay, a five-minute ferry ride from Jura, to sample peaty whiskies at its eight renowned distilleries. We’re more inclined to head to our lodgings for the night, Mrs Leonard’s Cottage , where a wood-fired hot tub awaits.

At only 5km long and 2km wide, the windswept isle of Iona, off the west coast of Mull, in the Scottish Highlands, might be tiny, but word of its beauty has spread, drawing some 130,000 travellers to its screensaver-worthy shores annually. Subject since 1978 to a “Prohibition of Vehicles” order, the island promises city escapees a profoundly tranquil experience, with no car engines to compete with the sound of seagulls and waves lapping against blonde sand. An important Christian site, thanks to this being the first place that St Columba set foot in Scotland, Iona is also something of a craft mecca. Explore examples of the fishing and crofting community’s historic output at Iona Heritage Centre , then browse the contemporary equivalent at the 1965-opened Iona Craft Shop , which stocks a thoughtfully curated range of artisanal products including a miniature fishing boat in a bottle, chunky socks in vibrant yarns and handmade jewellery by local silversmith Eleanor MacDougall. Bed down on a family-run working croft at Iona Pods , whose 10 timber-frame glamping units contain luxurious beds and all mod cons, with WiFi throughout the site.

Pack a picnic and get back to nature on one of Scotland’s most under-the-radar islands, the stunning nature reserve of Handa, off the Sutherland coast, in the country’s remote north-west. In summer, a small passenger ferry runs daily from Tarbet on the mainland to the sugar-white beaches of Port an Eilean and Traigh an Teampaill on Handa’s eastern shores. The island’s soaring cliffs are home to 100,000 breeding seabirds, including guillemots, kittiwakes, Arctic terns and puffins, making this one of north-west Europe’s largest colonies. Stroll from the ferry landing point to the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s visitor centre – keeping eyes peeled for passing minke whales, basking sharks and dolphins – to explore a collection spanning animal bones to historic island literature – and where binoculars can be hired. Fallen in love with the island and want to stay longer? Opportunities exist to volunteer on the reserve, from a week at a time to a series of assistant ranger placements, lasting from 8-21 weeks.

Travel to the shimmering sands of this Outer Hebridean island by air and your arrival will be dictated by the tides, Barra Airport being home to the only commercial beach landing in the world. But whether you opt for a high-octane entrance or choose to catch the ferry from Oban, you’ll find a palpable sense of community on this small island, along with tales of a wild seafaring history at Kisimul Castle and spectacular coastal bike trails (rental available from Barra Bike Hire , in Castlebay). Sandy footprints are always forgiven at the 39-key Isle of Barra Beach Hotel . Shower and then make a beeline for the hotel’s modern restaurant, whose vast floor-to-ceiling windows overlook Halaman Bay – best seen ablaze, at sunset – and where a seasonally led menu showcases superlative island beef, lamb and seafood.

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Journey of a Nomadic Family

Isles of scotland: best scottish islands to visit.

If you’re looking to visit the Isles Of Scotland but have no idea which of the 700 islands would be best for you, we have found some of the best Scottish Islands for you to visit whatever the season. From the Orkney Islands to the tiny, pedestrianised island of Iona, we will find the best island in Scotland for you. Here we list 55 (and it’s growing) Isles of Scotland that we think are great for hopping, exploring, relaxing on and even swimming!

Please be really patient for this enormous post to load!  There are loads of maps, photos, tips and more.

Table of Contents

How Many Isles of Scotland Are There?

Scotland has 790 islands, which I’m sure will surprise you, and furthermore, Scotland has more than 10% of Europe’s entire coastline. It is three-quarters surrounded by sea after all. Only 130 islands have permanent inhabitants and some form of transport to get you there – although others are accessible on day trips.

The islands of Scotland are divided into five categories; The Outer Hebrides, The Inner Hebrides, the Shetland Islands, Orkney Island, the Firth of Forth and the tidal islands.

The Inner Hebrides is made up of 35 inhabited islands as well as 44 uninhabited islands that stretch along Scotland’s western coast. The three largest islands with the highest populations are Skye, Mull, and Islay. The Inner Hebrides are best reached from Glasgow, via car, ferry or by air depending on which island you are visiting.

Also known as The Western Isles, or Na h-Eileanan an Iar in Gaelic, the Outer Hebrides consist of 15 inhabited islands with a total population of 26,830 and more than 50 uninhabited islands. The beaches of the Outer Hebrides are often confused with beaches of the Caribbean, with their powder-white sand and crystal-clear waters. The Isle of Lewis and Harris, Barra and South Uist are three of the main islands of the Outer Hebrides.

With UNESCO World Heritage Sites, white sandy beaches, and amazing wildlife, the Orkney Islands make an extremely popular holiday destination. There are about 70 Orkney Islands, 20 of which are inhabited. Many travellers like to visit the Orkney Islands during the Autumn and Winter months for a greater chance of spotting the Northern Lights. Some of Orkney’s largest or most popular islands include Kirkwall, Hoy and Eday.

The Shetland Islands are located 130 miles north of the Scottish mainland and 190 miles west of Norway, making it the UK’s most northerly point. Around 100 islands fall under Shetland, with fewer than 20 of them inhabited. The three most populated islands of Shetland are Lerwick, the capital of the islands, Yell and Scalloway.

Map Of The Scottish Islands Listed Below

You can use this map from Google to locate all of the Isles of Scotland.

How Can You Get Around The Scottish Isles?

Although there are some airports, it isn’t a true adventure until you’ve hopped on a ferry and braved those Atlantic or Northern Seas – and in winter they can be rough!

Some of the ferries accommodate cars and camper vans although some, like the ferries to Iona and Muck, Eigg & Rum are passenger only. Some islands you’ll only be able to visit at low tide or by hiring a local fisherman and boat to take you.

I’ve never had a bad experience on a Scottish island and most locals are welcoming and friendly, so long as you don’t turn their island into an Instagrammable haven!

If you’re interested in touring the Isles of Scotland in a car or van, buy this book and take the slow road!

Which Island Should I Visit In Scotland?

With so many to chose from which Isle of Scotland should you visit?

The Isle of Skye, in the Inner Hebrides, is the most visited of all the islands in Scotland and whilst the Outer Hebrides are mostly moorland, peat bogs and lochs (with the exception of mountainous Harris) they have some of the most beautiful white-sand beaches you’ll likely ever see in the UK!

The Shetland Islands are the furthest away from the Scottish mainland and Fair Isle is an isolated island found between The Shetland and The Orkney Islands. North Rona is closer to the Faroe Islands than Scotland and the Slate Islands have a unique feel to them due to their slate mining history.

Stornoway on Lewis, Kirkwall in Orkney and Lerwick in Shetland are the Scottish islands’ largest towns. All three are the hub of activity on their respective islands but if you’re looking for a total get-away experience there are still some private islands that only have two inhabitants living on them.

The best islands for scuba-diving are Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands, St Kilda & Mull where water temperatures range from 4°C  in April to 14°C in September. Wild camping in a tent is allowed all over Scotland on condition that you remember the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

Whether you’re looking for adrenaline-filled adventures, beach holidays, long hikes or total relaxation and whisky tastings, we’ve listed 54 islands below so you can find your perfect Isle of Scotland holiday.

Want to know more about the Isles of Scotland? Buy this book on Scottish Islands before you travel there.

The island of Arran is one of the most accessible Scottish islands and you can drive to Arran from Glasgow in just a couple of hours. Despite being so close to the mainland, Arran has a relaxed atmosphere coupled with dramatic scenery and eclectic wildlife of the Inner Hebrides.

The ferry route to Arran goes via the town of Ardrossdan on Scotland’s south-west coast. It takes around an hour to drive to the port from Glasgow, or you can also get the train to Ardrossan station which is right by the port. If you are only planning on visiting the island for a couple of days, I would recommend taking your car over.  Some of the main attractions are at opposite ends of the island so having your own vehicle means no waiting about for public transport.

What’s so special about the Isle of Arran is that it feels like a microcosm of Scotland all rolled into a tiny island. Stunning mountain glens, charming seaside towns and a rich history. If you’re short on time, it’s easy enough to see most of the top spots in a couple of days however, this gorgeous island is also the perfect destination for a longer, more laid-back island break in Scotland.

Much of the tourist accommodation is located around Brodick, the main settlement since there’s a lot to do within a short distance. If you’re planning to use public transport while you’re on Arran, there are plenty of public bus routes that leave from Brodick and take you right around the island. During the peak tourist season (roughly May-September), it’s also possible to secure a place on an organised tour group.

The island of Arran has plenty of hiking trails with a range of difficulties. The most challenging, but also the most rewarding, is the hike up to Goatfell. This pyramidal peak is the highest point on Arran, and a tough 5-hour climb will reward you with incredible views over the island. If you’re looking for some more gentle options, opt for the hiking trail to Glenashdale Falls and the Giant’s Graves. This circular walk is much easier but still gives you the chance to see some of Arran’s most beautiful scenery.

A large amount of produce is made on the island; from gin and whisky to ice cream and cheese, there are so many Isle of Arran products to try. Brodrick is a great spot to shop for all things Arran. If you want some souvenirs, visit Arran Aromatics to pick up some incredible home gifts inspired by the island.

Arran is a true Scottish Island gem that you’ll definitely not want to miss.

Written by Emma from The Hobby Traveller. See more from Emma on Instagram. 

Learn more about life on the Hebridean Islands by reading this autobiography set on the Isles of Scotland.

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Things To Do On Arran

Barra is the most southerly occupied island in the Outer Hebrides archipelago and the most westerly island in the UK. It is truly special amongst Scotland’s glorious islands and a perfect place to visit when road tripping the beautiful UK.

You can get to Barra by car ferry from Oban to Castlebay, which takes around 4-5 hours. For a once in a lifetime experience, fly into Barra’s unique beach airstrip, airport at Cockle Strand in between the tides on Traigh Mor Beach.  After landing on the beach, head to the small airport terminal for one of the friendliest welcomes you’ll ever receive and to pick up your hire car.

Although it is only 9 miles long, Barra is known for its stunning white sandy beaches, big skies and wild landscapes, the island of Barra is a place to visit and contemplate life, take long walks and enjoy the wonderful flora and fauna that is all around you. If you love the great outdoors, this is the Scottish island for you. With great hiking routes, roads safe to cycle on, sea kayaking, diving and even a golf course there is plenty to keep visitors occupied.

Barra also has a rich history, from the first settlers in 2500BC and the archaeological sites which tell their story to the fascinating and convoluted history of clan Macneil of Barra and Kisimul Castle, their rocky island stronghold in the waters of Castlebay. For an overview of the island’s past and culture, visit the island’s heritage centre, Dualchas, where you’ll find local history displays and art exhibitions, as well as cultural events.

View the Barra seals at Seal Bay or if you have wetsuits (you’ll need them) head for Halaman Bay for some swimming and even surfing but if you’re looking for a breathtaking challenge of rollercoaster inclines and dips, try cycling to the island of Vateersay which is connected to Barra via a short causeway. You can rent bikes in Castlebay and don’t forget to check out the deserted village of Eoradail.

For a unique experience on a Scottish Island try the Indian night at Kisimul Cafe.  Book in advance as it gets busy, as far as we know this is the only Indian food available on the Outer Hebrides!  Many of the local bars also have live traditional music at the weekends, enjoy rousing foot-tapping songs and dancing when you attend a Scottish cèilidh (social event).

If you’re looking for an adventurous day trip. Take a boat trip to three uninhabited southern islands with Islands of Adventure . Visit Flannan Isle, the Blue Lagoon on Pabay Island and see dolphins and porpoise on Little Bernera.

Written by Izzy from The Gap Decaders. See more from Izzy on Facebook. 

Belnahua (Abandoned)

The Slate Islands are an island group in the Inner Hebrides situated off the Firth of Lorn. The main islands are Seil, Easdale, Luing, Shuna, Torsa and Belnahua.

Once Belnahua island was home to 200 people, a shop and a school but today it is abandoned and all that is left is a row of derelict, slate workers cottages and rusted, abandoned machinery.

Belnahua is known for its deserted slate quarries which were mined since prehistoric times and helped to roof the British Empire with a global industry connecting it to slate markets in England, Canada and even the West Indies.

This island was a place where little grew and food arrived by boat, along with water when the well ran dry. Life here came to an end during the First World War when the island’s men left to fight and women and children relocated to neighbouring islands which are bigger and have better infrastructure.

The centre of the island has been completely quarried out leaving a gaping hole.  The depth of the workings can be seen through the very clear water but in order to visit now you’ll need to kayak or book a private boat from a local fisherman on another island.

You may be able to book via the Heritage Centre on Easdale  or from Luing.

The small island of Benbecula lies between North and South Uist in the Outer Hebrides and is frequently used as a stepping stone but take time for this little gem and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful nature and peace like no other.

Benbecula is another ancient island with links to Monastical life in the 6th century and the ruins of Columba’s Church can still be found here south of the main town. The island also has an unusual military history. The airfield built during World War II became the control centre for the Hebrides rocket range, established during the Cold War and is now Benbecula Airport. An army base was established in the 1950s and remains one of the main island employers as it is the headquarters for those who service the South Uist missile testing range.

You can tour the ruins of Borve Castle, a ruined 14th-century tower house, visit St Toranan’s ruined Temple to St Columba but the island is best known for its gorgeous beaches and backed sand dunes. The local marine life includes dolphins, seals, sharks and whales and from the Uist islands, you can book whale-watching expeditions. If you’d prefer to stay on land, try spotting owls and eagles on the East Side or head to the wild machair grasses that carpet the west coast in search of the elusive corncrake.

Walking and cycling are both popular pastimes as Benbecula is flat with many tidal bays and unspoilt moorland to explore. It’s one solitary hill, Rueval, is just 407 ft high. The path to the summit goes past the cave where Bonnie Prince Charlie is reputed to have hidden whilst waiting for Flora MacDonald to arrange his escape from the island.

However, if you’re looking for something more adventurous, book Tom from Benbecula Freedive for adventure waterbased activities.  Tom offers Adventure Snorkelling,  Freediving, Wreck diving, Spearfishing, Mountain Biking, Kayaking, Personal Training and Fitness classes.

Looking to move to the Hebridean Islands? Read more from Tamsin who chucked in a London career to renovate & manage a croft.

One of the most easily accessible islands, Bute is best known for its varied landscapes and wildlife. Lush, vibrant green, rolling hills of the island’s centre to the craggy, northern heather-covered moorlands and the delightful sandy beaches around the coastline.

The Isle of Bute is just 33 miles from Glasgow by car and there are two ferries.  Leaving from Wemyss Bay you’ll arrive into Rothesay on the east with a 35-minute crossing. The ferry from Colintraive terminal takes 5 minutes crossing to Rhubodach in the north.

Bute is possibly most famous though for its art-deco town of Rothesay where there’s a refurbished pavilion with its palm trees and promenade. Attractions include Rothesay Castle, the stately home at nearby Mount Stuart and some of the country’s best Victorian toilets . No joke!

Bute is relatively large and there’s something for everyone. Is anyone interested in history? Visit the Iron Age fort, Rothesay Castle, the remains of the monastery of St Blane, Mount Stuart House and Bute Museum. For those interested in archaeology there are standing stones – most notably the Kingarth Stones.

You could visit the Bute Community Forest for some simple walks or hike around the West Island Way. Alternatively, hike from Kilchattan Bay to Langalbuinoch and watch the sunset from Stravannan beach and see Arran in the distance. Glen More to Ettrick Bay is another great walk and you can end in Port Bannatyne for a wonderful coffee at the Post Office and choose whether to hike onwards on the old Tramway route to Ettrick Bay.

Beaches St Ninian’s Bay or The Straad is a small bay on the west coast with a natural anchorage. The bay is protected by St Ninian’s Point, a spit of land that can become cut off with tides.  Scalpsie Bay is also on the west coast of the island. It is a beautiful and secluded bay with reddish coloured sand. Scalpsie was used for military purposes and the timber posts sunken into the sand are the remains of anti-glider defences.

Of course, no Scottish Island would be complete without alcohol! The Spirit of Bute Brewery is the only brewery on the island and the Isle of Bute Gin’s return Distillery are eagerly awaited. It had to move because it became too popular!

ButeFest is also held on the Isle of Bute, being held next to the beautiful beach at Ettrick Bay and the island even has its own Highland Games! Bute Highland Games is held in August every year and showcases some of the finest highland sportspeople and loads of pipe bands!

Fun Fact: Bute is also home to one of the biggest vegan cheesemakers in the UK. Bute Island Sheese is located in Rothesay and they ship their 28 dairy free sheeses globally.

Eig, Rum, Muck & Canna form the Small Isles archipelago, in the Inner Hebrides and Canna is the westernmost of the islands. It is linked to the neighbouring island of Sanday by a road and sandbanks at low tide. The island is just 4.3 miles long and 1 mile wide and is a car-free island.

You can get to The Small Isles by the CalMac ferry from Mallaig.  The ferry does not call at each island every day;  an island may have between three to five sailings per week.   Journey times to each island from Mallaig will vary as the ferry travels between the different islands. If you’re feeling brave enough you could hire an offshore RIB operating from Elgol on Skye to both Rum and Canna. Advance booking necessary, telephone 01471 866 244.  Arisaig Marine runs cruises lasting 2-5 hours ashore Eigg, Muck and Rum. Operating from April until late September and departing Arisaig at 11am. You must pre-book, telephone: 01687 450224. The harbour office at Arisaig also contains a tea room, showers, toilets, shop and a laundrette.

Known as ‘the garden of the Hebrides’, Canna has beautiful green meadows and 248 native, wild flowering plants. White sandy beaches and spectacular scenery are all easily accessible on foot from Canna’s sheltered harbour.  With over 20,000 breeding seabirds, 176 different species, on Canna’s cliffs, there are also plenty of opportunities to spot kittiwakes, razorbills, crossbills and puffins.  From the island, you may also spot Minke Whales, Dolphins, Porpoise, Basking Sharks, Otters, Shearwaters and more. Fortunate visitors have also seen Killer Whales, Sea and Golden Eagles, although these are less common.

Things to do on Canna include visiting the Canna community shop, the Canna Tearoom, the Old Dairy exhibits everyday objects and old island photographs, visit the three churches , the Presbyterian ‘Rhu Church’, St Columba’s Chapel and Edward’s Chapel and stop by the historical Canna House and its spectacular garden.  Find out how John Lorne Campbell came to buy the island, how he strove to record and save Gaelic songs, poetry and stories that had previously only been passed down by word of mouth and how he built up the most important archive of Gaelic in the world.

The current curator of Canna House is Fiona Mackenzie who has recently published the first book of Margaret Fay Shaw’s heritage photography, entitled Eilean. U sing images from Thom collections (1881-1938) giving an unfiltered historical view of Canna. A film festival is planned for spring 2021.

Canna is perfect for long walks and hikes along its steep cliffs. Don’t miss the Souterrains and ‘King of Norway’s Grave’ and the Puffin Stacks. If you’re looking for a 10k the island even has its own race .  Black Beach and Sanday Beach are beautiful beaches and if you can, canoe the island’s waters and discover the caves.

Learn more about Canna with these photos from the island during the 1800s

If you’re looking for a moderately sized island (10 miles long) with a lot of festivals, head to Colonsay. The Isle of Colonsay has more festivals than any other island; the Book Festival in April, the Festival of Spring in May, the Folk Festival in September and the Autumn Food and Drink Festival in October.

This Inner Hebridean island is a two-hour ferry ride from Oban and Colonsay is most famous for its folk music festival, its jaw-dropping, white sand beaches and as a birdwatchers’ paradise.

With a tiny population of 135 people, there’s just one charming hotel on the island although there are plenty of B&Bs and cottages for rent and of course, in true island fashion, there’s a brewery! On a weekly basis, the hotel offers a quiz night on Thursdays, live local music on Friday nights and a kids DVD night on Tuesdays. During the summer months, there is a ceilidh in the village hall on Saturday nights.

Colonsay’s beaches are some of the most picturesque in Europe and you could spend all week just visiting the beaches of Kiloran, Balnahard, Machrins, Cable Bay, Garvard, Oransay and South East corner. Like many places in Scotland, Colonsay is a marine kindergarten for seal pups and there are at least seven distinct habitats around the island.

Traffic is not heavy on Colonsay and bikes can be rented from the hotel (Tel 01951 200316) and from ‘Jen & Matt’ (Tel 07572180552) and there are also plenty of walks to do including the ancient priory on the neighbouring island of Oronsay.

Other things not to miss are the Colonsay House gardens, the micro-brewery (the most remote brewery in Scotland) as well as two gin distilleries; Colonsay gin made by Wild Thyme Spirits located at Kilchattan and Wild Island Gin made by Colonsay Brewery next to the Village hall.

The caves at the north end of Kiloran Bay although the New Cave to the south requires a bit more planning. There are other caves at Uragaig, to the south-west of Kiloran where you might be able to see otters, bats, pigeons and spiders.

Buy some of Colonsay’s famous gin 

Coll is a super famous island as it’s the birthplace of the Katie Morag series which pretty much every UK kid has read or watched.  In the books, Coll is known by the fictional name of the Isle of Struay. In real life, Coll is located six miles west of the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides and the car ferry runs from Oban to Coll every day throughout the year. During the summer there are two ferries on a Saturday.  Hebridean Air also runs flights from Oban to Coll on four days week during the summer.

13 miles long by 3 miles at its widest point, the island has seen Mesolithic hunter-gathers, Neolithic farmers, the Gaels, Vikings settlers and plenty of clan battles. Like many Scottish Islands, during the Highland Clearances , the population drastically declined and today there are only around 150 permanent residents left.

The island has plenty of accommodation and campsites but can only accommodate FOUR motorhomes so you must book before if you’re going by van, although you are allowed to wild camp on Coll. There’s also no public transport and biking is a popular way to get around.

There is something very special about Coll. Maybe because it has spectacular sandy beaches (over thirty) and has the longest sunshine hours recorded in the UK. The winter days are followed by dark starry nights that will take your breath away and with no street lights, Coll is one of the best places in the UK for stargazing. In fact, Coll is the first official Dark Sky island in Scotland and one of only two in the UK.  The best time to visit the Dark Sky Park on Coll is from October to March.

If you’re looking for Caribbean-style islands, Coll tops them all. It has thirty, white-sand beaches where you can stroll, surf, kayak, windsurf or just relax and take in the peace and tranquillity. It also hosts an enormous range of wildlife including dolphins, seals, otters, whales and basking sharks. If you want to take a boat trip or guided kayak tour book with IsleGO – Hebridean Boat Tours. If you wish to sea spot, head to Cliadh Beach however t here is also an RSPB Nature Reserve on western Coll and the RSPB offer guided walks during June.

Favourite beaches include the horseshoe bay of Crossapol, the machair covered dunes of Torastan, the never-ending Feall bay and the rocky Hyne. Although there are twenty-six others to explore!

Pop into the Island Cafe for home-cooked classics, the Post Office for all your gifts and island bike hire and support the island further by buying Ross Of Coll clothing brand. There’s the An Cridhe Community Centre which runs local events and a local craft market which sells locally produced goods and also not one but two castles.

Learn more about the Scottish Clearances and the impact it’s had on Scotland since.

Cramond (Tidal Island)

Another unique Scottish island and the easiest to visit if you’re in Edinburgh is Cramond Island.

If you’re looking for a day trip from Edinburgh, that’s just a short and easy bus ride away, this Isle of Scotland can only be visited at certain times, as twice a day, Cramond Island is cut off from the mainland by the tide.

One of the most important Roman statues found in Britain, the ‘Cramond Lioness’ was discovered here. The island is best seen during the summer months when the days are longer.

There are three areas on Eigg which are established as wildlife reserves. The first is the ridge of the Sgurr, a massive rock formation and the moorland between it and the north-west coast. Atlantic gales prune the vegetation here.

The second reserve comprises the slopes below the cliffs edging the Beinne Bhuide plateau, which are largely covered with hazel scrub, a type of woodland that has existed on Eigg for thousands of years.

The third and smallest reserve includes willow and hazel scrub, and the largest extent of raised bog on the island, in lower Gleann Charadil.

Davaar Island is a small, inhabited tidal island off the east coast of Kintyre. You can access it on foot, twice a day, *according to tide times.  Be very careful!

Read more about Davaar here.

Davaar Island is 1 of 17 tidal islands that can be walked to from the Scottish mainland.  The Dhorlin  (the local name for the causeway) is exposed twice a day at low tide. Tides change with the moon & are different every day. It’s imperative you don’t get stuck on the island so do check the times and set alarms on your phones etc.

The island is really very small however on here you can find cliffs, caves, a lighthouse, hill and rentable cottages.

Eigg is one of the Small Isles, in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. It lies to the south of the Isle of Skye and is 5 by 3 miles. It is the second largest of the Small Isles after Rùm and also Britain’s most eco-friendly island . You may recognise it from the iconic, high Sgurr of Eigg ridge that dominates the otherwise relatively flat skyline.

You can catch two ferries here. One from Mallaig and the other from Arisaig but you cannot take your own car. Instead, you can hire bikes and kayaks from Eigg Adventures although it should only take ninety minutes to cross the island on foot. Arisaig Marine runs cruises lasting 2-5 hours ashore Eigg, Muck and Rum. Operating from April until late September and departing Arisaig at 11am. You must pre-book, telephone: 01687 450224. The harbour office at Arisaig also contains a tea room, showers, toilets, shop and a laundrette.

The weird and largest UK pitchstone Sgurr Ridge (An Sgurr) is 1292 feet and if you can hike up, gives wonderful views of fellow islands Muck and Rum.  Eight other hikes are mentioned here on WalkHighlands.   The Massacre Cave (frequent rockfalls) is a reminder of the island’s darkest hour but the Cathedral Cave shows that persecution continued.  Walk along Laig Bay, a large white beach which faces the Cuillins of Rum and gives a distinct and memorable view of the west coast of Scotland or make the sand sing at the Singing Sands, a quartz beach surrounded by geological formations.

Eigg is the busiest of all the Small Isles of Scotland and there are lots of places to find great food. The Galmisdale Bay Cafe, Bar and Restaurant by Eigg pier has scrumptious food and regular music sessions, Lageorna Restaurant and Rest And Be Thankful in Cleadale whilst the  Isle of Eigg Shop stocks a wide range of local produce and fresh foods and you can even buy Organic veg from Eigg Organics and Eiggy Bread’s heat-up ready meals.

Eigg is home to a vast array of musicians, craft workers, writers, film-makers and photographers.  It has its own record label and artist residency, craft shop co-operative, an annual  Fèis , the  Howlin Fling Festival   and a regular   programme of concerts, ceilidhs, plays, workshops and films. If you’re looking to get creative have a go at basket making with  All About Willow,  take a dance lesson with Donna the Piper or learn how to make felt with  Libby Galli.

Focusing on travelling to 99 islands which have transport links and another 54 with limited transport, this is a great book for those wanting to Island Bag!

Easdale Island  is the smallest permanently-inhabited island of the Inner Hebrides , off Scotland’s west coast. Known as being part of the Slate Islands or ‘the islands that roofed the world’ they produced over 9 million roofing slates per year and they were all carved by hand.

Although the slate industry is long since gone, there are plenty of reminders from this industry; the wooden pier, the crane in the square in Ellenabeich, the flooded quarries and there’s still slate everywhere. The first written record of slating on Easdale is from the 17th century. As well as being exported globally, the slate from these islands was also used on some iconic Scottish buildings, such as Ardmaddy Castle, Castle Stalker, Cawdor Castle and Glasgow Cathedral.

To get here you’ll need to drive over to Seil and then catch the ferry from Ellenabeich. Leave your car in the Ellenabeich Car Park as Easdale is a car-free island. Don’t worry though, it’ll only take you about an hour to walk around the island on foot. In order to summon the ferry, you’ll need to push the button in the wooden hut and small boat will arrive shortly into the harbour to fetch you. How’s that! A private ferry to a tiny island and it only takes 5 minutes too.

Your first sight will be the rows of brightly coloured wheelbarrows. These are not for drunken escapades but for transporting your stuff around the island which consists of quaint stone cottages, a picturesque harbour and several flooded quarries. Most were flooded by the big storm in the 1800s which led to the general decline of the islands but are now used as swimming pools.

The Easdale Folk Museum is a community-run museum which gives insight into the history of the small islands through video and photos from Victorian times.  There’s a small craft shop at the back of the museum which is stocked by a local knitter.

Easdale has a peculiar championship and that’s the World Stone Skimming Championships. Every year, hundreds of people come to the island in September to compete. Last year there were over 300 contestants. In September there’s also an arts festival (with music and theatre) in the community hall and at the heart of the island is the award-winning Puffer Bar and Tearoom.

If you go beachcombing, look out for wildlife sightings too. Seals and dolphins can frequently be seen, occasionally sea otters, basking sharks and minke whales too. Many species of birds can be sighted from the island including shags, buzzards, golden eagles, white-tailed sea eagles, kestrels, ravens and many different gulls. Seafari Adventures make several boat trips per day from Ellenabeich out to the famous Corrywreckan Whirlpool where whales, seals, dolphins and sea eagles are regularly spotted.

Learn more about the Slate Islands with this guidebook

Eilean Shona

Eilean Shona is snuggled tightly into the entrance of Loch Moidart in the Inner Hebrides. The island is between three and four hours drive from both Glasgow and Inverness although the island itself is a car-free zone.

The island is privately owned by Vanessa Branson (Richard Branson’s sister) who bought it in 1994 for a cool £1.3million and this Isle of Scotland consists of over two thousand acres of land with eight cottages and an eleven bedroomed main house. Yet, this is not the only claim to fame this island boasts. In 1923 JM Barrie visited and wrote the 1924 film adaptations of Peter Pan here!

Vanessa wrote a book about her journey on Eilean Shona which is a compelling blend of memoir and family history, lifting the veil on how the other half live in detail.

Accommodation is booked directly through the Eilean Shona website.   If you wish to stay here, your days will be filled with cooking lessons, drinking around campfires, crabbing, wild swimming and jumping off the jetty, painting, reading, hiking on the forest trails, picnicking, kayaking, nature watching and photography. 

It sounds blissful!

Read Vanessa Branson’s account of Eilean Shona island life.

Sandwiched snuggly in between the mainland and the island of Lismore at the entrance to Loch Creran, Eriska is a flat tidal island which is privately owned and run as a hotel. See the map just below this to book the hotel.

Located a mere 20 minutes north of Oban, the only hotel on the island, the Isle of Eriska Hotel is separated from the mainland by a wooden bridge. It is surrounded by 300 acres of land, deer roaming around and, occasionally, there are sightings of a local golden eagle.

The hotel offers a gym, indoor and outdoor sports halls, a swimming pool, tennis, squash & badminton courts, bowling and football as well as sea kayaking, boat trips, archery and axe throwing.

Read about the story of Eriska Island and admire the beautiful photos

Officially the most remote, inhabited Isle of Scotland in the UK, this hilly and barren island lies halfway between the Shetland and Orkney archipelagos. Owned by the National Trust for Scotland it is known for its 200m high cliffs on the west coast.

Fair Isle is just three miles long by one and a half miles wide and the island is home to just sixty people. In order to get to this small Scottish isle, you’ll need to first travel to Shetland and then either go by the Islander Plane (an 8-seater plane) or take the 2.5-hour ferry from Grutness Pier to Fair Isle. Travel can be disrupted by the weather though! During the summer months, Loganair offers flights from Kirkwall (Orkney) to Fair Isle twice a week.

This Scottish Island is home to a remarkable range of wildlife (in particular rare birds), historic lighthouses and shipwrecks, as well as the distinctive Fair Isle knitwear. To learn more about birds here, you can visit the Bird Observatory and hear about the island’s resident puffin colony, as well as 300-plus other bird species that nest in the steep coastal cliffs. Some of these include fulmars, kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots and black guillemots. Birdwatchers can also visit the George Waterson Memorial Centre and Museum , dedicated to the observatory’s founder. The museum contains a large array of artefacts, telling the story of the island’s past. It’s a great place to visit.

Local craftspeople are happy to show visitors their work if they pre-book. There are a number of knitwear shops: Exclusively fair isle with Elizabeth,  Fair Isle Knitwear with Mati and Fair Isle Textiles with Kathy and local artist Tommy’s Art Gallery.

Due to its size, Fair Isle is the perfect place to explore on foot and there are many stunning coastal walks here. There are island maps available from the shop or the bird observatory. You could also visit the North Haven and North Lighthouse and the South Lighthouse. Tours of the lighthouse can be arranged with the Fair Isle Lighthouse Society .

There is only one shop on the island; Stackhoull Stores which also doubles as the local post office. The shop is open every day except Thursday and Sunday in the summer, with reduced opening hours during the winter months. All accommodation needs to be booked through Fair Isle’s website. 

Paul Murton’s book on The Hebrides where he documents a six-thousand-mile coastline and eighty islands.

The Scottish Isle of Gigha which is pronounced “Gee-a” with a hard “g” is another small island at only seven miles by one mile but it is another fabulous example of a successful community-owned and run establishment. There is a population of roughly 200 people and it’s growing! On the 15th March every year, the day the island was purchased by the community, is a chance to celebrate Gigha Day.

This little island does accept cars and campervans but not caravans.  The car ferry to Gigha departs from Tayinloan on the west coast of the Kintyre Peninsula with the crossing taking approximately 20 minutes. There is only one main road running through the island so don’t worry about getting lost! Due it’s size however the island is much better to discover by bike, ( bike hire is available locally) or on foot.

The most southerly of the Inner Hebrides, Gigha was originally named Gudey by the Norse King Hakon.  The name meaning Good Isle or God’s Isle was later adjusted by the Gaels to Gigha. The island is most known for it’s famous and rare rhododendrons which thrive in Gigha’s sunny microclimate at Achamore House which is open to the public all year round.

Gigha has several, stunning sandy beaches and its east coast is particularly sheltered from the wild Atlantic weather by the island of Islay. The most well known are Twin Beaches which are separated by a small peninsula. Bagh Rubha Ruaidh is south facing and Bagh na Doirlinne is north facing. Gaelic is not an easy language to pronounce! Other beaches are the wild, Palm Tree beach which actually has palm trees

Other things to do on Gigha are to visit the ruined Kilchatten Church (13th century), see the large, standing Ogham Stone which has a Pictish inscription, hike the miniature hilltop summit (Creag Bhan) and admire the superb views over to Islay.

Where can you eat on the island of Gigha? The Boathouse Restaurant, the bar in the Gigha Hotel, Gigha Gallery before the ferry and the island shop, Ardminish Stores and Wee Isle Dairy which makes ice-cream.

Read more about our day trip to Gigha here

Great Cumbrae

Roughly four miles long and two miles wide, Great Cumbrae is just a short ferry trip from Largs,  an eight-minute sailing to be precise and the ferry takes cars and campervans. However, the medal of honour goes to those people who cycle the quiet 10-mile road around its circumference. Cycle hire  is available from the main town of Millport

The island has only one town, Millport, which has a Victorian promenade which curves around the bay. It is home to Britan’s smallest cathedral, the  Cathedral of the Isles , which was completed in 1851.  Garrison House is home to the  Museum of the Cumbraes and here you can learn about the history of Millport, 18th-century smuggling tales and gain an insight into island life during World War II at the Robertson Museum & Aquarium , you can see local marine life that is found on the island.

When you get out and explore, you’ll see randomly decorated rocks, handprinted to depict faces and creatures. Look out for the crocodile that sits at the beach in Millport. Exploring on bike or on foot is the best way to see the local wildlife, which includes seals, owls, polecats, kestrels and the occasional sea eagle and basking sharks. One way to make it even more fun is to do a Treasure Trail around Great Cumbrae, you can download it and print yourself or get them to send you a hard copy.

Cumbrae is a must-visit island for anybody who likes outdoor adventure.  Home to the Sportscotland National Centre for Watersports you can try yachting, dinghy sailing, windsurfing, powerboating, kayaking, open canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding. It has a number of beautiful bays and beaches which make watersports a joy; Ballochmartin Bay, Butter Lump, Kames Bay & Fintray Bay.

If you want to visit during Cumbrae’s annual Millport Country Festival . you should visit in September. The music festival has been running since 1995.

More lovely photos from Great Cumbrae’s shipping past

The Isle of Grimsay is smothered in the loving bosom of its neighbours North Uist and Benbecula and is connected by a causeway that links North & South Uist. The island is four miles long and two miles wide and holds a sheltered position in the Outer Hebrides.

The Uists are a chain of more than 100 rocky islands and around 27,000 people are scattered across 15 inhabited islands with 5,000 on the Uists. The Uists comprise of Eriskay, South Uist, Wiay, Benbecula, Ceallan, Ronay, Grimsay, Baleshare, Kirkbost, Oronsay, Vallay, North Uist & Berneray and most are connected through the causeway.

A flight from Glasgow to Benbecula Airport takes less than an hour. There are multiple car ferries: Uig (Skye) to North Uist (1hr 45), Uig to Lochmaddy (Benbecula), Castlebay (Barra) to Oban, Mallaig & Oban (mainland) to Lochboisdale (South Uist) and inter-island ferries like Leverburgh (Harris) to Berneray (North Uist) and  Eriskay (South Uist) with Ardmhor (Barra).

Grimsay is a small rocky island and there isn’t a huge amount to do on it but it is connected to other, larger islands which are close by. There is a public bus service but buses can be irregular.

Visit the site of the  Bagh nam Feadg Grimsay Wheelhouse  – an iron age structure with a central chamber and surrounding cells or take in the busy harbour of Kallin which was built in 1985.  The Kallin Canteen in the Old School building serves hot drinks and hosts cultural events. The Grimsay Boatshed is also open to visitors with regular exhibitions and events, centred around the everyday work of the traditional Grimsay style boatbuilding and repair.  Also visit Hebridean Candles on the other side of the island.

There are no sandy beaches on Grimsay, like there are on other Uist islands, but there are lots of rock pools for you to discover. Keep an eye out too for the mobile cinema which tours around the islands.

Handa (Abandoned)

Located off the north-west tip of Scotland’s mainland, Handa Island is no longer populated. At the height of the population, 65 people lived here in 11 blackhouses which can still be seen off the main footpath. A small chapel was built on one of the beaches to the south-east, the beach was later named ‘beach of the temple’. The inhabitants of Handa reared livestock, grew produce, shore fishing and also harvested birds and eggs from the cliffs as a food source. Despite their varying food sources, a potato famine in 1848 led to the population decline and by 1851 the majority had immigrated to Nova Scotia, Canada.

In spring, the cliff tops of Handa Island is a sanctuary for birds; Guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars and Arctic terns nest alongside the puffins and, by summer, the island reverberates with the sound of 100,000 breeding seabirds, one of north-west Europe’s largest colonies. There are around 250 breeding pairs of Atlantic Puffins on Handa Island and the cliffs reach a stagger 115 meters (328 ft) in height.

In the warmer months, a small passenger ferry runs daily from Tarbet across the Sound of Handa to the glorious beaches of Port an Eilean and Traigh an Teampaill on the island’s east. Keep an eye out for Grey Seals, Common Seal, Harbor Porpoise, Common Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin, Killer Whale (Orca), Basking Shark, Eurasian Otter and Minke Whale.

Not far from the landing site, the  Scottish Wildlife Trust’s visitor centre is a good starting point for a circular walk around the island.

If you’re wanting to Scottish Island Bag, get this book to log your thoughts and discoveries of 155 islands.

Hirta (Abandoned) (St Kilda)

An island in the St Kilda archipelago in the Outer Hebrides, Hirta is the westernmost group of islands about 41 miles from its nearest neighbour, the Isle of Harris. Hirta is uninhabited but you can still visit.

This Scottish island has 9.3 miles of coastline and is less than 2.5 square miles in land size but is the largest of the St Kilda islands. Due to the island’s distant location, it’s known as the island on the edge of the world. The island was populated until 1930 when they left, however, the British Navy set up a base on the island. Although there are still no permanent residents, the military defence base remains and is permanently manned.

Hirta has been named a dual UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the history of human life and the globally significant colonies of more than 100,000 seabirds. It is a harsh place to visit so make sure you wrap up warm and pack multiple layers if you’re visiting here and don’t forget to take your own food to.

Hirta only receives 2500 visitors a year.  Things to do and see include visiting the blackhouses and crofts, take time in the museum to learn about St Kildans, walk up Conachair Hill, check out the vertical sea stacks nearby which St Kildans used to climb for eggs!

Most trips last four hours but you can stay longer. The National Trust run a campsite but you must bring absolutely everything you’ll need as it’s pretty basic

If you want to visit, you can take a boat from Oban on the mainland, Uig on the Isle of Skye, or Leverburgh and Tarbert on the Isle of Harris, book a tour  or The National Trust for Scotland also runs a multi-day cruise.

The island runs regular programs for researchers. This researcher documented his trip to Hirta to care for Soay Sheep. 

Learn more about this harsh and deserted island by reading the Island of Wings, set on the island of Hirta.

The tiny island of Inchcolm is just a short distance from Braefoot Bay, Fife. It lies in the Firth of Forth estuary between Edinburgh and Fife. It is in fact 1 of 10 islands situated off the east coast here.

It is currently managed by Historic Scotland and although you can buy tickets for a boat trip if you want to go ashore you must purchase a separate landing pass. If you have a membership with Historic Scotland or an Explorer Pass, landing at the island is free.

Inchcolm was an important religious isle and has a history of thousands of years. Inchcolm means ‘Island of St Columba’ in Gaelic due to the Irish Saint visiting the island in around 567 AD.

The island has an incredibly well-preserved monastery, which was founded in 1123 by Alexander I. You can climb the narrow spiral staircase inside the Bell Tower for views out over the island. The monastery was rebuilt in the Middle Ages and was used as a mortuary in the seventeenth century. Don’t forget to visit Hermit’s Cave too and the little chapel. There are ruins of various military structures around the island and war shelters still exist which were used by the soldiers during WWII to stay under protected cover.

To get here you can book tours with Edinburgh Boat Charters , Maid of the Forth and Forth Boat Tours.

The island on Inchkeith lies in the Firth of Forth estuary off the coast of Edinburgh. The island is believed to have been used by people for at least 400 hundred years. Its most recent use was during the World Wars when the island acted as a defence against visiting ships sailing up the Firth of Forth. The majority of buildings left on the island are left-overs from Military Occupation.

The island also served as a quarantine zone on several occasions. In 1497 sufferers from the contagious disease ‘grandgore’ were sent to Inchkeith Hospital. Plague victims were also dispatched to the island in 1580 and 1609 while in 1799 Russian sailors were buried on the island after dying from an unknown disease.

IN 1549 Inchkeith was visited by Mary, Queen of Scots, the day after a combined force of French and Scottish soldiers recaptured the island from Italian mercenaries. Mary landed and saw ‘three and four hundred of her dead foes still unburied’. A castle was then built to house the Queen’s French troops but was later turned into a prison and then finally a lighthouse in 1808.

You can privately sail or canoe to INckeith or book a tour with Forth Sea Safaris. Edinburgh Boat Charters, 

Things to see on the island include the harbour looking towards the Forth Bridges and Edinburgh, many gun emplacements, a west fort with underground tunnels, a lighthouse, old houses in varying degree of rot, a helicopter pad and spectacular views over the Firth of Forth and the North Sea.

Inchmickery

About 2 miles north of Edinburgh, a short distance from Crammond Tidal Island is another island situated in the Firth of Forth. This is the island of Inchmickery which is now an RSPB reserve. Inchmickery is only 100 metres by 200 metres in size. Its name comes from the Scottish Gaelic, Innis nam Biocaire, meaning Isle of the Vicars, implying that there may have been an old ecclesiastical or Culdee settlement there.

The island of Inchkeith has a bizarre and cruel history that starts in 1493 with a tale of King James IV removing a deaf and non-communicative woman to the island with her two infants. He thought that when the children would start to speak, it would reveal their original language, the language of the gods. We don’t know what happened to this woman and her children but by 1555 there was a joke that Inchkeith should be renamed ‘Island of the women’ because there were so many there. Other names for the island have been ‘Island of horses’ and ‘Island of god’ due to the many horses and women maintaining a fortress intended to defend the Forth with artillery.

The small island resembles a warship due to the number of small buildings on it from the World Wars when the Firth of Forth was deemed to be an area prone to attack by the German Navy. The buildings housed guns to defend the Forth in the event of an attack which fortunately never occurred.

The island of Inchmickery was fortified in 1915 and specifically to cover the anti-submarine boom that ran from Burntisland Sands to Cramond Island. The guns of Inchcolm and Inchmickery were first manned on 16 March 1915 and remained in place until after WWII.

To get here you can take a tour with Edinburgh Boat Charters, Forth Tours, Seafari Edinburgh   and Maid of the Forth.

I have incredibly fond memories of this island as we used to visit regularly when I was a child. Iona is a small island, 3 miles long, nestled into the arm of larger island, Mull in the Inner Hebrides.

To get here, you’ll need to catch a small passenger ferry from Fionnphort, Mull which takes about 10 minutes. No tourist cars are allowed on the island so be prepared to call the island’s one taxi or walk to your accommodation. Iona is home to a population of around 125 full-time residents, two hotels and a scattering of shops.

A series of recent discoveries show that this sacred Scottish isle was not abandoned following the brutal Viking raids of the early 9th Century with monastery life instead continuing and a centre for metalwork being established.

Iona is known as the spiritual home of Scotland’s Christian community due to St. Columba (an Irish monk who brought Christianity to Scotland), who landed here in 563 AD and founded a monastery. His cloisters have become renowned for learning, as monks began Ireland’s treasured Book of Kells   here before taking it over to Kells in 807 CE.  If you’re interested in history, visit the Heritage Centre, the Abbey & nunnery, the 12th century St. Oran’s Cemetary to see the graves of 60 Scottish Kings such as Macbeth and St Columba’s Bay.

The island is a haven for artists and there’s a number of shops and galleries you can visit here: Iona Craft Shop, Historic Scotland Shop, Iona Gallery & Pottery, Aosdana, Iona pebbles arts and crafts and Oran Creative Crafts.

The island is small enough to walk around, I did this from as young as 5 years old and the beaches here are a true paradise. Some of my favourites are Port Ban, North End and Bay at the back of the Ocean.  The highest point of the island (100 metres) is Dun I (pronounced Dun Ee) meaning ‘hill of Iona’ and the view from the top is splendid on a clear day.  There is also an old marble quarry which was abandoned in 1918. The huge marble blocks that are left are good for a picnic or hot drink and a small gunpowder house is still standing too.

Iona’s sparse population means that wildlife thrives on Iona. Sighting on seals, otters, peregrine falcons, Minke whales, pilot whales, humpback whales and basking sharks have all been spotted here. Bring your canoes and paddleboards as the eastern side of the island is sheltered and there’s a number of small white sand bays you’ll want to explore.

If you’re looking for day trips whilst here, the uninhabited island of Staffa and the prehistoric Fingal’s Cave is a short boat ride away or take a slightly longer trip out to the Treshnish Isles.

Islay (pronounced Eye-luh) in the Inner Hebrides is world-famous for one thing above everything else and that’s its whiskey with its distinct smoky, peaty taste.

The best way to reach the island is by car ferry from Kennacraig (Kintyre) to Port Ellen (2 hours 20) or Port Askaig (1 hour 55).  On a cloud-free day, the views over Jura are simply astounding. 

When you arrive into Port Ellen, you immediately notice large warehouses which are the former Port Ellen distillery. Port Ellen was established as a malt mill in 1825 and then developed as a distillery from 1833 to 1892. These listed buildings give you a glimpse at one of the most important economical branches of Islay and whilst you’re here, you should definitely not miss a tour of a distillery. 

Eight distilleries are still active today where you can take a tour of the buildings and experience how the Scottish “water of life” is made. The distilleries of Laphroaig (which holds Prince Charles’ warrant), Lagavulin and Ardbeg can be easily reached on foot from the ferry in southern Port Ellen and are located a few kilometres away. In the northeast of the island near Port Askaig, you will find the distilleries of Bunnahabhain and Caol Ila, in the west Bowmore, Bruichladdich and Kilchoman. Bowmore is the oldest distillery on Islay, founded over two centuries ago in 1779.

Besides the distilleries, Islay island is a good place for nature lovers and the tourist association has created over twenty hiking trails. Anglers, bird watchers and cyclists also get their money’s worth here as the island has 130 miles of coastline and surprises with great, fine sand, beaches and the chances are you will be the only visitor. 

The island’s historical sights include the early Christian cross of Kilnave, the chapel of the same name, as well as the ruins of Finlaggan Castle, a former mansion and an important scene of Scottish history. Visit during May’s annual  Fèis Ìle , or the Festival of Malt and Music ad you’ll be rewarded with a glimpse of true Scottish island life. 

Is there any possibility to island-hop? Absolutely! From Islay, you can do a cruise around the Hebrides and visit other islands in the region. One special destination is Jura, another island famous for Whisky. Only around 180 people live there and the island is only accessible from Islay by ferry. 

Written by Phil from Journication.   See more from Phil on Facebook. 

Want to learn more about Islay? Buy this book called ‘Whisky Island’ which is a portrait of Islay.

Isle of Scalpay (Outer Hebrides)

The Isle of Scalpay in the Outer Hebrides is not to be confused with the Scalpay (Skye) in the Inner Hebrides! If you’re researching Scalpay, please make sure you choose the right island otherwise you might be disappointed! This is the island where Bonnie Prince Charlie was given refuge during his flight to Stornoway and over to France after his defeat at Culloden in 1746.

The Isle of Scalpay is located in the Outer Hebrides, nestled into the south-east corner of Lewis & Harris. It is connected to the island of Lewis & Harris by the Sclapay Bridge. The island used to be privately owned by was gifted to the residents by its owner, Fred Taylor, in 2012. Scalpay is around 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) long and rises to a height of 104 metres (341 feet) at Beinn Scorabhaig. The main settlement on the island is at the north, near the Scalpay Bridge, clustered around the North Harbour ( An Acairseid a Tuath).

The population is slowly declining and is roughly 250 and there is just one community shop Buth Scalpaigh and one cafe Island Dainties. However, the award-winning North Harbour Bistro is not just another cafe. They do nothing vegan but their menu can be found on Facebook. 

The iconic, red and white striped lighthouse of Scalpay, Eilean Glas is one of the earliest lighthouses in Scotland. It used to be lit using whale oil and whales were hunted from this point. It takes about 20 minutes to walk to and from here you will have views over the Minch and Little Minch (which separates the Outer Hebrides from the Isle of Skye)  and on clear days you can see the Shiant Islands which are home to huge numbers of nesting seabirds.  From here, keep a lookout for dolphins, porpoise, Minke whales and basking sharks.

There’s plenty of self-catering accommodation on Scalpay and also the Scalpay Bothie for campers which overlooks the lighthouse. One thing to note is that the island is ridiculously religious and everything shuts on a Sunday, including the kids’ playpark to observe the sabbath.

Islay’s nearest neighbour is a spectacular wilderness and rugged beauty where the wintery snow-capped Paps of Jura loom over the landscape. There’s just one small hamlet with its famous whisky distillery and now the island has a Gin distillery too.

Jura is a long and relatively large island; 30 miles long and 7 miles wide. At its peak in the 18th century, the island was home to around 2,000 people, however, these numbers dropped dramatically and now there’s just short of 200 inhabitants.

The island’s only town is Craighouse where you’ll find a distillery and a hotel that overlooks a picturesque beach and to get here you can catch the council-run car ferry from Islay.  You can join a distillery tour when you visit Jura but you must book ahead at   Lussa Gin and Jura Whisky Distillery.   In the town, there’s a community-owned cafe, Antlers,  that has a craft shop and displays on Jura heritage. 

Some of you may know that George Orwell lived on the island for 6 months in 1946 when he wrote 1984. The house he stayed in, Barnhill Farmhouse is located in the north and can be rented. It’s so remote you’ll need a 4×4 to get there though.

Jura is full of wildlife a visit here will guarantee you sightings of herds of red deer because they outweigh people 25-1. It’s estimated there may be above 5000 red deer on Jura. It’s also a hot spot for white-tailed eagles. The island also has a church with an array of black & white photos and the Jura Music Festival is held in September.

At the very northern tip of Jura, you will find the noisy Corryvreckan whirlpool. The whirlpool is a natural phenomenon caused by tidal flows between the islands of Jura and Scarba. I is the 3rd-largest in the world.

Will you hike the famous three Paps of Jura ? Or maybe you’ll fell race and run over the three of them.  The tallest pap is Beinn an Oir which stands at a 2,576 feet.

Buy the Rough Guide to the Scottish Highlands & Islands. 

One of the Lorne Islands, alongside Lismore, Kerrera is a small island 400m off the Oban coast. The island is around 7 km (4 miles) long by 2 km wide and is separated from the mainland by the Sound of Kerrera. The north and south of Kerrera island are not connected by road, just footpath.  For this reason, the rugged terrain on Kerrera makes it suitable for only mountain bikes and hybrid bikes.

The island is somewhat of a success story and has been able to grow its population by 100% in the last four years. The island has a full-time resident population of 68 which swells during holiday time.  The community were also able to purchase the old primary school building in the centre of the island and plan to turn it into a multi-purpose community centre.

A foot passenger ferry is available from Gallanach on the mainland onto the island. It is a small ferry and limited to 12 passengers at a time. The first ferry is at 8:40 am and the last ferry is at 6 pm.

Things to do on the island include hiking to the island highest point Carn Breugach at 189 m (620 ft), watching otters on Slatrach Bay, hiking to the ruined castle of Gylen (Built in 1582 by the Clan McDougall), visiting Horseshoe Bay where King Alexander II died in 1249 and climbing on the shipwreck.

There are not many places to eat on this small island but in the north of the island is the Oban Marina with Waypoint Restaurant and Ardentive Farm selling island produce. In the south, you can visit the Kerrera Tea Garden near the castle.

Near Oban is the Puffin Dive Centre where you can hire gear and book dives.

Lewis & Harris

The Isle of Lewis and Isle of Harris is the main island in the Outer Hebrides. They may sound like two separate islands, but Lewis and Harris are two parts of  one island. The boundary between Lewis and Harris runs for about 6 miles (9.7 km), where the island narrows between Loch Resort and Loch Seaforth. You will find on the island sandy beaches, cliffs on the wild coastline, ancient standing stones, and fantastic Gaelic culture.  The largest town is Stornoway on the east coast.

You can get to Stornoway by daily car ferries from Ullapool on the mainland. The port of Tarbert on Harris is linked to Uig on the Isle of Skye by daily ferries so, it’s a perfect idea to combine a road trip between both islands. It’s also possible to get to Lewis and Harries by plane. The island’s airport lies just a few miles from the Stornoway with regular flights arriving and departing from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness, and Benbecula.

Lewis and Harris Island is a perfect destination for a weekend trip. But you will find activities even for a more extended stay. If you go there on the weekend, it is essential to know that most shops and businesses are closed on Sunday.

The best way to get around the island is by car or motorhome. The roads are of good quality but narrow. Many of them are single track, with plenty of passing places. It is also bus service between Mondays and Saturday, connecting Stornoway with many of the island’s other settlements.  Stornoway is the largest town in the Hebrides with a population of around 8000 people. You will find there also the largest selection of accommodation on the island.

Lewis and Harris island has the most beautiful, wildest beaches in Europe. Soft sand flows between your fingers, and clear turquoise waters resemble a tropical paradise. Only stronger gusts of wind make you realize that this is Scotland coastline after all. You can stroll on deserted beaches for hours.

Calanais Standing Stones are older than the Pyramids and also predate England’s famous Stonehenge monument.  Located on the west coast of Lewis, the 5000-year-old Callanish Stones are famous all over the world. They were an important place for ritual activity for at least 2000 years. It is still a mystery why the standing stones at Calanais were erected. Probably it was a kind of astronomical observatory. The Calanais Standing Stones are an extraordinary cross-shaped setting of stones. They are consist of a stone circle of thirteen stones with a monolith near the middle. When you walk between these Neolithic standing stones, you feel the energy of the secret place.

Apart from hidden sandy beaches, the island offers steep cliffs. The Butt of Lewis has cliffs stretching up to 80 feet high. Violent waves bounce off the jagged coast. The roar of the water often drowns out thoughts. But be careful and don’t go to close to the edge, the area gets winds of up to 100 mph. The Guinness Book of Records named it Britain’s windiest spot.

There are several lighthouses on the island worth seeing. Short routes lead to them. One of the most impressive is Butt of Lewis Lighthouse, famous for red bricks. It is close to the village Poertof Nes. The other one fabulous is the quiet Tiumpan Head Lighthouse at the Eye Peninsula. It is perfect for sunset.

Written by Agnes from The Van Escape . See more from Agnes on Facebook.

Alastair McIntosh returns to the islands of his childhood and explores the meaning of the islands and their mysterious wonders.

Lismore or Lios Mòr in Gaelic means the ‘Great Garden’ and is a reference to the damp climate (166cm of annual rain) and fertile ground that amasses here (estimated that there are nearly 300 different types of plants here). Lismore is a 12-mile Inner Hebridean island near Oban.  A protected island situated at the mouth of Loche Linnhe, Lismore once supported a population of 1,400 but now only 160 remain.

The island has three spectacular ruins of its own: Castle Coeffin (13th-century hall-house), Achanduin Castle (13th-century castle) and Tirefour Broch (the best-preserved galleried Pictish brochs in the country) and the island has been inhabited since at least 3,500 BC. A stone axe-head was found here and dated & is now in the Edinburgh Museum. There are a number of duns, forts and cairns on the island.

The Lismore Historical Society opened the  Gaelic Heritage Museum showing an exhibition of island life and a cafe with a balcony.  Adjacent is Tigh Iseabal Dhaidh , a traditional 19th-century cottage. To see the Bronze Age cairns and Iron Age duns visit Balnagown Croft.

To get to Lismore you can catch either a car or passenger ferry. The car ferry from Oban to Achnacroish takes 50 minutes and there are two crossings daily. The passenger ferry takes just 6 minutes and crosses from Point to Port Appin every house.

The Parish Church on Lismore is built from the island’s original cathedral which was burnt down during Reformation. The churchyard has Medieval tombstones and is said to be the burial place of Saint Moluag who came from Ireland in 561AD and created a monastic centre.

Other things to do and see on Lismore include the abandoned kilns, cottages and limestone quarry of An Sailein, Lady’s rock near the lighthouse was the place where Maclean of Duart marooned his wife in 1527. Thankfully she was rescued by local fisherman.

The highest hill on Lismore is Barr Mor (127 metres/400 ft) offering stunning views of Ben Nevis, Port Appin and Loch Etive. Lismore is thus ideal for lazy cyclists and walkers. There are two main towns on Lismore, Achnacroish and Port Ramsay with only scattered residential buildings elsewhere. You can hire bikes here: Lismore Bike Hire

Walking, and cycling, on Lismore offers good opportunities to spot wildlife. The island has an impressive list of birds, around 130 species, and include birds of prey such as owls, hen harriers and buzzards and gulls, shags, guillemots, terns and other sea birds and waders.

Luing is part of the Slate Islands and it lies 15 miles south of Oban and a short ferry trip across the Cuan Sound from neighbouring Seil Island. Luing is 6 miles long and 1.5 miles wide, has two picturesque villages and stunning views over to Belnahua, Scarba and the Garvellachs. It is an ideal location for cycling and has a diverse variety of wildlife, including otters, hares, seals, porpoise and dolphins. There are also regular chances to see buzzards, peregrines, hen harriers and eagles.

Cullipool is the islands largest town where rows of cute, white cottages with colourful doors line the streets and overlook the flooded slate quarries. Cullipool has wonderful sunsets framed by the islands and with the grey slate reflecting all the colours of the sunset.  From here you can visit the remains of Kilchattan Church, Kilchattan Chapel, Kilchattan graveyard and the Atlantic Islands Centre. The building sits of the edge of a flooded slate quarry and you’ll find exhibits about the islands’ wildlife, geology, and slate industry. Upstairs is the Luing History Exhibition with a cafe and gift shop.

The best way to explore this island is by bike and you can hire them from the Sunnybrae Caravan Park .  The island’s highest point is Cnoc Dhomnuill which is only 94m above sea level! There’s a strange rock formation above a beach called the Cobblers of Lorn and many low level, beach walks and the Luing Store gives out walking maps if you want one.

The Isle of Muck is the smallest of four islands in the Small Isles with its neighbours being Eigg, Rum and Canna. It’s another eco-friendly island and all of its electricity is provided by wind turbines and photovoltaic solar panels from the island.

Ferries leave from either Mallaig or Arisaig and cars are not allowed on the island at all. You’ll be collected from the port, sometimes on a tractor which is exciting, however, the island is only 2.5 miles long by a mile wide so it’s not hard to cover on foot. If you’re feeling brave enough you could hire an offshore RIB operating from Elgol on Skye to both Rum and Canna. Advance booking necessary, telephone 01471 866 244.  Arisaig Marine runs cruises lasting 2-5 hours ashore Eigg, Muck and Rum. Operating from April until late September and departing Arisaig at 11am. YOu must pre-book, telephone: 01687 450224. The harbour office at Arisaig also contains a tea room, showers, toilets, shop and a laundrette.

There are just 40 inhabitants on Muck so there are more cows than people but some things you can do are visit the Craft Shope and Tea Room, see the school & community hall, take meandering walks down to the beach at Cairidh Bay and look for seals at Port Chreadhain.

Some of the spectacular views from here include from Gallanach Bay overlooking Horse Island where a Puffin colony lives.  The island has some semi-wild horses and lots of other wildlife including whales, sharks, dolphins, porpoises & otters and bird-watching includes puffins and eagles. You could walk up to Beinn Airein (425ft) and view the other Small Islands. If you’re looking for a more challenging walk, approach from the west side.

There’s no shop although you can buy produce from honesty boxes. These are mostly meat and eggs though so if you’re vegan you’ll need to take all of your food across with you.  There’s limited accommodation on Muck and you’ll need to book well in advance. Gallanach Lodge and Port Mor Guest House offer evening meals

Charters to other islands are also possible.  There are three cottages to rent on Muck and one bunkhouse and they’re all run by the community. Best to contact them on Facebook for availability. 

The second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides, Mull has a craggy coastline and is easily accessible from the mainland by ferry ports Oban, Lochaline and Kilchoan. Mull is most well known for its brightly-coloured houses in Tobermory, home to the fictional children’s TV series Ballamory.  If you’re visiting Tobermory, there’s also a fine whisky distillery producing the excellent Tobermory and The Isle of Mull Brewing Co.

St Columbus landed in Mull from Ireland in 563 AD and established a church to convert the pagan Scots. It’s lost its place as a spiritual pilgrimage and instead is full of hikers, canoeists and nature lovers.  On Mull, you can see puffins, dolphins, whales, seals, otters, deer, highland cows and birds of prey such as white-tailed sea eagles which are the largest and rarest bird of prey in Britain.

The isle of Mull is shaped like a mini Great Britain on its side, is the fourth largest Scottish island and has an area of 338 square miles. The coastline of Mull is almost 300 miles long and home to six castles. Duart Castle, Torosay Castle, Moy Castle, Aros Castle and Dun Ara Castle are all open to the public.

The pyramid mountains of Ben More and Stob Binnen tower over parts of Mull and will test all but the most experienced walkers but there are tons of walks and hikes to be done on Mull that are not as taxing; Aros Park and its waterfall, Calgary Bay, Lochbuie to Carsaig, Lochbui standing stones and MacCulloch’s Fossil Tree are all cracking walks that take in Mull’s amazing natural charms. Seven Mull walks for everyone details some more walks around Mull.

Mull has some classic Inner Hebridean beaches featuring white sand and wind-swept bays. Calgary Bay has ruined settlements, iron-age forts, a white shell beach and a cafe, Uisken has views out to Colonsay and the Paps of Jura, Port na Ba is gaelic for Beach of the Cattle,  Laggan Sands was voted the 9th best beach in the UK for wildlife spotting but our favourite is Traigh Ghael (Gaelic for white beach). Uisken Beach has a family-friendly Beach Games day in August.

If you prefer to spectate July’s Tobermory Highland Games . with its caber-tossing, hammer throwing and tug of war is fun and October’s Tour of Mull Car Rally is loud!

If Mull isn’t enough, you can take day trips to both the Isle of Iona or the Isle of Ulva.

Orkney is an archipelago of 70 islands off the northeast coast of Scotland, the largest of which is called Mainland. Just 20 of the islands are inhabited, nearly half of which live in the capital of Kirkwall.

My trip to Orkney was the last stop on a  car camping trip  around Scotland and I believe we saved the best for last. Orkney is a rugged place packed with beautiful sea-scapes and over 5000 years of history.

Despite being seemingly remote, Orkney is actually quite straightforward to reach either by ferry or by flight. The ferry from John O’Groats to Orkney takes less than an hour as do flights from all the major Scottish cities. Once on the island, the best way to get around is by car, since the sites are quite spread out. Several days are required to take in all the sights around mainland and Stromness is a good base from which to explore.

Orkney is a top place to visit if you’re interested in ancient historical sites. There are a group of Neolithic sites inscribed by UNESCO, which are collectively known as the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. At the top of the list is Skara Brae. Skara Brae is a 5000-year-old village and one of the world’s best stone-age sites. Then there’s Maeshowe burial chamber whose entrance passageway is precisely lined up with the setting sun on Winter Solstice. Finally, there are the spectacular stone circles of the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness, which give Stonehenge and Avebury a run for their money.

Orkney also has a strong Viking history and genetic studies have found that many Orcadians are descended from Norse people. One of the most iconic Viking sites on Orkney is the beautiful St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. This is the most northerly cathedral in Britain. Nearby you can also visit the ruins of the Earl and Bishop’s Palaces.

In order to appreciate the rugged coastline of Orkney, head over to the west of the island and visit Yesnaby. Here you can marvel at the incredulous sea stacks that are being constantly eroded by the elements. Further to the north, you can visit also the tidal island, the Brough of Birsay, which is accessible for 2 hours either side of low tide. This is a top place for spotting puffins in the summer months.

Written by Lou from Wandering Welsh Girl. To see more from Lou, head over to her Instagram .

Where are the best places in Scotland to visit? Illustrated with magnificent photos of Scottish Islands, here are 100 places to visit.

Only 21 people live on this privately owned island located a short distance from the Isle of Skye that sits across the Broadford Bay. There are no ferries and its one of five islands known by the exact same name which makes it very confusing! This island is in the Inner Hebrides and is not Pabbay which is in the Outer Hebrides.

The name Pabay is derived from an old Norse word meaning “priest’s isle” and there are the remains of a 13th-century chapel on the island.  Pabay is roughly 360 acres in size, diamond-shaped and incredibly flat with the highest point (the beacon of Sgeir Gobhlach)  being just 28m/64ft above sea level.  Pabay is known for its unique geology consisting of fossils, Pabba shale and other features. The shoreline at low tide almost doubles the area of the island revealing many geological features including specimens of petrified fish and shells.

Ruins of the 13th-century chapel foundations remain but it is not certain to what saint the church was dedicated. The chapel is small, measuring just 21 feet in length and there appear to have been two other buildings nearby. The most preserved building is an irregular semicircular structure of uncemented stones of large size measuring 9 x 6ft. Little is known about it. The chapel, built originally by St. Columba’s monks fell into disrepair after the monks left when it became a refuge for outlaws ‘ broken men’ and robbers.

Pabay is a flat island with mostly heath, dry grassland, herb marsh, salt marsh, woodland remnants and with the new additions of 75 acres of freshly planted deciduous and coniferous trees, containing 17 different species. For such a small island, it boasts 32 different species of wildflowers, 49 herbs, 40 kinds of grass, sedges, ferns and rushes.

Some of the island inhabitants are otters, seals, 32 breeding bird species and 72 non-breeding birds. There is also a large (semi-uncontrollable) rabbit population and shrews have also been seen.

Interestingly and uniquely, Pabay has a licence to produce its own stamps and in 1996 the island’s owners were paid £1,260 a year by the Post Office to collect and deliver their own post over the sea to Skye. It was last up for sale in 1996 and the description read “Pabay has everything “isolation, privacy and accessibility”. The £395,000 includes 326 acres, a farm with wind and solar power, a harbour, a jetty, and a willing boatman who needs just £50 (plus VAT) to take new residents the two miles to the island from Broadford on Skye.”

Learn more about life on Pabay Island from a geologist and a family visitor of nearly 15 years.

If the Isle of Skye is just too busy for you, head to its smaller sister Raasay! Raasay measures 14 miles by a little over three miles and it has only 170 inhabitants, one distillery and one hotel . It is also described as one of the most geologically diverse landmasses in the world. To the north, the island is surrounded by even smaller islands including Rona, Eilean Fladday (Fladda) and Eilean Tigh.

Raasay (Ratharsair in Gaelic) means Isle of the Roe Deer and to get to Raasay, you’ll first need to go to Sconser (Skye) and catch on of the 9 daily ferries. It is a great island to visit for hiking, cycling, kayaking, birdwatching and generally just getting away from the world. The largest animal on the island is the red deer but other animals include voles, rabbits, otters, seals, dolphins, porpoises, minke whales and orcas as well as white-tailed eagles (sea eagles), golden eagles, buzzards, hawks, tawny owls, starlings, and flycatchers.

The island’s shops are limited to a quirky take-away in a shipping container , The Larch Box (summer months only) and the small Raasay Community Stores in Inverarish. If you’re not staying at the Raasay Hotel, there are a number of AirBNB’s however you can wild camp with a tent. Other shops on the island include The Silver Grasshopper, a silver jewellery artist, The Studio run by an artist and photographer and of course the Isle of Raasay Distillery which produces Whisky & Gin using 10 botanicals, including Raasay juniper. It also employs over 10% of the island’s population.

Other things to do and see on the Isle of Raasay include the Battery, a fortified gun emplacement from 1809 which has stone statues of busty mermaids to accompany it, the cleared villages of Hallaig and Screapadal, the ruins of 15th-century Brochel Castle, Calum’s Road (a 10-mile road built entirely using a hand pick), Rainy’s Wall, St Moluag’s Chapel, the old mining works, Pictish Stone, Dolmen at Eyre Point, Storab’s Grave, and Oar Cave.

Hiking Dun Caan (444m or 1,457ft) is about 9.6 miles/15.5 km and takes approximately 5 hours. A shorter walk is Temptation Hill which is a roughly 2-hour walk where you’ll see the Pictish stone & Iron Age broch along the route.  Cycling is becoming more popular since the 10-hour endurance race, Raasay Rumble, took place. You can rent a bike from Raasay house but you’ll need to pre-book. 

Nice beaches to visit are Inver Beach and  North Bay and there are also two tidal islands you can visit at low tide. However, Raasay House Hotel offers a number of adventure activities including Coasteering, Kayaking, Gorge Walking, Abseiling and Rock Climbing.

Raasay Gin. Doesn’t it look exquisite?

Rona (North) & Sula Sgeir (abandoned)

This incredibly remote Scottish isle is now only inhabited by seals, birds and the sad memory of a tragic settlement wiped out by a series of unfortunate events.

Rona North is located to the far north-west of Scotland with no other island for neighbours. The island lies 71 kilometres (44 miles) north-west of Lewis & Harris (Outer Hebrides)  and 18 km (11 miles) east of Sula Sgeir. More isolated than St Kilda, it is the most remote island in the British Isles ever to have been inhabited on a long-term basis. Its closest neighbour is actually the Faroe Islands and due to the island’s remote location, it is frequently omitted from maps of Great Britain and the United Kingdom.

Few people have been to this island which makes it all the more exciting to visit. Landing here is only possible in excellent conditions and it could take between 3 and 6 hours to reach from Lewis & Harris.  North Rona is just a mile and a half long and has one hill of 108 metres (354 ft), Toa Rona which descends westwards to become a ridge which in turn slopes down to the sea in rocky promontories.

Rona was probably the residence of Saint Ronan in the eighth century. He built a christian oratory built of unmortared stone which survives today  – the best-preserved structure of this type in Scotland.  There continued to be inhabitants through the middle ages but sometime around 1685, the entire population of 30 people was wiped out. There appears to have been a shipwreck close by and rats from the ship were able to make it ashore Rona, devouring all of the crops and possibly passing disease to the residents. Either way, they died of starvation or bubonic plague.   A couple of centuries later, the island was home to a collection of monks and what is likely to be their stone-marked graves are still visible today.

Together with Sula Sgeir, the island is a nature reserve for its important grey seal and seabird colonies. The grey seals use the labyrinth of sea caves along the coast for breeding and shelter. The island is the third-largest breeding ground for grey seals in the United Kingdom. It is also important to the local populations of sea birds including black-billed gulls, puffins, kittiwakes, and guillemots.

Paul Murton is one of few people to visit and document his travels there.  He left from the tiny port of Miavaig on Lewis on what they expected to be a 3 hours journey. Instead, with rough seas, it turned out to be a 6-hour journey with his crew using 25 out of the 28 seasick bags provided! In “Island at the edge of the world”, poet Kathleen Jamie describes a visit to Rona leaving from Kinlochbervie on the Scottish mainland. The skipper warned it would be a bit rough and the crossing lasted six hours across the dark blue sea.

Rona is also integral to Peter May‘s Lewis Trilogy commencing with The Black House (The Lewisman and the Chessmen).

If you’d like to visit Rona and Sula Sgeir you can catch a cruise with Northern Light, North Coast Sea Tours,  and Island Cruising.

Buy whisky from Jura Island.

Rona (South)

To the east of Skye and the north of Raasay, lies the small island of Rona at 5 miles long. No ferries run here so you’ll need to find a private tour or boat operator.

Rona has a permanent population of just two and three unique & stylish shoreside holiday cottages  with the whole island yours to explore! The cottages are hidden away in Dry Harbour, a mile’s walk over the hill from the jetty at Big Harbour.

Rona is an incredible place to escape just about everyone and is a natural paradise. The island of Rona boats a cave, croft ruins, an abandoned village, an incredible coastline, red deer, otters, seals and basking sharks. There is even the island’s own bottling of Edradour whisky.

The northern part of the island is occupied by the Ministry of Defence (Boo!) but if you take a wetsuit you can easily swim and paddleboard around. One of the island’s big draws is its absolute lack of roads, shops and streetlights and thus the night sky on a clear night is phenomenal.

The book ‘ Whirligig Beetles and Tackety Boots ‘ was written by Julia MacKenzie, an ex-Rona resident, although I am unable to find a copy for sale.

See more from this amazing island on Facebook. 

Discover wild Scotland with hidden places.

One of the Small Isles in the Inner Hebrides located south of Skye, the Isle of Rum is eight miles long, shaped like a diamond and pedestrianised.  Visitors to Rum are not permitted to bring vehicles but bikes are fine! If you want to hire a bike whilst there, pre-book with Rum Crafts at  [email protected] .

The main ferries leave from Mallaig (1.5 hours)and prior to this, you could pop into Fort William and see the Glenfinnan Train .  If you’re feeling brave enough you could hire an offshore RIB operating from Elgol on Skye to both Rum and Canna. Advance booking necessary, telephone 01471 866 244.  Arisaig Marine runs cruises lasting 2-5 hours ashore Eigg, Muck and Rum. Operating from April until late September and departing Arisaig at 11 am. You must pre-book, telephone: 01687 450224. The harbour office at Arisaig also contains a tea room, showers, toilets, shop and a laundrette.

The only village on the island is Kinloch which was bought out by the 35 villagers who live there in 2009 (although they’ve been recruiting for more ). The rest of the island is owned by Scottish Natural Heritage. Rum is magnificently wild and rugged so if you’re looking for true natural beauty, you should head here.  Visitor accommodation on Rum includes bothies, B&B, hostel, campsite and glamping huts. The Kinloch Village Campsite is on the waterfront and includes a small wooden shelter, toilets, hot shower and freshwater. You’ll need all camping equipment if you camp or stay in the pods.

There are two mountain bothies about 3 hours walk from Kinloch village. They are maintained by the Mountain Bothy Association and offer basic facilities. Dibidil Bothy has a wood-burning stove and bunks whilst Guirdhil has an open fire and a raised wooden platform for sleeping. You’ll need to bring ALL camping equipment as well as fuel for cooking. You are allowed to wild camp in a tent on Rum but  observe a few basic rules !

In Kinloch, you’ll find the Kinloch Castle which was finished in 1900. The stone was imported from Arran and the gardens are rooted in 250,000 tons of Ayrshire topsoil. You can book a tour to see the opulent interior.  There’s also the impressive Bullough mausoleum. Built in a classical Greek style it seems a bit out of place in the Hebrides. It is possibly the only Doric temple in the Highlands and Islands.

Rum great for hiking, scrambling, biking and running. The footpaths along the coastline are flat ground and great for wildlife watching but the south-east of the island is dominated by the Rum Cuillin, a mountain ridge that is made up of the peaks of Barkeval, Hallival, Askival, Trollaval, Ainshval and Sgurr nan Gillean. For a full day tour try to take in the peaks of  Hallival and Askival ; if you have more time, base yourself at Dibidil bothy and hike the various peaks of the Cuillin from there. Alternatively, the route to  Kilmory Bay in the north is a 16km walk, passing the Kinloch Glen Waterfall and ending at a gorgeous pink, sandy beach overlooking the Atlantic. There are also two caves on the island for you to find.  There are two roads leading from Kinloch to Kilmory and Harris Bay, which offers a total of 11 miles of cycling.

Essential visits are to the Rum Visitor Centre where you can learn about the island’s geology, walking routes and pick up some useful leaflets. It is located by the Old Pier and is open every day during the summer months. There is a small village shop that is usually open in the mornings and evenings and sells basic supplies and  Kim’s Kitchen, which is housed in the community hall in Kinloch. There are a number of craft shops where you can buy locally produced arts and crafts and pay for souvenirs at honesty boxes: Rum Crafts ,  Tattie House Crafts ,  Croft 3 in The Shed .

Other adventurous activities include a mini pelagic boat tour with Rum Ranger Trudi. Tours run on Thursday afternoons between April and September when the MV Sheerwater from Arisaig drops sightseers off on the island. On Thursday afternoons you can also join a 2 hour guided kayak tour to the Island of Soay

Wild red deer and semi-wild ponies roam free and a colony of around 200,000 Manx shearwater seabirds breed on Rum. There are a number of Otter Hides on the island with the most easily accessible being at Loch Scresort. Ponies are most tame around Kinloch Castle and have been recorded on the island since 1772.

Read this autobiography from a nurse on the Scottish Islands

Scalpay by Skye

The Isle of Scalpay by Skye is privately owned and operates a red deer farm, shooting estate and holiday cottages. Much of Scalpay is covered with heather, while other areas are conifer forestry plantations. On a clear day, the view from Scalpay by Skye will take in Pabaay, Raasay and Skye.

There is a permanent population of just four people on Scalpay by Skye and the island boasts 14 miles of shoreline. There are also only three cottages on the island to let between April and October.

Some of the walks on the island include visiting the waterfall beyond the largest loch, Loch an Leoid and a scenic walk along the cliff path with views over the neighbouring islands of Longay and the Crowlin Islands. For history enthusiasts, there is an old Viking Settlement on the island.

Otters are prevalent on this near-deserted island as are red deer, voles, weasels, stoats, fox, bats, seals, porpoise, dolphins and occasionally all types of whales.

Enjoy this Gin from the Isle of Skye and taste Christmas every day!

The Slate Islands are an island group in the Inner Hebrides, lying immediately off the west coast of Scotland. The main islands are Seil, Easdale, Luing, Shuna, Torsa and Belnahua.

Seil Island is located half an hour drive south of Oban and is accessed via the 18th-century humpback Clachan Bridge, popularly known as the ‘Bridge over the Atlantic’. It was built in 1792 for the whopping sum of £450.  Beside the bridge is a pub, Tigh an Truish, or ‘House of the Trousers’, where islanders would have to swap kilt for trousers in order to conform to the post-1745 ban on the wearing of Highland dress & kilts.

The main settlement on the eastern side of Seil is Balvicar, now home to the island’s main harbour. Here you’ll find the Balvicar Stores, Seafari Adventures and Sea Kayak Scotland. The south of the island finds Cuan where you can get the ferry over to Luing.

The largest village on the island is Ellenabeich, in the west, which is picturesque with its hillside backdrop and rows of white-washed, 19th-century workers’ cottages. Ellenabeich is also where you’ll find the Oyster Bar & Restaurant, the Easdale ferry, the Heritage Centre and the departure point for the Seafari trips to the Corryvreckhan whirlpool.

The village’s main attractions are the gardens of An Cala with its glorious azaleas and Japanese flowering cherries in early summer however the heritage Centre is definitely worth a visit as it details historic island life and even provides archives to help with tracing genealogy. It also sells gifts and beautifully painted slate souvenirs.

From  Clachan Seil you can walk past the Tigh an Truish hotel down to the Puilladobhrain Anchorage. A great walk and you’l likely see deer, goats, seals and otters whilst there. This is also a great spot for kayaking.

From Seil you can take a day trip to Easdale and Luing and the other Slate Islands.

Buy Lonely Planet’s Guide to Scotland and The Hebrides

Shetland Isles (Mainland)

The Shetland Islands, previously known as Zetland which is why the postcode starts ZE, are the UK’s hidden secret. Most tourists don’t make it up there because it’s too far or it’s too cold or they don’t have time but I promise you that if you visit these ancient islands, a true adventure awaits you.

The Scottish archipelago of Shetland has over 100 islands but only 15 are inhabited. The islands lie 80 km (50 mi) to the northeast of Orkney, 170 km (110 mi) from the Scottish mainland and 300 km (190 mi) west of Norway. Although they’re far away, the population currently totals 23,000.

Humans have lived in Shetland since the Mesolithic period roughly 4,000 years ago although the islands didn’t become part of Scotland until the 15th century. The Shetland Islands have a unique culture, language and even have their own flag. The colours are identical to those of the flag of Scotland but are shaped in the Nordic cross. The Shetlands are perhaps most famous for their firey festival, Up Helly A a  in January.

The largest island, known as “Mainland” is the third-largest Scottish island and the fifth-largest of the British Isles. It is shaped somewhat like a number 7 and its capital is Lerwick which is very pretty and features quirky lanes. From here you can take a walk down to The Knab and watch whales. Mainland is home to Europe’s largest sandy beach with sea on both sides; St Ninian’s isle. It is a phenomenal sight to see and it’s no surprise that Shetland was awarded Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2019 as one of Europe’s top destinations.

In order to geet to Shetland, you’ll need to either fly, take the overnight ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick (12 hours) or the ferry from Kirkwall, Orkney to Lerwick.

In the south of Mainland, you’ll find the Croft House Museum, a 19th century thatched roofed cottage which depicts Zetland life in the 1800s, Jarlshof Prehistoric And Norse Settlement, a goldmine of 4,000 years worth of history which was revealed after a ferocious storm battered the headland. Here you’ll find a Bronze Age house, Iron Age broch and wheelhouses, Norse longhouses, a medieval farmstead and a laird’s residence from the 1500s and RSPB Sumburgh & the 1821 lighthouse. This area has an abundance of killer whales and puffins, so stay alert!

In Lerwick, you can also visit the Shetland Museum which is found in the historic Hay’s Dock. We recommend coffee at The Peerie Café and you must photograph the Lodberries. Built in 1730 these stone cottages built into the sea make great photos. Thirsty? Stop off at the Lerwick Brewery and sample their most popular beer, the 60° North Lager. Wildlife boat tours leave daily from Lerwick Pier giving you a chance to see Shetland’s vast number of sea birds as well as porpoise, dolphins, otters, seals and whales.

Scalloway Castle is a short distance from Lerwick and its history is riddled with drama and bloodshed. Mousa Island is located to the south-east of Lerwick and holds the best-preserved iron age broch in Europe. It’s 2,000 years old and if you have the chance definitely worth making the trip over.

Mainland is definitely not short of things to do and art is well celebrated. Take a trip up to Bonhoga Gallery which is situated in Weisdale Mill built in 1855.

The Fethaland High Cliffs are to the furthest north of Mainland and here there are ruins of buildings and a magnificent beach. With a walk of about 4.5km, you can see the lighthouse.  If you’re up for some adventure, go on a kayak tour with Sea Kayak Shetland. We recommend a trip to the red granite Ronas Voe fjord. You’ll get to visit The Blade beach and kayak through sea stacks and caves. Alternatively use Adventure Shetland and visit Uyea; a set of phenomenal small islands with the bluest water. As a bonus, you’ll be the only person for miles around!

Shetland has 1,697 miles of coastline, making it a dream for recreational divers and with diverse coves, caves, inlets, stacks, subterranean passages, historic wrecks and amazing wildlife, there’s plenty to ‘sea’!

If you can’t dive but still want to see under the water, Seabirds and Seals boat tour include underwater viewing with a remotely controlled tethered mini-submarine that feeds live colour video images onto display screens in the cabin.

Shiant Islands (Uninhabited)

Although their formal name is Na h-Eileanan Seunta, which means the charmed, holy or enchanted isles, these islands are also referred to as the Bewitched Islands supposedly as they continually change shape according to the weather and visibility which is often poor.

The Shiant Islands are a privately owned island group in the Minch, east of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. They are five miles southeast from Harris and approximately 12 miles northwest of Skye.

Over the course of the past 1200 years, the islands have had multiple landlords from the Vikings to author Sir Compton Mackenzie. They were continuously inhabited until the start of the 20th century (when there were 8 full-time residents) although it is now uninhabited. The islands were owned recently by Adam Nicolson who gifted them to his son, Tom, for his 21st birthday. The island only has one small bothie on it.

The main islands are Garbh Eilean (rough island) and Eilean an Taighe (house island) which are joined by a narrow shingle beach. Although Eilean an Taighe was previously called Eilean na Cille (island of the church) prior to the 19th century. There’s also Eilean Mhuire (island of the Virgin Mary) to the east.

The islands have the same rock formation as Staffa Island with black, basalt columns rising high out of the sea for nearly 500 feet. With similar features, there’s also a small cave known as the ‘Doorway of the Seals’ where you can see seals frolicking in the water and basking in the sun. This area is also a hotspot for Dolphins jumping in the waves. Added: The Shiant Islands are a haven for wildlife with over 300,000 seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, razorbills, shags and great skuas. around 10 per cent of UK puffins and 7 per cent of UK razorbills breed here every year. It is estimated that there are between 15,000 and 18,000 guillemots, 8,000 to 11,000 razorbills, between 4,000 and 6,000 fulmars, 2,000 kittiwakes, roughly 1,500 shags, a few hundred gulls of various kinds (whose numbers are rising), 26 great skuas and 240,000 puffins. In July 2009 Europe’s oldest puffin, aged 34, was discovered on the Shiant Islands.

You can either visit the island on a tour or arrange your own charter and stay on the island. You must first contact Tom for permission ([email protected]) although there is no charge for staying. The house is described as extremely basic with no electricity, running water, telephone or toilet however Katie Tunn managed to spend a whopping 37 days on the island. There is a mobile phone signal but you obviously can’t recharge them without solar packs.

If you want to visit the Shiant Islands, you can tour with Hebrides Cruises , Sea Harris, Isle of Harris Tours or Hebridean Whale Cruises.

When it comes to awe-inducing islands in the Scottish Highlands, the Isle of Skye is one of the most photographed and most sought after locations on a road trip through Scotland! With the island being connected to the Scottish mainland via the Skye Bridge , it’s also one of the most easily accessible islands in Scotland.

Many travellers spend three or fewer days in the Isle of Skye, but if you want to be thorough and really get to the good stuff, you should spend a minimum of five days in this area. Honestly though, once you arrive, there is a very slim chance you’ll want to leave, so add on those days and thank me later!

To explore this island in the best way possible, you should either rent your own car or campervan. A lot of people base themselves in Edinburgh or Glasgow, so look in those cities for the best, and cheapest car rentals. The drive from both Edinburgh and Glasgow to Skye is roughly four hours, but it’s incredibly scenic and there are plenty of places to stop and see on the way there like Glencoe Valley and Glenfinnan Viaduct, AKA the Harry Potter Train! There are guided tours that can take you into Skye, but a lot of your time is limited since you’re travelling with a larger group and you won’t get to see as much on these group tours. Plus, it’s so much cheaper to ‘DIY’ your itinerary anyway. Save your coin and see so much more!

With those robust five days on your itinerary to work with, you’ll for sure want to include these epic, highlighted stops: Eilean Donan Castle, Glencoe Valley, the Neist Point Lighthouse, Old Man of Storr , Glenfinnan Viaduct, Kilted Rock, the Fairy Glen, and the Quiraing.

From the Isle of Skye, there are even more island-hopping opportunities to take advantage of. If you have limited time on Skye, I recommend exploring this island as thoroughly as you can before taking on another, however, if you’re adventurous and want to see the best of the best, you can board ferries from the Isle of Skye to access the Outer Hebrides, Raasay, and the Small Isles. If you’re interested in exploring these untouched areas, book your tickets and view the ferry schedule here.

Written by Aaren from What Do You Sea. Read more from Aaren on Facebook. 

Circular walks on the Isle of Skye.

Just off the south coast of Skye, lies a tiny island called Soay. It currently has a population of three and Soay, whose name is derived from the Norse “sheep island”, has always been lightly populated. The population rose after the Highland clearances and in 1851 the population reached a peak of 158 people. It then dwindled steadily and in 1953 the remaining population of 27 asked to be moved to new homes on Mull.

Soay is inaccessible to most travellers as there’s no ferry. You must arrange a private transfer or a tour as the island can only be reached from Elgol on Skye, four miles away, or Mallaig 15 miles away. The island is a rough figure-of-eight shape, four miles long by two miles wide and the highest point is Beinn Bhreac  (140m). The island of Soay has no mains services, shops, jetty or proper road and no public at all.

One of the inhabitants of Soay is Anne Cholawo. A graphic designer, she moved to Soay from London after seeing a cottage advertised in a shop window on the Isle of Skye. Anne went on to write a book about her new home, called ‘Island on the Edge – a life on Soay’.  The island now boasts an incredible love affair and a story of success because a year after Anne’s move to the island, the Royal Marines agreed to airlift her piano from the main island using a Sea King helicopter. This is how Anne met her future husband and the couple married in 2005.

Sadly, the island could stop the closure of its beautiful, stone-built, primary school, despite a huge fight to preserve it and it was finally sold in 2015. The building stands on a raised shingle beach where Vikings used to haul their longships. 

If you’d like to visit this almost forgotten Isle of Scotland, watch an otter trying to eat a crab on the beach or watch the pods of dolphins majestically leaping around its bays, you can book a tour with  Misty Isle Boat Trips or Bella Jane Boat Trips. 

Buy this book written Soay inhabitant Anne Cholawo.

Staffa (uninhabited)

Staffa is 7 miles west of Mull and 6 miles north-east of Iona. It’s only half a mile long by a quarter of a mile wide and now completely uninhabited although in the 1700s, 16 people lived there. The Isle of Staffa can be accessed by boat tours from Fionnphort, Ulva Ferry, Iona, Tobermory, Oban and Kilchoan.

There is perhaps no other site that is so great and as mesmeric as approaching Staffa with its enormous basalt columns flanking the deep caves. Staffa is a volcanic island and the basalt columns formed when a single lava flow cooled around 60 million years ago. If the sea is calm, you should be able to float into Fingal’s Cave and dock. You’re able to explore the island although watch out for its steep sides!

The whole island is dotted with caves and is now are home to black guillemots, fulmars, puffins and the magical Fingal’s Cave puffins that nest in burrows on top of Staffa’s high cliffs. Keep your eyes open for Minke whales, dolphins, basking sharks, grey and common seals and porpoise. Not forgetting some of the smaller species such as the huge variety of plankton that forms the base of this very important ecosystem, crustaceans and jellyfish.

Fingal’s Cave is 72 feet tall and 270 feet deep and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can wild swim in it. Basking Shark Scotland offers a bespoke ‘ Swim Fingal’s Cave’ tour , where you can swim or snorkel into the cave. Floating into the mouth of the cave, looking straight up the basalt pillars and rock formations is impressive enough but if you snorkel, you can see the colonies of marine life underneath you too! If you don’t want to swim, you can also kayak into the cave.

The composer, Mendelssohn is one of the island’s many famous visitors and after visiting he wrote ‘The Hebrides Overture’ in 1832. Its other famous visitors include Queen Victoria, William Wordsworth, John Keats, Lord Tennyson, Jules Verne, Pink Floyd.

This book pays tribute to the remarkable Inner Hebridean island of Staffa and is written by its former owner. He describes the unique rock formations, the natural history, the stream of illustrious visitors and the island’s haunting atmosphere.

Stroma (Abandoned)

Stroma is a short distance from John O’Groats and is now fully abandoned. The island is privately owned but the owner, William Simpson, will take you over for the day for a small fee. Contact here for details. He farms sheep on the island and stays over there for a month during lambing.

In order to get to Stroma, you’ll need to cross the Pentland Firth which is lethal with rushing waters during the tides. Stroma, apparently, translates as ‘island in the stream’ although island in the perilously dangerous waters would be a better description.

Until the early 1900s, the island of Stroma was well populated but the final resident left in 1962 leaving on the lighthouse keeper until 1997.

Once we were on the island we had just over 3 and a half hours to explore. Of course, the priority was the lighthouse so we set off, deciding that we

Things to do on the island include seeing the lighthouse and the presence of the old foghorn buildings, the two towers on the island of Muckle Skerry, the largest of the Pentland Skerries, an old pier and slipway with a rather rusty boat looking ready to be lowered into the sea, the old harbour, a war memorial and of course the derelict houses.

The houses are in varying states of dereliction. Some with their windows and roofs intact others with decrepit walls

Almost immediately the derelict houses appeared, all in varying states – some with their roof and windows semi-intact and others with no roof, windows and barely any walls at all. Only one house still looks intact, the one next to the old manse, which has a bit of a run down telephone box in front of it – a reminder that it wasn’t too long ago that the island was populated.

On the west coast is a Subterranean Passage and The Gloup.  The Gloup is a fantastic huge hole in the ground that is linked to the coast by an underground passage tunnel. It’s a stunning thing to see, especially the vertical, flat cliff above the tunnel entrance. There’s also an old shipwreck, The Golden Promise, which was wrecked in 2011 after the skipper fell asleep. Thankfully everyone was rescued although the boat has been left in place.

DK Eyewitness of Scotland

Swona (Abandoned)

Swona is to the south-west of the Orkney Isles and sits around seven miles north of John o’ Groats and around two miles off the west coast of South Ronaldsay.

Humans lived on Swona since around 500BC with the Vikings among those who settled here. By the mid-18th century, it was home to 9 families, approximately 47 residents lived on the island and it had its own school until 1920. It was last inhabited more than 40 years ago, however. Since the early 1930s, just one family, the Rosies, called it home with the last brother and sister sailing off for the final time in 1974. Sadly they fell ill whilst visiting relatives and never returned to the island.

The island is a mile and a half long by half a mile wide and few traces of human life can be found on the abandoned island although if you explore the abandoned cottages you’ll still find a tea towel hanging on a kitchen range and food packets hiding in the cupboards.

The island is considered a Site of Special Scientific Interest where a number of rare plants can be found but Swona is a hazardous place to reach due to the treacherous tides. You can take tours here with  Ness Ribs.

Learn more about life & death on St Kilda. For more than two thousand years St Kilda remained remote but in the nineteenth century, the islands were discovered by missionaries, do-gooders and tourists.

The Isle of Tiree is the most westerly island of the Inner Hebrides. It is described as ‘Hawai’i of the North’ due to its mild climate (winter temperatures are generally higher than on the mainland, while summer evenings are warm and balmy) and white sand beaches. The island is one of the sunniest places in the UK with the land being highly fertile and crofting, alongside tourism are the main sources of employment for the islanders.

The island is thought to have had a population of around 4,500 but the island’s population took a sharp decline during the Clearances. Tiree now has a population of around 650-700 and whilst you can fly directly here from Glasgow, no island adventure is complete without a ferry ride. The ferry leaves from Oban, 60 miles away (3 hours 50 minute), and the island has a variety of tourist accommodation ranging from luxury hotels to glamping pods.

It is believed that Tiree has been occupied since the Mesolithic times. Numerous Iron Age structures have been discovered on the island, as well as a Viking settlement. The island also has connections to St Columba, who established a monastery there in the 6th century. There are two heritage centres at Scarinish and Hynish which are a must-visit so you can learn about island life through relics, stories, poems, maps and more. Dun Mor Broch is an Iron Age structure and the Ringing stone (Clach a’ Chiore) is plain unusual. This giant stone which sits on Tiree shoreline has 53 carved cup-marks of various sizes, believed to date back to 2,500 BC. When struck, the cup marks emit a metallic ringing sound.

Tiree is 10 miles by 5 miles and Billy Connolly once described it as being “like a bloody billiard table” in reference to its flatness. There are just two hills on Tiree;  Beinn Hynish (141 metres) and Beinn Hough (119 metres). The Skerryvore Lighthouse Museum at Hynish tells the story of Scotland’s tallest lighthouse (48 metres), which stands 11 miles off the coast. Its been operating since 1844.

Tiree has 16 beaches! If beaches are your thing, you’re in for a treat. You can take stand-up paddleboard lessons as well as kite surfing lessons. In particular, Tiree is a mecca for windsurfers and the island hosts Tiree Wave Classic every October.  Gott Bay features many kitesurfers and waves whilst Caloas is the total opposite with its blissful calm. No surprise it’s the least-visited beach on Tiree. At Scarinish beach, the remains of the ‘Mary Stuart’ emerg from the beach where it crashed in 1938. Crossapol beach offers nearly a mile of pristine white sand and Balevullin is the most popular on the island with surfers. Other beaches to check out are Balephetrish Bay, Cornaig Beach and Hynish.

Whilst on Tiree keep an eye out for white-beaked dolphins, minke whales, seals, otters, basking sharks, birds, hares and of course, highland cows. If you want to learn how to windsurf, head to Loch Bhasopol, the second-largest loch on Tiree.

Explore the island on foot, by car or hire an e-bike with Tiree Fitness and  don’t miss the picturesque old harbour at Scarinish. This island doesn’t have a huge amount of restaurants and cafes which adds to its charm. Beachcomber Cafe is near the airport and Farmhouse Cafe is in Balemartine.

The Tiree Music Festival which attracts over 2,000 people is held in July but usually, Tiree is perfect for night skies as there is very little night pollution.  Balevullin has been dedicated as a Dark Sky Discovery Site although Hough, Balephuil Beach, Sorobaidh and Salum are also great spots for seeing galaxies.

For days out off the island Tiree Sea Tours goes to Skerryvore Lighthouse and islands including Staffa, Lunga, Iona, Coll, Mul and the Treshnish Islands. Lunga is the best place in the Treshnish Isles to view the puffins, they can usually be seen from mid-April until early August.

Treshnish Isles

The Treshnish Isles are a scattered archipelago of small islands and skerries, lying west of the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. The archipelago lies, at its closest, 3km west of Mull and extends for a distance of 11km.

There are eight main islands, the Biggest Islands are Bac Mòr, also known as ‘The Dutchman’s Cap’, the Cairn na Burghs and Lunga – which is the main destination for a boat trip to the Treshnish Isles.

Lunga was populated until the mid 19th century and at the northeast end of the island are the remains of a ruined abandoned village and a small castle. Lunga is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its abundant plant life, much of which is rare and endangered as well over 6000 birds, of 47 different species, including razorbill, kittiwake, fulmar, great skua and not forgetting the majestic puffin. The Treshnish Isles are also an important Atlantic Grey Seal breeding area but you might also see dolphins, porpoise, basking sharks and whales.

Unlike other birds, puffins don’t build nests. Instead, they dig holes into the soft earth on top of cliffs and hide their chicks underneath away from predators. Puffin eggs hatch between mid-April and early August. These gorgeous little birds have little fear of humans and its possible to get very close to them, although please don’t touch.

Visit these islands with Staffa Tours , Boat Trips Iona , Turus Mara and Tiree Sea Tours.

Grab a Treshnish Puffin calendar 

Uist (North)

North Uist and South Uist (below) are two islands within the Outer Hebrides.  The islands are linked by causeways which run through the Isle of Benbecula and Grimsay (above).  The Uists have maintained their cultural roots and the Gaelic language is frequently spoken here. The islands are a haven for nature and beach lovers alike.

The North Uist ferry runs from Uig on Skye to Lochmaddy (1 hour 45 minutes). You can also catch a ferry from Leverburgh on Harris to Berneray and drive south or from the Isle of Eriskay to Ardmhor, Isle of Barra. If you are taking a car across, you MUST book your ferry beforehand.  DO not just turn up.

North Uist has a significant historic background and whilst you’re here, you can see Barpa Langais, a 5,000-year-old burial chamber of Neolithic descent, the Cladh Hallan Roundhouses where prehistoric mummies were found and Ormacleit Castle which only survived for 7 years before being burned down. There’s also Trinity Temple, a historic ruin, which is also possibly Scotland’s oldest university.

The island is dominated with sandy beaches in all shapes and sizes. Traigh Lingeigh is one of the longest beaches with white sand and clear waters. If you’re brave enough you can swim and snorkel here! Another good sandy beach is Clachan Sands whilst Hosta is pretty rugged with its crashing waves. Both Traigh Udal and Traigh Iar are gorgeous.

Due to the number of lochs on Uist, otters are prevalent and it’s highly likely you’ll be able to see them. The Uists are also home to the largest breeding colony of Grey Seals in Europe and they produce over 9,000 pups every year. If you’re looking to see them swimming, head to Balranald Bay or out on one of the many wildlife watching boat trips around the Uists.  Take a boat trip with Nick from Lady Anne Boat Trips or take a longer trip over to Hirta, St Kilda.  Keep an eye out for dolphins, sea eagles, whales and even deer as they cross to neighbouring islands.

North Uist is not short on the arts either. The Uist Sculpture Trail intertwines art and environment and you can even learn some new skills at the Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre. Take a visit to Shoreline Stoneware where handcrafted produce is made from flotsam & jetsam found on the shore.

The Hebrides might not be the most common place to seek out a Yoga Retreat but Judith from  Yoga For Life Hebrides is based on North Uist and offers regular solitude retreats.

If you’re looking for somewhere to eat Claddach Kirkibost on North Uist, a community centre and a café sell food as well as delicious homemade jam and chutneys great for taking home or gifts. The carrot cake at the Lochboisdale Café is famous and sells out fast.

Get to know more about North Uist’s history with this book.

Uist (South)

South Uist is the second-largest island of the Outer Hebrides. It sits between the islands of Barra and Benbecula and is connected to North Uist by a causeway that links all of the Uist islands, including Grimsay.

You can get to South Uist by flying to Stornoway (Lewis) or Benbecula & Barra or catching the ferry from Oban and Mallaig to Lochboisdale which is on the east of the island. South Uist is definitely an island for those that love nature and being outside. The east side of the island hosts Beinn Mhor (2034ft) whereas the west side is perfect for beachcombing and water sports.

On the west side of the island, you’ll find Loch Druidibeg with its abundance of plant life and birds. The bird of prey trail takes in all of the Outer Hebrides and has two spots on South Uist for viewing eagles, hen harrier, merlin, redshank, dunlin, lapwing, greylag geese, short-eared owl, buzzard and kestrel.

Whilst on the east side, you can the peaks of Hecla, Beinn Mhor, Beinn Corradale and Ben Kenneth. If you’re into gardening, make sure you visit the historic walled kitchen garden. First built around 1740 the gardens grow fruit and vegetables using seaweed as a compost. They sell produce from the garden year-round.

Other things to see on the island include Ormacleit Castle which lasted a whopping 7 years before being burned down. The Cladh Hallan Roundhouses are the only place in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found and the Bornish Standing Stones

Don’t forget to check out The Kildonan Museum and Heritage Centre which includes a craft shop, a cafe and regularly holds ceilidhs, music and dance. Kildonan Beach is beautiful and long with white sand.

Take a day trip to the Isle of Calvay where the lighthouse is and the remains of a 12th-century castle. The Island was home to Bonnie Prince Charlie for the evening when he fled to the Outer Hebrides after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

You can also go out on a boat with Uist Sea Tours to see puffins, dolphins, porpoise and whales.

A ten-minute ferry from Mull, Ulva was down to its last five inhabitants before it was bought by the local community with a £4.4m grant from the Scottish Land Fund. They advertised for people to come and live on the island and boost their numbers. Almost 500 people registered official interest in becoming residents of Ulva. and many had the skills needed to rebuild a community from scratch: forestry experts, land labourers and one woman who proposed opening a pony-trekking business.  It became the third Scottish island to be bought by the community following Eigg in 1997 and Gigha in 2001.

Ulva is an island where you can uncover the history of the earliest Scottish settlements. Dotted with archaeological dig sites Ulva is steeped in island history set to a spectacular backdrop of land and sea. It is a rugged seven-by-three-mile island where you can be as active as you want. Once a favoured holiday destination of both Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth, 5,000 daytrippers visit every year.

The island has abundant wildlife where deer, seal, puffin and hen harrier spottings are regular. There are also and more than 500 types of plant native to the islet. Red deer, rabbits and mountain hares, the occasional sea otter, stoat or hedgehog might be spotted at any season.  Ulva’s woodlands, shores and open moors make it an ideal place for bird watching;  the coming of the terns to the small islands south of Ulva to breed, the puffins in the waters west and north of Ulva in early summer, the occasional cry of the Corncrake. Ulva is also home to nesting pairs of White-tailed Sea Eagles, which can be commonly seen on the wing along the coast of Ulva.

Ulva has no shops, no proper roads and the one tin can ferry stops running at 5 pm but things to do on the island include visiting the listed Parliamentary Church, Sheila’s & Livingstones Cottages, the standing stones, Clarke’s Memorial, having tea in the boathouse tearoom, hiking to Livingstone’s cave and walking to the neighbouring island of Gometra which is connected by a bridge. Much of the island is formed from Cenozoic basalt rocks, which are formed into columns in places.  There is also a Victorian reservoir and the sprawling mansion of Ulva House complete with library and south-facing balcony.

Wild camping is allowed on Ulva or you can stay in the Bothies below.

If you’re visiting Ulva and want to know more, buy this visitor’s guide.

Whalsay is the sixth-largest of the Shetland Islands and has been known as the Bonnie Isle since the 19th century when Scots fishermen visited. Situated to the eat, is it five miles long and two miles wide.

The highest point on the island is Ward of Clett (393 feet) and as crofting is not a major industry here, in spring and summer the island becomes alive with mostly pink wildflowers. There a number of gorgeous hikes around the island and summer are definitely the best time to visit.

In order to get here, you’ll need to take the regular 30-minute ferry from Laxo, Lerwick. The crossing to Symbister takes 25 minutes and booking is advisable.

Whalsay has been inhabited since 3000 BC and has a growing population. The island also has some important archaeological sites, a Hanseatic League museum and one of the finest Georgian mansions in Shetland. Yoxie House was at one time believed to be a Neolithic temple but is now thought to be the site of a large farmhouse. Two Bronze Age burnt mounds are near Sandwick Loch and the locally-named Broch of Huxter is the remains of an Iron Age fort.

Also worth visiting are Symbister House which dominates the harbour entrance. The former laird’s house (a grade B listed building) was built from Nesting granite in 1823 and is now the Heritage Centre. The Pier House on the waterfront, a Hanseatic böd used by German merchants, was restored in 1984. Its interior was reconstructed and includes replicas of the period.

Among the wildlife to be spotted on the island are red-throated divers, wading birds, puffins, otters at Houb. Whalsay is among the best places in Shetland to see Porpoises, Dolphins, Minke Whales and Orcas.  GreatSandwick beach is a small and lovely beach found in the south of the island.

Accommodation is limited and there appears to be just one hotel, the Busta House   and there’s one campsite Oot Ower Lounge  .

Spend a figurative year in The Shetlands with Ann Cleeves and her beautiful photography. 

Yell is the second largest island in Shetland after the Mainland. It is 19 miles (31 kilometres) long, with a maximum breadth of 7.5 miles (12 kilometres), and is swept all around by very impetuous tides and big, foamy waves.

In order to get here, you’ll need to catch the car ferry from Toft to Ulsta. The crossing takes 20 minutes although Yell is seldom visited for anything other than a bridge between the Mainland and Unst.

Some of Yell’s attractions are the Old Haa of Burravoe (1672) with its historical artefacts, natural history and other important events on Yell, such as the sinking of the Bauhaus. There is also a tearoom, gallery and shop here. The White Wife of Otterswick is the figurehead of the ship Bauhaus which sank in 1942 standing as a mournful tribute to the lives lost.

Windhouse is an 18th century ruined lairds house perched on a hilltop. It’s famous for being haunted. the Aywick shop, which looks like a warehouse, sells pretty much everything possible. From breakfast to wood and everything in between. nVisit the iron age, Burra Ness broch to see otters and admire the 4m high walls.

Yell has some lovely beaches; West Sandwick Beach, Gossabrough and the Sands of Breckon. The sands have hidden some ancient Viking (and earlier) settlements and the island is (like St Ninian’s Isle) attached to Yell by a double shingle ayre.

Keep an eye out for dolphins, porpoise, killer whales and Humpback whales which are spotted every summer on their migratory route through the Yell Sound. Otters are also a frequent sight.

Accommodation is easier to come by than Whalsay and you can camp at the Burravoe Pier Trust Campsite or wild camp. If you’re brave enough, there’s also camping bods at Windhouse Lodge although watch out for the ghosts.

The Shetland Gallery is the Northernmost Art Gallery in Britain and showcases art and crafts from the Shetland Isles.

Walk The Shetland Islands With This Walking Guide

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The 8 Best Scottish Islands to Visit in 2024

Ah, the best Scottish Islands, where do we even begin? Scotland as a whole is a wild and wonderful place, full of ancient legends, harrowing history, captivating animals, and endless Instagrammable views. It’s a traveller's paradise and, luckily for us, a travel company’s paradise. Every day we can get on the road to explore this wonderful country we count as a day blessed. Robin Worsnop started Rabbie’s Tours back in 1993, which makes us ‘thirty, flirty and thriving’ this year (points if you got the reference). All Robin had was an old sherpa van and a few people telling him it would never work. Fueled by a desire to explore his own country, and to show it off to those who come to visit, Rabbie’s has now spread their explorations further and we’ve got small-group tours all across the UK and even in Europe. But Scotland is where it all began. And who can blame us? Scotland truly is one of those places that makes you feel as if you’ve stepped into another world. From the Fairy Pools on Skye to the view over Edinburgh from Calton Hill, this country has it all. We’ve even got an enormous number of Scottish islands to our name. Most people are familiar with the Isle of Skye , its majesty and mysticism, the dramatic peaks and incredible views. But there’re endless others to uncover, and we’re lucky enough to explore quite a few of them on our tours. We love taking people across the water to an island they’d likely never visit otherwise. In case you’re not familiar with the iconic and best Scottish islands, we thought we’d give you a little rundown of the top isles we visit and why you should seriously consider visiting yourself. Each has its own little quirks and the thing above all its beloved for. Sit back and enjoy as we take you on this journey through the best islands you should visit next time you’re in Scotland. 

The 8 Best Scottish Islands to Visit This Year

Complete your trip by ticking the best Scottish islands off your bucket list. From our own experience, the 8 you don’t want to miss out on include:

• Islay: The best Scottish island to visit for whisky lovers
• Mull & Iona: The best Scottish islands to visit for seaside lovers
• Staffa: The best Scottish island to visit for animal lovers
• Isle of Skye: The best Scottish island to visit for film lovers and photographers
• Orkney Islands: The best Scottish islands to visit for Neolithic site lovers
• Outer Hebrides: The best Scottish islands for beach lovers
• Isle of Arran: The best Scottish island for activity lovers

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Islay: The Best Scottish Island to Visit for Whisky Lovers 

Islay (pronounced ‘eye-la’) is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland and has the illustrious title “Queen of the Hebrides”. Its landscape is abundant with wildlife and has a long and fascinating history, however it's something with a little more kick that it’s known for. Whisky . Much of Islay’s landscape is made up of peat, a rich and fertile soil, perfect for growing barley, the base ingredient for whisky. Across the island, distillers use dried peat to smoke the barley. Thanks to this process, the whisky has a unique smoky flavour that has become incredibly popular.

What Can You See and Do on the Scottish Island of Islay?

Plenty. There’s wildlife at every turn, from golden eagles to otters, deer to grey seals. Simply drive around one of the best Scottish islands and you’ll get views worthy of their own Instagram post. And there’s even some fascinating evidence of prehistoric settlers on the island from around 10,000 BC, which can be seen at the Museum of Islay Life in Port Charlotte.

How Can You Visit One of The Best Scottish Islands - Islay?

It’s definitely the kind of place where a car will be required. Much of the island’s beauty can be taken in simply by roaming around in your vehicle, stopping for photos and staring out the window. You can get to Islay by air or by ferry. Alternatively, you can join us on a Rabbie’s whisky tour . Hop on a tour from the capital of Edinburgh , such as the 4-day Islay & the Whisky Coast tour . You discover the smoky flavours of Islay’s single malt whiskies, explore the historic sights, and spend your time trading notes with fellow whisky lovers. 

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Mull & Iona: The Best Scottish Island to Visit for Seaside Lovers 

We’re grouping Mull and Iona as these two Scottish isles are often done together. Iona is a teeny-tiny isle off the coast of Mull. It’s a mere 2km wide and 6km long, with a population of around 120 people. It’s a great day trip from Mull and the highlights include Iona Abbey . Iona is a holy isle and often known as the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland. Its stark yet beautiful landscape makes for a dramatic exploration of the Scottish island. Then there’s the Isle of Mull . Filled with silver-sand beaches and its fair share of lochs , rivers, and waterfalls , Mull is perfect for those with a love of sparkling water. Iona is much the same, its small shores surrounded as they are by turquoise waters. Both Scottish isles have an incredible range of landscapes, from mountains to forests, each worth taking a moment to visit. We have the perfect long-weekend getaway from Glasgow , our 3-day Iona & Mull tour . Or there’s the 5-day Iona, Mull & the Isle of Skye tour from Edinburgh. Visiting Mull and Iona isn’t all you’ll get from these adventures. Which leads us to our next best Scottish island to visit this year… 

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Staffa: The Best Scottish Island to Visit for Animal Lovers 

Let’s be honest, there are amazing animals all across Scotland. But there’s something about the allure of Staffa. It’s easy to group as one of the best Scottish islands with Mull and Iona, as most people get a boat from Mull over to Staffa for a few hours. There really is something absolutely striking and unforgettable about Staffa. This little uninhabited rock is formed from stark basalt rocks shooting into the sky and houses the legendary Fingal’s Cave below. It’s this unique formation that gives you the feeling that this out-of-the-way Scottish island might have once been home to monsters, giants, or witches. Who knows, but there are certainly legends surrounding this place. If you know of the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland , the legend goes that these two places are the opposite ends of an ancient bridge built by Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill. It was also the inspiration to Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture if you've ever had the pleasure of hearing it. Another unique reason for Staffa to be listed as one of the best Scottish islands to visit is its bird life. While we can never guarantee spotting any kind of wild animal, the island is known for its population of puffins . As the lords of the island, they love to nestle in grassy areas atop the high cliffs, showing off mostly during spring and summer. It makes sense that people journey out on a boat to Staffa, not just for the chance of seeing Lord and Lady Puffins in their natural habitat, but to see (and photograph) the incredible island itself.  

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Isle of Skye: The Best Scottish Island to Visit for Film Lovers and Photographers 

This is a Scottish island many people know. When visiting Scotland, seeing the dramatic mountains and landscapes of the misty Isle of Skye is high on many people’s travel bucket lists. For good reason. Not only is Skye stunning, but it’s also easier to access than a lot of the other islands (since its bridge allows it to remain open all year-round). The alluring island has been used in several movies over the years, making its popularity as one of the best Scottish islands to visit grow even further. For the film buffs out there, you might be interested in visiting the Quiraing. This landslip formation is like something out of a dream. Standing on the edge and gazing out over the landscape, you might recognise this area from movies like:

• Transformers: The Last Knight
• Snow White and the Huntsmen
• 2015 adaptation of Macbeth

There’re a few walks in the area you can do, so bring your walking sticks. Just make sure to hold onto your beanies and scarves, it’s a tad windy up there! One of our favourite places on this top Scottish island is the Old Man of Storr , one of Skye’s most prominent and dramatic icons. This is another one you can walk. Mind you, it’s a pretty steep climb, so make sure your bag is light. This otherworldly rock formation was used in the movies Prometheus and The Wickerman (1973). Then there’s the magical Fairy Glen. A truly unique little spot, with its moss-covered trees, tiny loch, ancient ruined ‘castle’, and its fairy circle made of stones. Makes for a great photo, as with pretty much anywhere in Skye, but you may also recognise it from a scene in Stardust. The point is: the Isle of Skye is amazing. Film lovers will get a kick out of seeing some of their favourite movies in the flesh (as it were) and it really is the ideal landscape for photographers. There’re very few places in Scotland that are as dramatic and mystical as the Isle of Skye and it’s no wonder one of our most popular tours is the 3-day Isle of Skye from either Edinburgh or Glasgow . 

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Orkney Islands: The Best Scottish Island to Visit for Neolithic Site Lovers 

Right up the top of Scotland, about 32km offshore, you’ll find the Orkney Islands . While there are more than 70 islands that make up Orkney, only about 20 are inhabited. As with pretty much anywhere in Scotland, you’re in for a treat with stunning scenery and coastlines at your fingertips. However, what we think qualifies Orkney as some of the best Scottish islands to visit is how rich in history these isles are. There are so many to choose from, but Orkney’s most famous archaeological treasures are:

• UNESCO World Heritage Site Skara Brae , a stone Neolithic settlement on the Bay of Skaill
• The Ring of Brodgar, a Neolithic henge and stone circle
• The Standing Stones of Stenness
• The Maeshowe tomb, built around 2800 BC

These relics draw people year after year. It's a fairly inaccessible place over winter , but when the wind dies down around April (don’t hold us to that), the sun returns and animals appear. Spring is a great time to see puffins, lambs, seal pups, and all manner of cute animals. Plus, if you’re really lucky and time it right, you may just see the Northern Lights. Like much of Scotland (in particular the best islands we have named), having a car to visit Orkney is going to be your best bet. Better still, we have several adventures that can take you to Orkney, including our 5-day Orkney & Scotland's Northern Coast tour from Edinburgh and our 3-day Orkney Explorer tour from Inverness, just to name a few. 

Outer Hebrides: The Best Scottish Islands for Beach Lovers  

The best Scottish islands to visit list goes on and now it’s time to explore the Outer Hebrides, a 130-mile-long archipelago of about 220 islands, only 15 of which are inhabited. Lewis and Harris are the two most frequented islands for visitors, but don’t forget about the rest. Much like Orkney, you’ll get a kick out of the historical sites, nature reserves, and over 50 Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Take the Callanish Standing Stones, for example, which were erected over 5,000 years ago, on the Isle of Lewis. Or the Cladh Hallan Roundhouse, a Bronze Age-Iron Age settlement, on the Isle of South Uist. But gosh we just love those Outer Hebrides beaches. The Isle of Berneray, for instance, is abundant with rocky bays and white sandy beaches. Or there’s North Uist, which is said to be more water than land, covered in sand and machair, low- lying grassy plains. Even on Harris you won’t be disappointed, as much of its landscape is dominated by those picture-perfect sandy beaches and flower-infused machair. Perhaps you’ll charter a boat out to the Flannan Islands, a landscape rife with incredible views and unsolved mysteries. At the turn of the 20th century, an entire crew of lighthouse keepers vanished from these islands never to be seen again. It’s unlikely to happen again, right? We reckon it’s worth the risk for the views alone. Though, you may have to fight the puffins for the best views. Tempted to see these best Scottish islands to visit for yourself? Join us on our three day tour to Lewis and Harris from Inverness and dive deeper into Scottish culture to discover the stories and heritage behind these beautiful beaches. 

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Isle of Arran: The Best Scottish Island for Activity Lovers  

Last on our best Scottish islands list, but certainly not least, we have the lovely Isle of Arran. Its nickname is “Scotland in miniature”, which tells you just what a perfect little island it is to visit. Arran has all of the above and more, from the Machrie Moor Standing Stones to Arran Coastal Way. It’s the kind of place where you can get a little bit of everything you might want from a Scottish island. Coastlines and beaches, dramatic mountain peaks, mystic forests, culture and local produce. Not to mention it’s relatively easy to get to from both Edinburgh and Glasgow. One thing we love about Arran is the range of activities available for those who love to keep their holidays active. Whether you love a good hill walk, or enjoy a spot of golf, biking over mountain ridges or paragliding along a stunning coastline, Arran has it. In particular, those who love to self-drive or rent a campervan will adore the flexibility and opportunity this best Scottish island to visit brings. Alternatively, we can of course take you there on a Rabbie’s tour, like our 1-day A Day on the Island: Arran tour from Glasgow.

Visit The Best Scottish Islands With Rabbie’s

So, that’s it from us for now. As you can see, you’ll be missing out on a whole lot if you ignore the best islands on your trip to Scotland. Especially if you’re eager to see ancient sites like standing stones, you’ll find most of them on the islands. It really is a unique experience and will make your Scottish trip that much richer. Imagine how jealous everyone back home will be when you post a picture of you standing on a cliff’s edge at the very tip of the northernmost island in Scotland. Quite jealous. Just saying. Be sure to stay up to date with all our latest adventures and new tour departures when you sign up to our newsletter .

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21 of the Best Scottish Islands to Visit

“Scotland has islands?”

This is a question I’ve heard all too often, and it’s one I didn’t know the answer to before I moved to Scotland either. It’s just not something I ever thought about when I was dreaming of living in Edinburgh and visiting the highlands.

In fact, Scotland doesn’t just have a few islands; it has almost 800! And over 100 of them are inhabited.

Scottish islands are some of the best and most beautiful places I’ve ever travelled to and are a well-deserved addition to any Scotland itinerary.

But how do you choose the best Scottish islands to visit? 

My love affair with the Scottish islands began on a trip to Shetland , the furthest away from the mainland of the Scottish island groups. Since then, I’ve been making it my mission to visit a few more every year, including on a mini honeymoon to the Isles of Lewis and Harris !

Although I’ve written about some of the most beautiful Scottish islands, I really wanted to create a guide to the best islands in Scotland that was comprehensive enough to give beginner island-hoppers a head start in choosing the best Scottish islands for them, when to visit, and how to get there.

The islands in Scotland are made of four major groupings, Shetland, Orkney, the Outer Hebrides, and the Inner Hebrides. Between them, they have an amazing array of beautiful scenery, wildlife, and ancient history.

I’ve included the islands of Scotland I’ve managed to visit so far, plus the recommendation of some fellow Scottish and Scotland-loving travel bloggers. As I continue to tick more off, I’ll add further information to the guide.

The islands can mostly be reached by ferry, but there are many flights to Scottish islands as well.

Below you’ll find details of how to visit Scottish islands, tips about Scottish island tours, and plenty of tips from myself and fellow bloggers that will help you decide which Scottish island to visit… although I’ll be surprised if you find you can only choose one! 

Use the table of contents to jump to whichever section you’d like to explore!

Shetland is a group of islands that are actually located closer to Bergen in Norway than Edinburgh in Scotland!

Their remoteness makes them a rather unique place to visit , with a mixture of old Norse and Scottish influences. There are even Viking fire festivals held in communities across the island every year!

The larger of the islands are the Mainland, Yell, and Unst, but there are also other inhabited islands like Whalsay, Fetlar, and Bressay.

Getting there: Shetland is serviced by the Northlink Ferries , which operate overnight ferries out of Aberdeen to Lerwick on the mainland, or via Orkney.

You can also fly via Logan Air from major Scottish cities, from Orkney, Manchester, or Bergen in Norway.

Mainland Shetland

Contributed by Patricia from Mad About Scotland

The main island of Shetland is an absolute marvel. The remoteness of this archipelago between Scotland, the Faroe Islands, and Norway is responsible for many of its charms.

Be prepared for the wilderness at Eshaness Cliffs. Fall in love with the history that places like Jarlshof , the Clickimin Broch, and Scalloway Castle Tell. Marvel at the super gorgeous St Ninian’s Isle and THAT tombola beach.

The bubbling Lerwick is another good reason to spend some time in Shetland. It is full of lovely shops, and you can follow the steps of inspector Jimmy Pérez (his house is one of the lodberries along the waterfront).

To top it all off, Shetland is a good place to taste local produce like mussels, delicious salmon and, of course, Reestit Mutton Soup. Honestly, if you can, go visit Shetland. It may not have trees, but it has loads to see and do.

Yell is the largest of the islands north of the mainland, but also often overlooked as people pass through after catching the ferry from the mainland to get the next ferry to Unst. It has a beautiful coastline for wildlife spotting and miles of moorlands strewn with wildflowers.

Unst is the northernmost inhabited island in the British Isles, and also where my great grandparents lived before they decided to move across the world to New Zealand.

For a remote and relatively small island, there are a wealth of things to do in Unst . From the Hermaness Nature Reserve with its dramatic cliffs and bird-watching to the northern-most gin distillery and brewery in Britain and UnstFest in the summer.

Orkney is located just off the north of Scotland and, on a clear day, can be seen from the mainland.

The Orkney Islands hold some of the most fascinating historical monuments of all of the Scottish Islands, thanks to the rich history of Pict and Viking settlements.

There are over 70 islands in Orkney alone, with 20 being permanently inhabited. Most people visit the mainland, but there are plenty of other options too. I can’t wait to go back and explore more!

Getting there: Orkney can be reached by several ferries from mainland Scotland, including the North Link ferry from Aberdeen to Kirkwall or from Scrabster to Stromness.

Other options from the top of Scotland are the Gill’s Bay to St Margaret’s Hope ferry with Pentland Ferries, or the passenger-only Jog Ferry from John O’Groats to Burwick.

You can travel between all inhabited islands with Orkney Ferries and some flights. The shortest scheduled passenger flight between Westray and Papa Westray is the shortest in the world at only 1 and a half minutes!

Mainland Orkney

Contributed by Helena from Through an Aussies Eyes 

The Mainland of the Orkney Islands is the largest of the islands of this northern archipelago in Scotland. Mainland has the two towns of Kirkwall (the capital of these islands) and Stromness which are both alluring with their small coastal island town charms. They are also home to ferry connections from mainland Scotland.

Both the St. Magnus Cathedral (highly recommend the tour that takes you through the top layers of the cathedral and out onto the roof that overlooks the town) and the Earl’s Palace (a ruined 16th-century castle) can be found in the middle of Kirkwall amongst the boutique shops.

Scattered across the island, you will find the Neolithic and Pictish sites of Skara Brae, Maeshowe (see Viking graffiti inside the tomb), the Tomb of the Eagles and the Ring of Brodgar.

For a more modern-day history lesson, the World Wars have put Mainland Orkney on the map. See the blockships at Scapa Flow (purposely sank ships to block the enemy out during the World Wars), the Italian Chapel that was built by prisoners of war and the Ness Battery that holds tours over these towers. Mainland Orkney really will please any history buff!

The island of Hoy is a popular day trip from Mainland Orkney, particularly for the opportunity to walk to see the Old Man of Hoy, a 449-foot sea stack off the north coast of the island. The walk to the Old Man of Hoy starts in Rackwick Bay. 

In contrast to the green rolling hills of the Mainland, Hoy is more rugged and like the highlands of Scotland.

Other sites include the Scapa Flow Visitor Centre & Museum, where you can learn more about the part that Orkney played in both world wars, the rock-cut tomb called the Dwarfie Stane, and the Martello Tower and Battery.

The Inner Hebrides

The Inner Hebrides are the most accessible of the Scottish islands, with many being reachable within a short ferry ride from the mainland and even doable on a day trip. 

The Inner Hebrides stretch from the Isle of Skye off the west of Scotland down to the Isle of Arran just west of Glasgow.

Like all of Scotland’s islands, they contain beautiful scenery, an abundance of wildlife, and fairytale seaside villages.

The most well-known of the Inner Hebrides would have to be the Isle of Skye. This is the one island that travellers to Scotland do seem to know about, even if they don’t realise it, given it has been connected to the mainland by bridge since 1995.

However, so that you can plan a trip to some of the more off-beat Inner Hebrides islands, my fellow travel bloggers have contributed some awesome information about them too!

There are plenty of other Inner Hebrides Islands, of course, like Tiree, Jura, Ulva, Lismore… seriously, I could go on, but the following are some of the best islands in Scotland to visit.

Getting there: The Inner Hebrides are serviced by Calmac Ferries . Some routes are within a day trip of Edinburgh or Glasgow, and others will require a bit of island hopping or several days to visit.

Isle of Skye

Contributed by Skye from Skye Travels 

The Isle of Skye, the largest of the Inner Hebrides and the only major island in the British Isles connected to the mainland by a bridge, has some of the most beautiful locations on earth.

In fact, you’ll feel like you’ve left the planet entirely and stepped into the land of the faeries.

It shouldn’t be surprising that some of the best spots are called the Fairy Pools, the Fairy Glen, the Fairy Bridge… There’s also a Fairy Flag in Dunvegan Castle (Scotland’s longest inhabited castle) which connects all these locations.

Perhaps the most stunning spots include the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing. Not only have photos from them won international photography competitions; but they’ve also been featured in Blockbuster movies like the BFG, Stardust, MacDuff, Snow White and the Huntsman, Prometheus, and more.

Neist Point Lighthouse is a must, especially at sunset, and Coral Beach complements the dinosaur fossils at Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls for prehistoric locations.

Expect to spend two days on the island just to get to the locations listed above.

Or consider spending a few more days hiking through the Black Cuillin Mountains, explore Iron Age dwellings (brochs) and Viking shipyards, wander through an ancient graveyard on St. Columba’s Isle and try some of the best fish and chips in Scotland at Stein Inn.

Contributed by Laurence from Finding the Universe

Raasay is a beautiful Scottish island which is right next to one of Scotland’s most popular islands – the Isle of Skye .

Despite its location, though, this island gets far fewer visitors than Skye, which makes it an excellent spot for either a day trip from Skye or for a few days of quiet exploring.

Raasay is relatively easy to get to, with a regular ferry service from Sconser, operated by CalMac ferries. This takes around fifteen minutes, and the ferry takes both foot passengers and vehicles.

The island is particularly popular with hikers and wildlife lovers, as well as adventure lovers. There’s plenty to do on the island. There’s a whisky distillery, a ruined castle, and even a road that took one man ten years to build.

Wildlife lovers will appreciate the opportunity to see golden eagles and sea eagles, as well as seals, mountain hare, and otters.

If you’re into adventure, head to the main accommodation on the island, Raasay House, which offers everything from coasteering to kayaking and climbing.

It’s also home to an excellent restaurant and handily located right next to the ferry port.

Mull & Ulva

Contributed by Kathi from Watch Me See

There are few islands in Scotland that are as diverse as the Isle of Mull .

On Mull, you find everything Scotland has to offer – forests, a munro (the only island-munro apart from Skye), gorgeous coastline and sandy beaches, a castle, a whisky distillery in the colourful harbour town of Tobermory and surrounding islands for day trips.

After a mainland tour around Duart Castle, Tobermory, and Calgary beach, head northwest towards the Isle of Ulva.

If you thought visiting Mull was leaving society behind, wait until you reach Ulva. At the end of the little road, summon the passenger ferry from across the water, by switching the wooden board to red. You will be picked up by boat and brought across to the privately owned island, which boasts plenty of hiking and nature trails to explore.

Before you leave, make sure to stop at the Boathouse cafe for fresh seafood or a sandwich (vegan options available!)

The easiest way to get to Mull is by ferry from Oban, and even though you could potentially visit by public transport, I recommend bringing a car or renting one on the island to get the most out of it.

The ferry arrives in Craignure, which is a great area to base yourself in, for example at the Craignure bunkhouse or the neighbouring hotel if your budget is a little higher.

Few foreign but many local tourists on the island means that it is best to book your accommodation and ferry ticket a few months in advance.

Contributed by Kate from Love From Scotland

Islay (pronounced ‘I-la’) or the ‘Queen of the Hebrides’, is famous for three things – whisky, wildlife and waving!

Sitting off the west coast of the Kintyre Peninsula, Islay offers a beautifully wild and peaceful island experience – with views to the famous Paps of Jura, sea cliffs to walk along, and stunning beaches.

Take a walk on the Mull of Oa to the American Monument to spot sea eagles soaring above, wild goats in the fields, as well as dolphins, seals, and otters which also make Islay their home.

Islay is also known as the ‘Whisky Isle’ and is home to eight distilleries (with another two on the way) and the whisky is famous worldwide for its peaty taste – try Laphroaig, Bowmore or Lagavulin on a tasting tour.

However, it is the friendliness of the Islay local’s welcome that really makes the island so hard to leave – if you are driving, get practising your waving hello – well it’s either that or the cask strength whisky!

Isle of Arran

Contributed by Nicola from FunkyEllas Travel 

The Isle of Arran is one of the best islands to visit in Scotland. It’s so easily accessible from the mainland, with just a thirty-mile drive from Glasgow to Ardrossan and a hop on a ferry.

Whereas other islands are famous for their beautiful beaches or their dramatic landscapes, the Isle of Arran has a bit of everything. Its nickname is “Scotland in miniature”, thanks to the Highland boundary fault line that crosses the centre of the island.

If the sun is out and you fancy a day at the beach, head south on the coastal road to Kildonan, Whiting Bay or Pirnmill to relax.

If hiking is your thing, head to the mountainous north and explore the island’s highest mountain, Goatfell.

It’s easy to drive around with one main coastal road around the entire perimeter of the island and a string road across the centre.

The Arran Whisky Distillery is definitely not to be missed and there’s nothing no better way to spend an evening on a Scottish island than with a dram and some Arran cheese.

Isle of Bute

Contributed by Susanne of Adventures Around Scotland

I may be biased about choosing the  Isle of Bute as my favourite Scottish island as I have lived here for almost 5 years, but it really does have a lot to offer! It’s the most accessible west coast island and can be reached in less than 2 hours from Glasgow.

When I first moved here my knowledge of its history was limited to the main town of Rothesay once being the most popular Victorian seaside resort in Scotland – in fact, the Victorian public toilets have been named one of the best in the world!

What I didn’t know is the fascinating history stretching back over 5000 years. There are ancient burial cairns, Bronze Age standing stones, an impressive Iron Age hill fort at Dunagoil, an important early Christian site at St Blane’s, a unique Scottish castle in Rothesay built to withstand Viking invasions and what is said to be the finest Gothic mansion in the UK at Mount Stuart to name just a few of the historical gems.

For outdoor lovers, there are plenty of walking and cycling opportunities, with the West Island Way long distance walk crossing the island.

Popular annual events include ButeFest music festival, an open studio Artist’s Trail and Bute Highland Games.

Food and drink lovers can visit Bute Brew, try some local Sheese (vegan cheese), buy vegetables from the Bute Produce market garden or locally reared meat at the butchers. Of course being an island there are some pretty fabulous beaches, amazing scenery and an abundance of wildlife too!

Contributed by Bret from Green Global Travel  

Located in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides approximately one mile off the coast of Mull, Iona is a tiny 3.4-square mile island that’s accessible only via ferry.

The island is best known for its famous Abbey, which is still considered among the world’s most sacred sites for devout Christians. The Abbey was founded in the early Middle Ages by Saint Columba (521-597), the Irish missionary credited with spreading Christianity in what we now know as Scotland (but was then known as the Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata.

The abbey was a dominant religious and political institution for centuries. It was believed at one time that visiting Iona brought Christian pilgrims halfway between the Earth and Heaven.

The Iona Abbey is most famous as the place where part of the Book of Kells (a.k.a. the Book of Columba)– a lushly illustrated manuscript containing four gospels of the New Testament– was created.It’s considered a masterpiece of calligraphy and took over two centuries to create.

When the Viking invaders came from Norway to pillage Christian treasures in the 9th century, the sacred book was secretly transported to Ireland to be finished and kept safe. It remains there, at Trinity College in Dublin, to this day.

A tour of the Abbey is fascinating for anyone interested in the history of Scotland. It’s home to sacred relics such as the 9th century St Martin’s Cross, one of the best-preserved Celtic crosses in the British Isles.

There’s also a replica of the 8th century St John’s Cross, the original fragments of which are on display in the Abbey’s excellent museum.

Its ancient burial ground, called the Rèilig Odhrain, contains the restored 12th century chapel of St Odhrán (said to be Columba’s uncle). It’s home to the graves of nearly 50 early Scottish Kings, including Cináed mac Ailpín, king of the Picts (a.k.a. Kenneth I of Scotland); Domnall mac Causantín, “king of Alba” (Donald II); Máel Coluim mac Domnaill, king of Scotland (Malcolm I); and Mac Bethad mac Findlaích, king of Scotland (Macbeth).

On a personal note, the Abbey was also the final resting place for several of my Clan Mackinnon ancestors (including John Mackinnon, the last abbot of Iona, whose tomb lies near the altar of the chapel).

The museum at Iona holds several artefacts paying tribute to the Mackinnons, including the shaft of an elaborately decorated Celtic cross that was dedicated to John and his father, Lachlan.

Contributed by Somnath from Travel Crusade

Scotland, one of the world’s cleanest countries, is the epitome of Vikings and Britons. It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and is engulfed by a lot of islands, including the Inner Hebrides.

The islands are a retreat for tourists visiting the country, including Eigg, known as one of the Small Isles just south of Skye.

The calm and soothing atmosphere provides a scintillating environment for tourists to reacclimatize oneself and get lost in the mountain wilderness dispersed with the silent valleys and lochs.

There are plenty of things to do in Eigg, including taking a boat tour, hiking up the pitchstone ridge, visiting the white sand beaches and keeping an eye out for wildlife.

You can enjoy the different charms that the Scottish Islands offer tourists and travellers from across the world.

Isle of Rum

Contributed by Kate from What Kate And Kris Did

Rum probably isn’t the first Scottish island people think of. It’s small, one of the Small Isles, in fact, and not as well known as its big neighbour Skye.

It’s not that long ago that it was known as ‘The Forbidden Island’ because it was privately owned. It’s now owned by Scottish Natural Heritage and managed as a nature reserve, with wild red deer, ponies, and goats.

Rum is also a haven for bird watching. Manx shearwaters breed there each year, and white-tailed sea eagles are residents too.

There are sea otters and seals to spot near the beaches. The sea around it has various whale and dolphin species passing through. I once saw a basking shark from the ferry and was very jealous the day that other visitors saw orcas. As someone who is interested in wildlife, it was a wonderful place to visit.

Rum is also great for hiking, with the Rum Cullins to climb. The mountains are impressive, and it’s the smallest Scottish island to have a summit about 2,500 ft.

The castle is a huge feature of the island, and what you see as you come in on the ferry, and has an interesting guided walk.

There are several places to stay, including a bunkhouse, bed and breakfast and camping cabins. There’s a campsite too, but the midges are awful in summer! You can also wild camp inside the nature reserve, and stay in the mountain bothies.

Since I lived there, the island has developed much more for tourists. You can do guided walks with the rangers, there’s a craft shop, café and bicycle hire.

Contributed by Aga from Worldering Around

The Isle of Staffa is an unusually shaped volcanic island located on the west coast of Scotland. It belongs to the Inner Hebrides and it’s a popular trip destination from the nearby Isle of Mull.

The Hexagonal basalt columns creating the cliffs of the island and a cathedral-like shape of Fingal’s cave are full of natural beauty.

In the summer months, you can also spot there the cute tiny birds with orange noses – the puffins. The grassy plateau on the top of the island is their favourite spot, but, as usual with wild animals, it’s a hit or miss. However, there are many other birds around.

The basalt columns shaping the Fingal’s cave give it unusual acoustics, which is sometimes used for the concerts. 

On a regular day, you can just come inside and admire the shape of the rocks, listening to the waves bashing against the cave walls and birds screaming around.

The boat trip to the Isle of Staffa is an adventure in itself. You can spot different types of birds, seals or other sea creatures on the way. The views are amazing too!

The Isle of Staffa is uninhabited, the only residents are the birds. I can highly recommend exploring this geological gem together with Isle of Mull and Iona located nearby.

The Outer Hebrides

The Outer Hebrides are a chain of islands stretching from the Isles of Lewis and Harris (confusingly, one land mass) in the north, to Barra in the south. The main islands in between are North Uist, Benbecula, and South Uist.

I dreamed of visiting the Outer Hebrides after stumbling across pictures of them on Instagram. Seriously.

When I finally made the journey I was certainly not disappointed. In fact, Phil and I fell in love with them so much every now and then we entertain the idea of moving there!

Getting there: Like the Inner Hebrides, the Outer Hebrides are serviced by the CalMac Ferries, and you can hop between the two island groups as well.

Flights to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis are available from Manchester, Edinburgh, Inverness, Benbecula (Loganair), Glasgow ( Loganair) or Aberdeen (Eastern Airways), and to Benbecula from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness or Stornoway (all operated by Loganair), and Barra from Glasgow.

Isle of Lewis

Contributed by Katie from Stories My Suitcase Could Tell 

Located 30 miles off the northwest coast of mainland Scotland, the Isle of Lewis is the largest island in the archipelago that makes up the Outer Hebrides .

While I love the whole island chain, as a Leodhasach (Scottish Gaelic for ‘a person from Lewis’), I have to say that Lewis is my favourite Scottish island!

Although I may be biased, I do truly love the island, and there’s so much for visitors to experience, from history and culture to beautiful landscapes and tasty croft-to-table food.

You can stroll on sandy white beaches in the district of Uig, go surfing at Dal Mor or stand in the shadow of the other-worldly Callanish Standing Stones.

If you’re looking for history, there’s everything from the brand-new museum located in Lews Castle in the main town of Stornoway, to the fascinating local historical society museum in Ness, and of course, the Arnol Blackhouse, which shows first-hand how islanders lived and worked in days gone by.

When it comes to food and drink, you’re spoiled for choice. With homemade food and ingredients fresh from the croft, 40 North Foods is one of my all-time favourite food spots, and you also can’t visit Lewis without trying the world-famous Stornoway Black Pudding from one of the local butchers.

For drinks, you can’t go wrong in Stornoway with a dram at McNeill’s pub during one of their open mic nights, or maybe a cheeky cocktail at the castle at sunset.

With beautiful scenery, rich history, delicious food, and a strong Gaelic culture, Lewis is undoubtedly my favourite Scottish island – and if you visit, it might just be yours, too!

Isle of Harris

Contributed by John of From Real People  

When it comes to the Scottish Islands, there’s nowhere quite like the stunning Isle of Harris. It’s located in the far northwest of Scotland in the Outer Hebrides across the water beyond the Isle of Skye.

The beaches of Luskentyre and Seilebost look like more like the Caribbean than Scotland. The experience of walking alone on miles of golden sand is something almost impossible to experience anywhere in the world.

All along the west coast of Harris are a series of beaches each more stunning than the other. One of the best ways to do Harris is to take a road trip around the island from the main town of Tarbert down the main road along the west coast to the villages of Northton, Leverburgh, and finally Rodel at the island’s southern tip.

Along the Golden Road, you will be able to stop at one stunning beach after another while taking in the beautiful mountain backdrops.

Don’t miss St Clements Church in Rodel which dates back to the 15th Century and is full of Scottish clan history. The road along the east coast is equally stunning with loads of gorgeous coves and bays.

Tarbert is a lovely little village with a nice port and a wonderful local distillery that is at the heart of this vibrant island community.

The island of Scalpay is just as beautiful as the main island. The walk to the Eilean Glas lighthouse will reward you with stunning views across to the Isle of Skye.

Harris surprises everyone who visits and the amazing scenery draws them back year after year.

Great Bernera

Great Bernera is a small island across the “Bridge over the Atlantic” from the Isle of Lewis, but for a small island, there’s plenty to see! On the hills just over the bridge you’ll find standing stones, and in the north is the beautiful Bosta beach, with a replica Iron Age house. If you’re driving around Lewis then it’s worth the detour!

Contributed by Kay from The Chaotic Scot 

If there was ever a Scottish experience to fast-track to the top of your bucket list, it would be the famous flight from Glasgow to the Isle of Barra ; the only commercial beach landing in the world.

Approaching the exotic-looking shores on a wee propeller plane, before gliding down onto the smooth, shimmering sands will surely leave an imprint on even the most well-travelled adventurers.

Barra is connected by a causeway to the separate Isle of Vatersay, and together they are the most southerly of the Outer Hebrides.

Bursting with dreamy sights and charming qualities, Barra is proof that good things really do come in small packages. No wonder the island is comically known as Barra-dise and Barra-bados.

As far as place names go, the main town of Castlebay is as literal as they come; it’s a bay with a castle.

Continuing this theme is Café Kisimul, which looks out to the aforementioned Kisimul Castle. Much more than simply an eatery, Café Kisimul is an island institution which specialises in Italian and Indian seafood. Scallop pakora followed by a seafood curry is a must!

Work off your meal the next day with a hike up Heavel – Barra’s highest point – or with a cycle to the idyllic beaches of Vatersay. Rest your head in the cosy and welcoming Dunnard Hostel, and indulge in a few drams and live music with the locals in the notoriously fun Castlebay Bar. There’s nowhere quite like the Isle of Barra.

Scotland’s other islands

As well as islands along Scotland’s coastline, there are also islands within bays and freshwater lochs, like Inchcailloch Island in Loch Lomond.

Another unique Scottish island and the easiest to visit if you’re in Edinburgh is Cramond Island.

Contributed by Sophie from Solo Sophie

If you’re looking for the perfect day trip from Edinburgh, that’s just a short and easy bus ride away (bus number 41), then you need to look no further than the picturesque tidal island of Edinburgh.

This Scottish isle can only be visited at certain times, as twice a day, Cramond Island is cut off from the sea by the rising water.

Packed with history and tourists, it was nearby that one of the most important Roman statues ever found in Britain, that of the ‘Cramond Lioness’ was discovered.

Best seen during the summer months when days are longer and you’ll have a better chance at clear skies, it’s the perfect spot for a picnic.

Nearby, on the mainland, a village of the same name, Cramond, has several welcoming eateries including a pub serving local cuisine and a pretty waterside café.

It would take years to thoroughly explore all of the isles, let alone decide on the best Scotland islands.

Luckily I’ve moved to Scotland for the foreseeable future and intend to explore as many as possible!

In the meantime, this list of the islands of Scotland should give you more than enough reasons to include an island or two in your itinerary and get planning a trip!

If you liked it, pin it! 

Sonja - Migrating Miss

Sonja is from New Zealand but now lives in Scotland with her husband and two little boys, after having lived in 5 other countries along the way including the USA, Australia, Canada, and Spain. Travelling has always been her passion and she has now made it her full-time job and worked in the industry for the last 8 years. She shares her living abroad experiences and best tips to make your travel experiences the best they can be!

8 thoughts on “ 21 of the Best Scottish Islands to Visit ”

I have so many more islands to explore on this list! So far it’s just been the Isle of Skye and the Isle of Lewis and Harris. Some of these just look gorgeous. I can’t wait to make it to the Orkneys someday.

I know me too! Orkney is amazing, I’d definitely go back and explore more there. The thing is, there’s just so many beautiful islands and so little time!

Love this post! So much inspiration for my upcoming island hopping adventured in Scotland!! 🙂

Thanks!! It’s just made me want to plan so many trips!

Thank you this is will be a great guide to refer to when planning an Island trip. I quite fancy seeing the Isle’s of Rum and Iona next then Arran and Bute, then Lewis and Harris for another contrast.

You’re welcome! I hope you do get to explore them all 😀

This is really thorough. We really are spoiled for choice up here. I do love Orkney, but Iona was captivating, and I’m hoping to visit Shetland this summer for the second time this year! Great round up post.

Thanks! There are so many beautiful islands. I’m going to try and tick off one or two a year if I can! Shetland is one of my favs though 😀

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10 of the Most Beautiful Scottish Islands to Visit

Geologically unique, rich in history, teeming with flora and fauna, wild, and remote, Scotland boasts some of the world’s most stunning islands. With breathtaking views, unspoilt beaches and whisky galore, a visit to the Scottish Isles will bring you moments of serendipity in abundance. Here, we take a look at 10 of the most beautiful Scottish islands to visit:

Considered one of the most picturesque and majestic islands in Scotland, Skye is world famous for its beautiful scenery and breathtaking landscapes. From the crystal clear waters of the famous ‘ Fairy Pools ’, to the peaks of the Cuillin Munros, Skye is an adventure enthusiast’s playground.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dave Coia | Photograper (@coiacreative)

Part of Scotland’s Inner Hebrides, Tiree is only ten miles long and five miles wide. The perfect island retreat for those looking to escape modern day life. Secluded bays line the coast, each characterised by fine, white sand. And thanks to its location in the Gulf Stream, Tiree receives more hours of sunlight than any other Scottish isle. You might also be lucky enough to see one of the enormous basking sharks that frequent the waters to feed on the plankton in summer!

View this post on Instagram This is why we’re called the Hawaii of the North🌞 . . . . #wildaboutargyll #scotlandnow #visitscotland #discoverscotland #discovertiree #tiree #isleoftiree #hebrides @discover_tiree #scotland #scottishislands #scottishhebrides #scottishbeaches #scotlandfromtheroadside #home #paradise #scottishparadise A post shared by ⚘ Ｚｏë ⚘ (@hebrideanherdess) on Jul 6, 2020 at 1:43pm PDT

3. Shetland

Over 100 islands comprise the Shetland Isles, of which only around 15 are inhabited. Britain’s most northerly point, the Shetland Isles are heavily influenced by both Scottish and Norse heritage. A great destination for wildlife spotters , Shetland is a mecca for rare birds, whales, dolphins and seals.

View this post on Instagram Da Lang Ayre, possibly Shetlands most colourful spot? 🤷🏻‍♂️ #shetlandbydrone A post shared by Drone SHETLAND 🚁💙 (@shetland_by_drone) on Nov 14, 2019 at 10:37pm PST

Jura, a small remote island, located off the West Coast of Scotland, is known for its rugged landscape, towering mountains, swirling whirlpool and flavourful whisky . With a population of just 200, the locals are hugely outnumbered by the 6,000 roaming deer. Author George Orwell came to Jura seeking peace and quiet to write his last and most famous book, 1984. Appreciating its remoteness, he described Jura as ‘the most un-get-atable place’.

View this post on Instagram The #PapsOfJura and a dream cottage ♡ A post shared by Juliette H (@juliette_bxl) on May 17, 2015 at 1:13am PDT

The Orkney archipelago is made up of around 70 islands, of which only about 20 are inhabited. The largest island, simply known as Mainland Orkney, is a great base to island hop. With idyllic coastal paths, dramatic sea cliffs, Viking heritage sites, whisky distilleries and an abundance of wildlife watching opportunities, Orkney will certainly not disappoint.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hayleigh W (@h.wisha)

Arran has something for everyone. Within easy reach of Glasgow , the island is home to golf courses, spas, a brewery, a whisky distillery and many walking routes, including the popular Goatfell. Dolphins and seals are also commonly spotted in the waters here and like to swim alongside the ferry as you approach the island.

View this post on Instagram Great few days over on the Isle of Arran with the camera. First stop was Glen Rosa and the view up the valley featuring a big boulder. Next time I'm across I'll be heading up there! • • • • • #photography #landscapephotography #scotland #isleofarran #visitarran #glenrosa #goatfell #waterfall #river #scottish #landscape #visitscotland #explorescotland #unlimitedscotland #scotland_greatshot #outandaboutscotland #scotlandscenery #lovescotland #hiddenscotland #ig_scotland #igphoto #instaphoto #lensbible #scotshots #instascotland #yourscotland #longexpo #longexposure #longexposure_shots #longexpo_scotland A post shared by Steven (@steven_rae89) on Jul 19, 2020 at 8:21am PDT

Scotland’s fifth largest island and the most southerly of the Inner Hebrides, Islay is known for its whisky and gin production and has nine active distilleries. Not just a whisky-lovers dream, the island also offers tranquil beauty, amazing seafood , wildlife and dramatic coastal seascapes.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by VisitScotland (@visitscotland)

8. Lewis and Harris

The largest of the Outer Hebrides, Lewis and Harris are two parts of the same island. The wild mountains, white beaches and lunar landscapes will blow you away. A visit to the stunning sands of Luskentyre Beach is a must, where the turquoise sea contrasts the white sands — an instagrammers dream!

View this post on Instagram Meet Isla – one of the famous white horses of Luskentyre beach on Isle of Harris🦄 ⠀ They appear on countless pictures and postcards around the world and have become a symbol of one of Scotland's most beautiful beaches🌊 ⠀ For most of the year, a pair of friendly horses, technically ponies, wander the dunes munching on the grass around this beautiful beach🏖️ ⠀ The one pictured on this photo is called Isla, this gorgeous lady is an 8y.o. pedigree Eriscay pony🐎 A post shared by Scotland Travel Photography (@colours_of_di) on Mar 30, 2020 at 9:26am PDT

One of the most southerly inhabited islands in the Outer Hebrides, Barra and its sandy beaches could easily be mistaken for those of the Caribbean. Accessible by ferry or plane, flying to the beautiful Isle of Barra is an experience in itself. The airport here is the only one in the world where scheduled flights use a tidal beach as the runway!

View this post on Instagram Best airport in the world. #barra #isleofbarra #outerhebrides #beachlanding #barraairport #scotland #paradise #saltire #plane #twinotter #yourscotland A post shared by Hopeblamireartist (@hopeblamireartist) on Feb 14, 2019 at 5:55am PST

A small, fertile crofting island boasting sandy beaches, excellent walking opportunities and a variety of wildlife. For centuries, Iona has held significance for Christianity. St Columbas arrived on the island in AD 563 and founded a monastery. After that, the Abbey became an influential centre for the spread of Christianity in Scotland.

View this post on Instagram Turquoise water on Iona in May 2019. Just a perfect day, very sunny like this year. April and May are my favourite months. Spring is beautiful here in Scotland, even in lockdown when I only can dream of magical places like Mull and Iona ✨ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~𐂂~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . . . . . . #Iona #Scotland #bbctravel #hiddenscotland #scotland_greatshots #BritishVillages #europestyle_uk #travel_drops #houses_phototrip #kings_villages #bestunitedkingdom #placesinuk #instravel A post shared by Danja 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 𐂂 Scotland (@merlins_mind) on Apr 29, 2020 at 9:28am PDT

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5 of the prettiest, secret Scottish Islands to visit

By Rob Crossan

It was exactly 50 years ago that Britt Ekland, Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward starred in The Wicker Man; one of the strangest and most haunting  British films ever made, about a remote (and fictional) Scottish island where pagan beliefs still held sway.

Sadly, the film itself was mostly filmed in the rather humdrum environs of Dumfries, only a few miles over the border from  England and firmly a part of the Scottish mainland.

Perhaps it’s the legacy of the Wicker Man that means that, when it comes to admiring the bucolic expanses and ruddy heights of the Scottish islands, most visitors stick firmly to the well-trodden routes around the islands of Skye, Mull and Harris.

Yet, if you’re willing to set aside your fears of seeing a kilt-clad Christopher Lee yomping around the next corner, there are so many more islands in the Western Isles and off the northern coast of  Scotland that are not nearly so chocka with hikers in the spring and summer months. Here are five of our favourite Scottish islands to visit. And there’s not a retro 1970s pagan in sight…

Tucked into the far northwestern corner of the Orkney Islands, Westray has one of the most fiercely independent and lively island communities in the Highlands and Islands.

All the Orcadian natural landscapes are here within Westray’s own borders including bijou sand-smeared bays, vertiginous sea cliffs and flat, serene pastureland. This is also one of the greatest natural larders in Scotland with Westray beef, scallops and shellfish some of the finest you’ll find anywhere. The organic salmon is worth a visit to Westray alone; sample a slab of it at  Pierowall Fish where owner Kevin will even smoke it for you with some notice. While you’re here, pick up some fresh langoustines, scallops and megrim fillets and cook yourself a piscine banquet at  Newbigging , a 19th century ‘but and ben’ (traditional Scots for a two-bedroom cottage) that’s been given a contemporary upgrade with a wood burning stove, untrammelled sea views and an easy walk to the main puffin colony on the island.

Walk off your fish feast with a prowl around the ruins of  Noltland Castle ; the former home of Gilbert Balfour. He was a Master of the Household to Mary, Queen of Scots before being implicated in the death of her husband and taking part in a doomed uprising in favour of the exiled Queen. Fleeing to  Scandinavia , he was executed after being involved in a plot to murder the Swedish King, leaving his home to fall into ruin; though the huge grand staircase and numerous gun loops (apertures built so that gunfire could be shot over a wider area) are still intact today.

How to get there:

Fly to Kirkwall from either  Glasgow or  Edinburgh with  Loganair then either take a connecting flight to Westray (also on Loganair) or take the  Orkney Ferries service which takes just under two hours.

When George Orwell wanted to flee war-torn  London in 1943 to write what would become his final novel, he chose Jura to pen the dystopian classic ‘1984’.

Jura wasn’t and still isn’t, likely to ever be mistaken for Airstrip One. Dominated by three giant hills known as ‘paps’ which straddle the centre of this sardine-shaped retreat, Orwell’s house, ‘Barmhill’, is much as he left it and can be seen from the outside if you’re prepared for a taxing walk from the main village down most of the length of the 27-mile long island. Be discreet and respectful however as the house is still owned by the same family who leased it to Orwell. Also, be wary of the numerous deer who outnumber the human population by 30 to one.

Jura’s sole distillery makes some of Scotland’s most renowned smokey and peaty single malts and a tour and tasting here is essential before bedding in at the  Jura Hotel , the only hotel on the island and, luckily, a real Victorian beauty nestled on the waterfront. There’s only a minimal amount of tweed and heather clichés in the design of the rooms and communal lounge while the restaurant turns out belt-busting Scots classics such as a chicken and haggis ‘stack’ and wholetail scampi.

Take the  Calmac ferry from Kennacraig on the mainland (driving here from Glasgow takes around three hours) to Islay. The sailing takes around two hours. Then take the five minute long connecting ferry from Islay to Jura. Book through the  Argyll and Bute Council . There is no airport in Jura.

Usually ignored in favour of its distillery-dominated big neighbour Islay, bijou Colonsay prefers to focus on real ale and is currently the smallest island in the world to have its own brewery and gin distillery. The gin, named Wild Island Botanic, and the three different beers (one is named, rather wonderfully, Pigs Paradise) can all be bought direct from the distillery in the tiny village of Scalasaig which is open on most afternoons.

The 120-strong population are vastly outnumbered by colonies of seals plus a lot of rather curious wild goats whose ancestors are all said to have come from a Spanish Armada ship that was wrecked off the coastline.

There’s little in the way of stand-out sights on the island. The point here is just to gently ramble the days away around the sandy bays and occasional patches of woodland, then watch the breakers roll in from the Atlantic on Kiloran Bay. Bed down in  Avenue Cottage , easily the most palatial of the island’s small collection of self-catering cottages. With just two bedrooms, modish, brightly coloured décor that eschews any biscuit tin tartan cliches and a location in the midst of a rhododendron garden, there are few places that make the supposedly ‘wild’ and untamed Hebrides feel more demure.

Take the  Calmac ferry from Oban (served by trains from Glasgow Queen Street) direct to Colonsay. The journey takes around two and a quarter hours. Or fly from Oban with Hebridean Air. Book flights with  Hebridean Air Service .

This is perhaps the most scenically confused island in all of Scotland. For, when the sun shines (and it does more often here than in many parts of the Highlands and Islands) Tiree does a more than fair impression of a long-lost  Caribbean island , helped in no small part by the waters warmed by the Gulf Stream.

Balephuil is an utterly spectacular golden yawn of pillow-soft, vanilla-coloured sands on the southern edge of the island, home to a mere 800 people. On one side of the beach are the cliffs of Ben Hymish; the ridges and clefts of which are full to bursting with thousands of seabirds such as fulmars, shags and kittiwakes. They have an excellent view come October of the Tiree Wave Classic, a long-running surfing festival which only intensifies Tiree’s ‘lost Caribbean’ credentials.

The Blackhouse caters mainly to surfers but makes an excellent base even if the phrase ‘wipe out’ means nothing more than acute tiredness to you. The two cottages that make up the rustic accommodation look like an upside-down boat, yet inside are open fireplaces and serene views across this, the most westerly and by far the prettiest island in the Inner Hebrides.

Flights run from Glasgow to Tiree on Loganair or take a ferry from Oban which sails to the islands of Coll and Tiree. Book with  Calmac for the four hour sail.

The most northerly of the Shetland Islands , Unst is the literal end of the road for the entire  United Kingdom . There’s a certain haunting beauty about walking along the shell and pebble-strewn, pale yellow sands of Muckle Flugga beach where, looking from here onto the eponymous lighthouse and the clump of rocks known as Outstack, you’re looking at the last bit of land the United Kingdom possesses; venture north from here and your next land stop will be the  Norwegian Arctic islands of Svalbard .

Although most of Unst consists of rolling grasslands speckled with tiny crofters cottages, there’s a quite spectacular shift to what appears to be a lunar landscape at the  Keen of Harmar nature reserve. This is actually one of the largest formations of serpentine debris in Northern Europe and the expanse of turquoise, rust, orange and green coloured boulders give an accurate feel of what much of  Europe looked like at the end of the last Ice Age.

More homely comforts are available at the  Baltasound Hotel , the most northerly accommodation in Britain, which has cosy  Scandi-style  cabins on the lawn to stay in and more trad rooms within the sturdy old Victorian building as well as a restaurant serving up locally caught Unst crab salad and grilled Unst mackerel with new potatoes and beetroot.

From Sumburgh, where LoganAir flights from  London City airport , Glasgow and Inverness land, you can drive across the mainland before taking the ten-minute car ferry over to Yell island (book with the  Shetland Islands Council ) then drive across Yell (takes around 25 minutes) before taking another car ferry (duration around ten minutes) to Unst.

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The best scottish islands to visit on your scotland trip.

White sandy beaches and crystal clear turquoise water. Colourful harbours in quirky seaside towns. Sheep and Highland cows grazing by the sea. Welcome to the Scottish Isles! No Scotland trip is complete with a few days of island hopping – but how do you choose the right island for you? Read on for the best Scottish Islands to visit on your next holiday, how to get there and what to do!

This post contains affiliate links from which I may make a commission. Find out more here . All opinions are my own.

The Scottish islands have a lot to offer – for whisky lovers, long-distance hikers, Munro baggers, history buffs, bird watchers. There is a Scottish isle for everyone and each one has its own special character!

With over 790 islands off the Scottish coast, it can be overwhelming to choose the perfect one for your island getaway. Admittedly, only about 94 of these are permanently inhabited which limits the number of islands you could potentially add to your itinerary – but 94 is still a huge number of isles at your disposal.

The Isle of Skye, Orkney, Lewis and Harris – some islands hardly need an introduction. They are staples in many Scotland itineraries and frequently find themselves on the top list of places to visit in Scotland. Others are total hidden gems – or have you ever heard about the bird paradise on Handa Island, the Dark Sky Park on the Isle of Coll or the 30-mile West Island Way on the Isle of Bute?

On Watch Me See, I always encourage you to make informed decisions about your own Scotland itineraries. I want to inspire you to look beyond the top 10 lists and find places to visit that are 100% you. Every island has something different to offer, so why should everyone just visit the same ones?

This post is a good starting point to read up about different Scottish islands you can visit. It contains a brief summary of all the islands I have visited myself plus a few other ones on my bucket list. It will give you an idea of the different isles and help you choose the best Scottish island for your itinerary. Read on for:

• an overview of Scottish islands,
• the best Scottish islands to visit,
• how many days to spend on the islands,
• reasons to visit, things to do and where to stay on each island, and
• how to start island hopping in Scotland.

If you are here for inspiration for a Scotland staycation, also read my guide to adding oomph to your staycation !

Need help finding cheap airfare to Scotland? Check out  my tips for booking flights to Scotland !

Dreaming of Scotland? Listen to my immersive travel podcast Wild for Scotland !

Table of Contents

Scottish Islands Overview

Most Scottish islands are part of the Hebrides and the Northern Isles, but there are many more islands dotted all around the mainland of Scotland. Here are some of the island clusters that are good to know:

Islands of the Firth of Clyde | The Firth of Clyde is the sea that leads from the Irish Sea towards the River Clyde, between the coast of Dumfries & Galloway and Ayrshire in the east and the Mull of Kintyre in the west. Because of their proximity to Glasgow a few miles down the River Clyde, the islands in the Firth of Clyde are popular getaways from the city – either for a day trip for long weekends. Arran, Bute and Great Cumbrae are among these islands, but you could also consider the Kintyre peninsula here, as it’s so remote only connected to the mainland by a 2-mile stretch of land.

The Inner Hebrides | The Hebrides lie off the west coast of Scotland, a scattered archipelago split into Inner and Outer Hebrides. The Inner Hebrides are located closer to the mainland and include islands such as Skye, Mull, Islay, Jura, Tiree, Coll, Colonsay and many smaller islands in between.

The Outer Hebrides |  The Outer Hebrides are also known as the Western Isles. They are the outermost islands of the United Kingdom, the final outpost in the Atlantic on the way to North America. They are miles away – not just geographically but also culturally. Here, the Gaelic language is still alive and thriving, especially on the Isle of Lewis and Harris. Other islands in this archipelago include Barra, Eriskay, South and North Uist, Benbecula and Berneray.

Orkney | The Orkney Islands are located north of the Scottish mainland – close enough, that you can see its southern isles from the north coast around John O’Groats. There are about 70 islands in Orkney which contain some of the best-preserved Neolithic sites in Europe – worthy of the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Orkney and Shetland make up the Northern Isles. 

Shetland |  Shetland lies about 50 miles north of Orkney between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. The archipelago is made up of over 100 islands, but only around 15 are inhabited. On Shetland, the local culture is influenced by its Scottish and Norse heritage – the islands were colonised by Norwegian settlers after the 8th century, but annexed by Scotland during the 15th century. 

How to Choose the best Scottish Islands for your Itinerary

When you start planning your trip to Scotland , one of your first decisions will be about the duration of your trip – do you have 5 days, a week or more? You then start putting together your itinerary by collating a list of must-sees around the country – do you want to see cities, spend time in the mountains or focus on the coasts? These decisions have a direct impact on what island(s) might be right for your Scotland holiday.

If you only have a few days and want to see many places on the mainland, big islands like Skye or faraway places like the Outer Hebrides might be out of reach. If most of your must-sees are located in the far north, islands in the far south may not fit seamlessly into your itinerary. Finding the right island is about making tough but smart choices in order to get the most out of your time in Scotland. 

The other day, I helped a client decide how to spend the last two days of her Scotland road trip. She said that she wanted to see something that was different to the places that were on her itinerary until then. I loved that way of thinking! You only have a limited amount of time to spend in Scotland, so choose every location on your itinerary with intention. 

So before deciding on a Scottish island for your itinerary, ask yourself the following questions:

How much time do you have? The larger the island, the more time you will need to see its top sights, attractions and things to do. And the more time you will spend on the road driving between these places. Also, consider how long it takes to reach islands that are hard to get to or require long ferry rides. Skye and Mull have more things to do than you could possibly fit into a day trip. Barra is a 5-hour ferry ride from the mainland, the Shetland ferry takes overnight from Aberdeen – you would only visit if you had plenty of time to spend at your destination.

I included a suggested minimum number of days for each island below ( Spend section).

What do you want to do? Do you want to climb a mountain, build sandcastles on a white sandy beach, visit unique distilleries or just drive through some epic scenery – or maybe all of it? The Scottish islands are all different and while some might tick several of your boxes, others are famous for specific experiences. Think about what you are looking for when island hopping in Scotland and which experiences you want to add to your overall trip.

The Do & See section for each island below points out what the isle is best for. 

What is your mode of transport?  While many Scottish islands are easy to reach by public transport, buses on the islands can be rare or infrequent. Some islands have no bus system at all. Organised tours and private drivers can be an option as well as walking or cycling. Overall though, a hire car will give you the greatest flexibility – apart from islands that are not serviced by car ferries.

Check out my practical guide to renting a car in Scotland .

Your mode of transport and willingness to look for alternatives can play a significant role when choosing your isles. Note the Transport section on each island below.

Don’t miss my practical guide to  island hopping in Scotland !

The best Scottish Islands to Visit

Islands of the firth of clyde, isle of arran.

Arran is also known as “Scotland in Miniature”. It has everything Scotland has to offer on one island – beautiful sandy beaches, lush green valleys under towering mountains, whisky distilleries, standing stones, castles and quirky coastal towns.

You can easily visit Arran on a day trip from Glasgow and hike Goatfell or spend a few days on the island to explore it more in-depth. The Arran Coastal Way is a circular path around the island and fits well into a week-long holiday. From Arran, you can also visit the Holy Isle which is home to the Centre for World Peace and Health.

Arran can be the perfect island to include in your Scotland itinerary if you only have a few days or can only fit one island. It is quick and easy to get to, straightforward to navigate and has tons of experiences to offer!

Spend  1 to 3 days or more. Do & See:  Hiking, Castles, Beaches, Whisky Distillery, Standing Stones Transport:  Rental Car, Guided Tour, Walking/Cycling Stay  at  Lochranza Youth Hostel [£], Glenartney B&B [££],  Ormidale Hotel [££],  Auchrannie Resort [£££] in Brodick. Plan your trip: Do a 3-Day Tour to Arran with Rabbie’s , or visit to Climb Goatfell on a Day Trip from Glasgow

Isle of Bute

Once a super popular seaside getaway for families of the Glasgow area, the Isle of Bute has fallen off people’s radar a little lately. Yet, there is a lot to do, so let’s bring it back, shall we? 

Bute is extremely easy to reach by public transport with a Rail & Sail ticket from Glasgow Central station. Once the ferry docks in Rothesay, you can navigate the island by bus or by walking the West Island Way – a 30-mile long-distance trail looping around the south and the north of the island.

The walk takes around 2-3 days to complete, but you can fill a third or fourth day on the island with visiting the 19th-century mansion Mount Stuart or exploring the beaches and bays on Bute’s west coast.

Spend  1 to 3 days or more. Do & See:  Hiking, Heritage Sites, Beaches Transport:  Rental Car, Guided Tour, Walking/Cycling Stay  at Ardyne Guest House [££], Ivybank Villa [£££] in Rothesay or wild camp at Glencallum Bay. Plan your trip: Hiking the West Island Way on the Isle of Bute

The Inner Hebrides

Isle of mull & isles of iona, staffa, ulva and treshnish isles.

The Isle of Mull is a powerhouse of an island. It is easy to reach and even easier to include in most Scotland itineraries due to its ferry connection with the coastal town of Oban, which many people visit for its seafood and coastal scenery. 

Mull is a paradise for outdoor lovers – Ben More is the only island Munro outside of Skye, there are numerous beaches and coastal walks, the island is suitable for cycling and sometimes you can even see Golden Eagles soar high above in the sky. There is also a distillery in Tobermory – a town that will win you over with its colourful waterfront – and the ruins of Castle Duart south of Craignure. 

But it does not stop there. Mull is surrounded by a plethora of smaller islands which are all within easy reach from Mull. A small boat brings you across to the privately owned Isle of Ulva which is great for walking. Further west, you can visit the Isle of Iona which was once the spiritual centre of Scotland – you can visit the ruins of the medieval Benedictine Abbey and Augustinian Nunnery here. Further offshore, but well worth the adventure lie the Isle of Staffa with its iconic Fingal’s Cave and the Treshnish Isles which are a paradise for wildlife watching. 

If you add a few days in Oban, you can even visit more islands on day trips, such as the Isles of Kerrera , Lismore and Seil. 

Spend  3 nights or more. Do & See:  Hiking, Boat Trips, Coastal Towns, Nature, Beaches Transport:  Rental Car, Guided Tour, Cycling Stay  at Craignure Bunkhouse [£], Western Isles Hotel [££], Glengorm Castle Hotel [£££]. Plan your trip: 10 Things to do on the Isle of Mull , A Boat Tour to Iona, Staffa & Lunga

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Isles of Islay & Jura

The Isles of Islay and Jura are neighbours, yet very different. The only way to get to Jura is via Islay though, so if you plan to visit one, you might as well see the other too! 

Islay is famous all over the world for its peated whiskies and you can visit a proud number of 9 (!) distilleries here! From the big three of the Whisky Coast (Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig) to the distilleries in northern Islay, all are open to the public and offer guided tours. Between drams, you can go for walks, spot wildlife along the coasts and visit historic sites such as Finlaggan.

Jura is Islay’s hilly neighbour to the north. A small ferry runs between the two across the Sound of Islay. While the local Isle of Jura whisky distillery is open for tours, the majority of visitors come to enjoy endless walking and hiking on the island. The Paps of Jura dominate the scenery rising to over 2,500 ft. It is a walker’s paradise!

Spend  2 days or more. Do & See:  Whisky Distilleries, Beaches, Hiking Transport:  Rental Car, Guided Tour, Cycling Stay  at Glenegedale House B&B near Port Ellen or Allandale B&B in Bowmore Plan your trip: Attend the Islay Whisky Festival , do a 4-Day Tour to Islay with Rabbie’s , or book Unique Experiences on Islay, Jura & Colonsay My friend Kay from The Chaotic Scot has put together a handy guide for the Isle of Jura .

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Isle of Colonsay

The Isle of Colonsay is an absolute gem. Located halfway between Mull and Islay, it can be reached by ferry from Oban or Port Askaig on Islay. Since neither connection is daily, it is an island to visit if you want to experience the true meaning of island life – secluded, off the beaten track and close-knit. The local community is super welcoming and the island has plenty to offer. 

Colonsay is an island for outdoor lovers and beach babes. Aside from the famous Kiloran Bay, there are many other stunning sandy beaches, such as Balnahard Bay. The island is covered in McPhies – “mountains” over 300 ft – which can be bagged in much the same manner as Munros. The island community meets once a week to clean a different area of the island, thus keeping it pristine and beautiful. 

An absolute highlight of any trip to Colonsay is a day trip to Oronsay which can be reached on foot or by bike, but only at low tide when the water is low enough to cross over.

Spend  2 days or more. Do & See: Beaches, Nature, Island Community, Food Transport:  Rental Car, Cycling Stay at Colonsay Hotel [££], Gin Lover’s Retreat [££] Plan your trip: Unique Experiences on Islay, Jura & Colonsay

Isle of Coll

The Isle of Coll is an off the beaten track paradise in the Inner Hebrides. Located north of Tiree and about halfway between Oban and the Outer Hebrides, it takes a while to get here, but it is worth every minute you spend on the ferry (2.5 hours).

At first glance, it looks like there is not much to do on Coll – there is only one village, one restaurant, no notable castles or museums (although you can visit the 14th-century Old Breachacha Castle), or any famous walking trails. However, in a way that is exactly the appeal – Coll is the kind of place where you can visit to shut off, find some peace and finally relax!

Of course, dig deeper and you will find plenty to do. Join a boat tour to the Cairns of Coll, eat the best seafood (or vegan food) at the Coll Hotel, learn about the local wildlife at the Community Centre or do a stargazing workshop – the Isle of Coll is a Dark Sky Park after all! The night skies are almost impossible to beat. You could spend a day or a week and not get bored by the sweet island life!

Spend  2 days or more. Do & See:  Beaches, Nature, Boat Trips, Food Transport:  Rental Car, Cycling Stay  at The Coll Bunkhouse [£], Tigh Na Mara Guesthouse [££], The Coll Hotel [£££] Plan your trip: 5 Things to do on the Isle of Coll

Isle of Tiree

Not many islands are simultaneously off the beaten track, far away from the mainland bustle AND easy to do on a day trip from Glasgow. The Isle of Tiree manages to be all of these!

A Day Trip to Tiree | Take a morning flight from Glasgow to Tiree and be there within an hour – your hire bike is already waiting for you. Spend the day cycling around the flat, but beautiful island, explore the beaches and pick up hand-made ceramics. Then head back to the airport, drop off your bike and head back to Glasgow. It’s as easy as that. 

Of course, Tiree is worth a longer stay too and you can bring your own (rental) car across by ferry from Oban. The island is known for its large amount of sunshine hours, its flat and bike-friendly roads and its wind which makes for perfect (wind-) surfing conditions. I found myself a remote beach, pitched my tent next to a herd of coos and woke up to the most beautiful sunrise over “my” bay.

Hitching a ride with a private boat operator like IsleGO, you can be picked up from Tiree and continue island hopping to Coll.

Spend  1 day or more. Do & See:  Cycling, (Wind-)Surfing, Beaches Transport:  Airplane, Cycling, Public Transport, Rental Car Stay  at Mannal House

Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye needs no introduction. It is the most popular island off the Scottish west coast and attracts more visitors than all other Scottish Isles. It is the largest island so close to the mainland and can easily be reached via the Skye Bridge or the ferry between Armadale and Mallaig on the mainland. 

It offers a lot of different experiences – from the iconic landscapes of the Quiraing, the Fairy Glen and the Fairy Pools, which are things of Instagram dreams, to the challenging peaks of the Cuillin mountains, castles in Dunvegan and Armadale, coastal walks and beaches, tidal island walks and quirky harbour towns. You name it.

However, Skye is not always the best choice for everyone. It can get busy during the summer, so it is harder to get off the beaten track, and accommodation prices are soaring. If you only have a few days in Scotland, Skye is a long drive away and with only one or even two days, you have to make tough choices of which sites to fit into your itinerary. A trip to Skye should be planned with intention.

Spend  at least 3 days on the island. Do & See:  Scenic Road Trips, Castles, Hiking, Outdoor Activities Transport:  Rental Car, Guided Tour, Public Transport Stay  at Portree Youth Hostel [£], Creagorry Skye B&B [££],  Hotel Eilean Iarmain [££],  Cuillin Hills Hotel [£££] Plan your trip: 30+ Things to do on the Isle of Skye , The Ultimate Isle of Skye Itinerary for 1 to 4 Days

The Small Isles: Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna

The Small Isles are a group of four islands just south of Skye. They can be reached by ferry from Mallaig on the mainland, however, note that visitors are not permitted to bring their own vehicles across to any of these islands. 

Naturally, the Small Isles are a hiker’s paradise. The gives it away – Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna are small islands and thus fairly easy to navigate on foot or by bike. Each island has a handful of accommodation options including campsites and mountain bothies. 

If you are looking for an adventure in the wilderness, I cannot recommend the Isle of Rum enough. There is plenty to do to fill a weekend – hiking, bouldering, sandy beaches, watching the local deer herds, visiting Kinloch Castle and joining the local community at the village centre. 

Spend  2 days or more. Do & See:  Hiking, Nature, Bothying, Wildlife Watching Transport:  Ferry from Mallaig, Walking & Cycling on the islands. Stay  at Kinloch Village Campsite [£], Rum Bunkhouse [£],  Ivy Cottage Guest House [££] on the Isle of Rum. Plan your trip: A Weekend Travel Guide to the Isle of Rum , A travel guide for the Isle of Canna

The Outer Hebrides

Barra & vatersay.

The Isles of Barra and Vatersay are the southernmost islands in the Outer Hebrides. Barra is a 5-hour ferry ride from Oban, so it requires quite a commitment to reach it. However, there are also direct flights to the island, making use of a beach as the runway at low-tide – it is the only scheduled flight in the world that lands on a beach!

Barra and Vatersay are great for hiking and other outdoor activities such as snorkelling, boat trips, kayaking and cycling. Cycling is indeed a great way to get around these two islands and reach some of the hidden beaches and bays around them. Vatersay and Barra are connected by a causeway which makes travel between them super easy.

Many visitors set out from Vatersay to complete the Hebridean Way on foot or by bike, a long-distance adventure that crosses 10 islands from the south to the north of the Outer Hebrides. 

The islands are off the beaten track, but offer a variety of accommodation and are thus a great starting point for island hopping around the Outer Hebrides or for some time away from the bustle of the mainland.

Spend  3 days or more (unless as part of the Hebridean Way). Do & See:  Beaches, Hiking, Sea Kayaking, Walking/Cycling the Hebridean Way Transport:  Rental Car, Cycling, Guided Tour Stay  at Dunard Hostel [£], Croft 183 [£], Castlebay Hotel [££], Isle of Barra Beach Hotel [£££], all on Barra. Plan your trip: Visit Barra & Vatersay on the Hebridean Way

Uist: Eriskay, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist and Berneray

The central cluster of islands in the Outer Hebrides is made up of Eriskay, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, Grimsay. Berneray and a large number of smaller islands off their shores.

The major islands are connected by causeways and there are ferries between Eriskay and Barra in the south and Berneray and Harris in the north. In addition, Lochboisdale on South Uist and Lochmaddy on North Uist are connected by ferry to the mainland and the Isle of Skye respectively. All this makes it super easy to plan an island hopping itinerary including Uist – you just need enough time!

The islands of Uist are incredibly diverse and offer various different landscapes to explore – from the Machair flower meadows on the west coast to the mountains of northern South Uist, the moorlands and archipelagos on the east coasts of Benbecula and North Uist. Beach lovers and hill-walkers can enjoy endless holidays on these islands, but history buffs will also enjoy the wealth of historic sites ranging from stone circles to Jacobite sites connected to Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Spend  2 days or more. Do & See:  Beaches, Standing Stones, History Transport:  Rental Car, Walking/Cycling on the Hebridean Way Stay  at Howmore Gatliff Hostel [£] on South Uist; Moorcroft Holidays [£], Dark Island Hotel [££] on Benbecula;  Langass Lodge [£££] on North Uist; John’s Bunkhouse [£] on Bernerary. Plan your trip: A travel guide for the islands of Uist

Isles of Lewis & Harris

Despite sharing one landmass, Lewis and Harris are considered to be two islands and they could not look more different.

Harris, at the southern end, is dominated by tall mountains towering over its famous white sandy beaches on the west coast and isolated rocky landscapes on the east coast. The beaches are a major draw for most visitors – Luskentyre, Horbabost, Seilebost, Borve and Husinish are hard to beat when it comes to beauty and they are dotted with campsites. Many day trips to St Kilda leave from Harris (more below) and the Golden Road makes for an epic circular road trip starting in the small town of Tarbet. There are buses on Harris, but the easiest way to get around and reach the far-flung corners of the island is by rental car.

Lewis on the other end is much flatter than Harris and has an equal amount of cultural and natural sites that draw in visitors. The Callanish Standing Stones barely need an introduction, but on Lewis you can also visit a blackhouse village museum, lighthouses, historic brochs, peat fields and paradise beaches. Smaller islands such as Great Bernera are linked to Lewis via causeways, so you can tick off even more isles in one trip. The capital of the Outer Hebrides – the quirky town of Stornoway – is a great home base with plenty of shops and restaurants and opportunities to join guided island tours or boat trips to neighbouring archipelagos for wildlife watching.

Spend  2 days or more. Do & See:  Standing Stones, Beaches, History, Hiking, Boat Trips, Gin Distillery Transport:  Rental Car, Public Transport, Walking/Cycling on the Hebridean Way Stay  at  Vigadale House [££] on Harris; Heb Hostel [£], Stornoway B&B [££] on Lewis. Plan your trip: 10 Things to do on the Isle of Lewis

St Kilda is a double UNESCO World Heritage Site, protected for its unique cultural history and precious seabird colonies. It is managed by the National Trust for Scotland and is used as a military base by the British Ministry of Defense – but the two co-exist in harmony. 

The island is an absolute bucket list destination for anyone who is interested in UNESCO World Heritage sites and remote islands in the middle of nowhere. St Kilda lies 50 miles off the shores of the Outer Hebrides and it takes about 3 hours on a speed boat to reach it from Leverburgh on Harris. Tours are correspondingly expensive (over £200 per person), but if you love bird-watching and dramatic sea stacks and cliffs, it is worth every penny.

Spend  1 day. Do & See:  Birdwatching, UNESCO World Heritage Site Transport:  Organised Boat Trip Stay  at  Am Bothan Bunkhouse [£] on Harris near the pier. Plan your trip: How to do a Day Trip to St Kilda

Northern Isles

The Orkney Islands lie just off the coast of northern Scotland, only 10 miles from the Scottish mainland at its closest point. The archipelago is made up of around 70 islands, but only about 20 are inhabited. The largest island in Orkney is simply known as the Mainland and is a great home base for an island-hopping adventure around Orkney. 

You could easily combine a road trip on the North Coast 500 with a few days on Orkney. If you time the ferries right, you can even see a lot with just one night on Orkney – however, I recommend taking it slow and spending at least a couple of days to take in the different experiences Orkney has to offer.

Orkney has a large number of Neolithic sites and Viking heritage which influences the local culture. Together, the Standing Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar, the chambered cairn of Maeshowe and the Neolithic village of Skara Brae form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But there is more, from idyllic coastal walks to dramatic sea cliffs, an arts & craft trail, whisky distilleries and significant wartime history, Orkney will not disappoint you.

Other popular islands in the archipelago include Hoy and Westray which can be reached by ferry. From Westray you can board the world’s shortest scheduled flight to Papa Westray – it takes only 90 seconds.

Spend  2 days or more. Do & See:  Viking History, Standing Stones, Cliffs & Wildlife Transport:  Rental Car, Guided Tours Stay  at Kirkwall Youth Hostel [£], The Orkney Hotel [££],  The Shore Hotel [££] in Kirkwall. Plan your trip: My Orkney Travel Guide , tips for the Orkney Folk Festival  

Shetland is Scotland’s outpost in the North Atlantic. Located some 50 miles north of Orkney and 170 miles south of the Faroe Islands, this archipelago is as far out there as you can go in Scotland. You can fly to Shetland and hire a car there, or bring everything you need across on the overnight ferry from Aberdeen. 

The Shetland Islands share a rich medieval history with Scandinavia, thanks in particular due to the Norwegian Viking kings who colonised the islands. This heritage can be seen and felt at sites and museums all over Shetland and culminated in the annual Up Helly Aa traditions, with the biggest and most famous celebration at the Lerwick fire festival.

The islands are sparsely populated and offer a plethora of stunning beaches (check St Ninian’s), coastal scenery (road trip around the Northmavine peninsula) and wildlife encounters (visit the Hermaness National Nature Reserve on the Isle of Unst). You can also go sea kayaking, horse-back riding or meet artists along Shetland’s craft trail.

Spend  3 days or more. Do & See:  History, Beaches, Wildlife Watching Transport:  Rental Car. Stay  at Islesburgh Youth Hostel [£], The Lerwick Hotel [££] in Lerwick, Sumburgh Hotel [££] on Mainland, or stay at the  Bressay, Sumburgh or Eshaness Lighthouses [£££]. Plan your trip” Shetland’s Viking Fire Festival: Up Helly Aa , Tips for Visiting Shetland During Winter , Artists on the Shetland Craft Trail

Other Scottish Islands

Handa island.

Handa Island is a small island off the Scottish north-west coast that should easily fit into your North Coast 500 itinerary. Located only a few hundred metres from the mainland, it takes some effort to get to – there is only one small boat operating as a passenger ferry to Handa from Tarbet, which lies at the end of a winding single track road. The crossing takes only 15 minutes and once you land on the white sandy beach, you might be greeted with the words ‘Welcome to Paradise’.

Handa is managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and in the summer it is home to thousands of seabirds – from a small colony of puffins to huge numbers of razorbills, gannets and guillemots who raise their chicks on the dramatic sea cliffs of the island. There are also skuas nesting in the grassland and a plethora of bunnies and insects to discover. 

Once on the island, you can follow the circular trail around the main sites of interest, watch wildlife or have a picnic at a remote beach overlooking the mountains of the mainland. Handa is the perfect place for a half-day or day trip off the beaten path.

Spend  1/2 to 1 day. Do & See:  Birdwatching, Walking, Beaches, Nature Transport:  Car to Handa Ferry, walking on Handa. Stay  at Scourie Hotel [££] – a 15-minute drive from Handa Ferry; Kylesku B&B [££] – a 30-minute drive; Achmelvich Beach Youth Hostel [£] – a 1-hour drive.  Plan your trip: A Day Trip to Handa Island on the NC500

Isle of May

The Isle of May is one of the best places to see puffins in Scotland and is home to a colony of over 120,000 individuals! From mid-April to mid-August you are guaranteed to see these beautiful birds on the island – and the best thing? You can visit on a day trip from Edinburgh!

Boats to the Isle of May leave from North Berwick – a 30-minute train journey from Edinburgh – as well as from Anstruther in Fife, which takes a little more effort to get to, but is a perfect home base to explore the East Neuk of Fife, including the fishing villages of Crail and Pittenweem as well as St Andrews.

You can choose from different boat itineraries, but most include a landing on the Isle of May where a network of trails brings you up close with the local wildlife.

Spend  1/2 to 1 day. Do:  Birdwatching – Puffins!, Walking, Nature Transport:  Organised Boat Trip Stay  in Murray Library Hostel [£], The Waterfront Hotel [££],   The Bank Hotel  [£££] in Anstruther; Nether Abbey Hotel [££] in North Berwick. You can also join a boat from North Berwick when you stay in Edinburgh. Plan your trip” A Day Trip to see Puffins on the Isle of May  on Funky Ellas Travel

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Island Hopping in Scotland

Island hopping is the art of combining multiple islands in one trip. Some Scottish islands, such as the Outer Hebrides, the Small Isles or the southern Hebrides lend themselves to multi-island itineraries, while others such as the Isle of Coll or Shetland are harder to combine with other islands. 

I am working on a separate post about the logistics of planning island hopping in Scotland, but in brief, make sure you choose islands that are located in proximity of one another, prepare to be flexible in terms of transport – it can be easier and much cheaper without a car – and most importantly bring enough time to give each island the attention it deserves.

Check out my island hopping itineraries for the Inner Hebrides and the Outer Hebrides (incl. Skye) to plan a trip to several Scottish isles.

As you can see, the Scottish islands have a lot to offer and different islands cater to different travellers with a vast variety of expectations and interests. There are so many isles to choose from, it would be a shame if you just blindly followed the crowds, instead of choosing the best Scottish islands to visit for your perfect holiday. 

I hope that this list gave you an overview of what each Scottish island has to offer and which islands can fulfil what you are looking for. 

If you need help in deciding on your itinerary or struggle to find a way to fit more islands into your itinerary, consider booking me as your itinerary planner – my Scotland Travel Consultation services offer a variety of ways that can help you plan a trip to Scotland that is 100% you!

Now tell me, do you have a favourite Scottish island?

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9 thoughts on “ The Best Scottish Islands to Visit on your Scotland Trip ”

I’m considering planning a trip to Scotland next April (if the pandemic situation allows). I’ve been to Scotland twice before, but haven’t been to any of the islands. I’m probably looking at 5 days at most to travel within Scotland- and would be fine spending pretty much all of that on an island/a couple of islands (I’ve seen quite a bit of the mainland already). Are there any islands that you’d recommend in mid-April over the others?

Depending on when you travel exactly (early or late April), I would probably choose an island with a shorter ferry crossing early in the month (when the weather can still be quite wintery and disrupt ferry services), or one where you can see puffins if you travel later in the month (they arrive towards the end of April). Other than that, the west coast is your oyster 🙂

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Your Orkney and Shetland sections are too short. Shetland is made up of over 100 islands, 14 inhabited. Orkney also has many islands, you covered uninhabited St Kilda in it’s own section but left out Foula (used as Hirta in the film the Edge of the World) and Fair Isle. Orkney has the Churchill barriers but not to every island, Papa Westrey is beautiful.

Otherwise I like that a list like this exists.

Hi Leona, Thanks for your comment. As much as I would love to cover every single Scottish island, with 790 islands, it would be impossible to write a blog post that includes them all. I prefer to write about places I have visited myself, hence the selection on this list. The places I have visited for longer or more than once are naturally easier to write more about.

I have linked to my Shetland post with more details about my trip there (here the link again: https://watchmesee.com/blog/quick-guide-to-shetland/ ) – we spent time on the mainland and Unst on that trip with a focus on Up Helly Aa and meeting local artists. Unfortunately, I have never had the chance yet to visit Orkney, but I knew I wanted to include it in this list – hence the link to Susanne’s blog. She lives up there and her blog is a great resource for anyone who wants to visit Orkney. I hope to add to this post as I manage to visit more islands in Scotland – until then, I write about the places I know.

Hi…….great insight for visitors like myself. I’ve planned a full daily itinerary for my self drive trip 3 week to Scotland. I’ve included many of the places you mention while driving spending 3 days in Skye, doing the full NC500 and hoping over to Orkney for 4 days. While there another jump to Hoy for the day, then continue back to Mainland Scotland and finish our trip.

I didn’t see anything about Hoy. We included it as somewhere I read it too was wonderful to visit and see the Puffins. Do you have any insight on that, or do you recommend going to Isle of May instead? WE planned to take the car ferry over from Orkney and back, spending all day there circling the island.

Thanks for the informative article!

Hi Shawna, I’ve never actually been to Orkney or Hoy myself, so I couldn’t comment on the puffin situation there.

You’ve not mentioned the time of the year you are coming, so please be aware that puffins are usually only on land from mid-April to early August, give or take a little depending on the weather. The Isle of May is a great ace to see them, so are John O Groats and Handa Island on the NC 500.

For any Orkney advice, Susanne from Adventures Around Scotland is your person as she lives there: https://www.adventuresaroundscotland.com/

One piece of advice I always give is to slow down – especially on the NC500. There is so much to see, it would be a shame to rush through it – I’d spend at least a week on the route plus time for Orkney and Skye.

Have a great trip!

Wonderful post and tips! I’m going to visit Scotland this year and I wanted to visit some islands, thank you for the information.

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The ultimate guide to Scotland's magical Hebrides islands

Aug 10, 2022 • 12 min read

Crossing a river near the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye © Leon Harris/Getty Images

An emerald shore receding behind, a sea breeze in your face, a dolphin surfing the bow wave as escort. The magic begins as soon as you board the ferry from Scotland’s rugged west coast and head for Scotland 's Hebrides islands. 

This scattering of more than 50 inhabited and uninhabited islands, islets and skerries is like a world unto itself – thrillingly isolated, wind-battered, sea-smashed  and with a beauty that is off the charts. From the ragged mountains of Skye to the snow-white beaches and cerulean seas of Harris, the mysterious standing stones of Lewis to the whisky heaven of Islay, these islands lift spirits in every possible sense of the expression.

Some of Europe’s most alluring beaches are on these Scottish islands (but you’ll need to be made of stern stuff to brave the waters and don’t expect to return home with a tan), while remoteness and underpopulation mean that wildlife displaced elsewhere still flourishes. You’re almost guaranteed to see seals and whales; otters, dolphins and porpoises are also regularly sighted.  Seabirds – gannets, fulmars, puffins and more – thrive on jagged coasts, and geese of various species often outnumber residents. That very same isolation – Edinburgh seems another world, and London is outside the Hebridean solar system – means that life has traditionally been a tough, self-reliant affair.

Visiting the Hebrides is about being outdoors. Throughout the islands, there’s great walking, from pacing the sublime sandy beaches of Barra, Tiree or Harris to tackling the rugged challenge of Skye’s Cuillin Hills or the Paps on Jura. To get out on the water, sea-kayaking is a great option on Barra, Skye and other islands. Bicycles are easily taken on ferries, though high winds can make for tough pedaling at times. So lace up the hiking boots, grab binoculars or a paddle, fortify yourself with a local dram and throw yourself into the wilds no matter what hand the weather deals you.

Visit Islay & Jura to try some of the world’s best whiskies

Mellow, relaxed and so friendly that even passing strangers stop for a wee chat, Islay (‘eye-la’) is the home of several of the world’s best whiskies – many famed for their peatiness – whose names reverberate on the tongue like a pantheon of Celtic deities: Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Bunnahabhain, Kilchoman, Bruichladdich, Bowmore. 

Wilder and more rugged, the adjacent island of Jura likes long, dark and low off the coast like a Viking longship and provides a tremendous hit of scenery, with its brooding twin hills, the Paps, providing habitat for an enormous deer population. The ferocious Corryvreckan whirlpool churns away at the north of the island, near where George Orwell wrote 1984. The author summed it up neatly as “a very un-get-at-able place”. 

What to do 

Top billing goes to the distilleries on Islay and Jura, which have whisky enthusiasts in raptures, among them Ardbeg , with its magnificent 10-year-old, Bowmore , which malts its own barley, Laphroig, where you can taste famously peaty whiskies, and the Isle of Jura Distillery . All welcome visitors and run tours and tastings. More expensive tours throw in more malts and take you further behind the scenes. It’s worth booking in advance online or by calling ahead.

Cracking seafood (langoustines and crabs fresh off the boat, hand-dived scallops, and tasty mussels and oysters), days spent roaming machair-fringed bays lapped by turquoise seas and brilliant wildlife watching (keep an eye out for grey seals, white-tailed sea eagles, barnacle geese and otters) ramp up Islay’s appeal beyond the dram. Hop on Islay Sea Safaris to spot all of Islay and Jura’s distilleries in a single day. Their customized tours from Port Ellen also include birdwatching trips and visits to Jura’s remote west coast and the Corryvreckan whirlpool, one of the most notorious tidal whirlpools in the world.

Where to stay

Accommodation is like gold dust on Islay and Jura for the number of visitors they receive in spring and summer, so always book ahead. Get the best of Islay seafood and whisky, as well as seriously comfortable Victorian accommodation, at the Port Charlotte Hotel , or camp or stay in a self-catering cottage at Kintra Farm amid the dunes at the southern end of Laggan Bay. 

How to get to Islay 

Loganair flies up to three times daily from Glasgow to Islay, and Hebridean Air Services operates twice daily on Thursday from Oban to Colonsay and Islay. There are two ferry terminals: Port Askaig on the east coast, and Port Ellen in the south. Ferries are run by CalMac .

A car ferry shuttles between Port Askaig on Islay and Feolin on Jura. There is no direct car-ferry connection to the mainland. From April to September, Jura Passenger Ferry runs from Tayvallich on the mainland to Craighouse on Jura.

Islay & Jura might be for you if: You’re a fan of whisky and wilderness.

Islay & Jura might not be for you if: You’re looking for serious mountains.

Find mountain drama and holy marvels on Mull and Iona

All of the islands are ravishing, but Mull really hits the scenic high notes, with wild mountains and spectacularly eroded dropping abruptly to startlingly turquoise waters. From great crags of black basalt to blindingly white sands, this is an island for slowing the pace for a spell and wholeheartedly embracing nature. 

Birds of prey glide above the highest peaks, otters can be spotted along the shore, while the west coast is good for watching whales, dolphins and porpoises. You’ll for sure see seals, too, both the Atlantic gray (look for its Roman nose) and the common seal (recognizable by its doggy face). 

What do do 

Mull’s characterful main town, Tobermory, is an instant heart-stealer, with its row of colorful houses, Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust spotlighting local marine life, bijou distillery , excellent restaurant serving sustainable seafood and good old-fashioned pub , near the pier on the harbourfront. Even here, the focus is on the wild outdoors, with hillwalking, whale-watching excursions and boat trips to weird Fingal’s Cave, a 60m-deep chasm of hexagonal pillars, on uninhabited Staffa .

If you’re up for more, you could clamber up 966m Ben More , Mull’s highest peak, and the only island Munro outside Skye, for stirring views out across the islands. Or grab your hiking boots for the adventurous eight-mile return stomp to the phenomenal rock formations of the Carsaig Arches at Malcom’s Point. 

A five-minute ferry ride from Fionnphort on Mull, the holy island of Iona weaves its own spell. St Columba sailed from Ireland and landed here in 563, establishing a monastic community with the aim of Christianizing Scotland. Its scriptorium produced some of the most important illuminated manuscripts of the period, including, allegedly, the Book of Kells now in Dublin’s Trinity College. Dotted with majestic stone crosses and monastic ruins, this emerald teardrop of an island is now a place for solitude seekers and pilgrims. The heavily restored abbey is the island’s spiritual heart.

Where to stay 

There’s plenty of charming places to stay on Mull, from back-to-nature campsites to B&Bs and luxurious small hotels. For something fancier, Highland Cottage in Tobermory is enchantingly intimate, with antique-filled rooms and a hearty welcome. On a working sheep croft at Iona’s northern tip, the Green Shed is lovely, with eco-friendly self-catering digs decorated with flair and upcycled furniture and riveting sea views.  

How to get to Mull

CalMac has three car ferries that link Mull with the mainland: Oban to Craignure (the busiest route), Lochaline to Fishnish and  Tobermory to Kilchoan.

Mull & Iona might be for you if: You love wildlife, mountains and ancient abbeys.

Mull & Iona might not be for you if: You want to just rock up without booking ahead.

Getting a natural high on the Isle of Skye

The Vikings called it sky-a, or ‘cloud island’, in old Norse, alluding to the clouds that often hovered above the menacing Cuillin Hills, which entice hardcore hikers and mountaineers with some of Scotland’s gnarliest peaks and dizzying views. But even seen from ground level, the Isle of Skye is just stunning. An ethereal light squeezes through the clouds and bathes a rugged splendor that stretches across heather-brushed moors, glittering lochs and sea cliffs razoring above pounding surf. 

Skye delivers the kind of big wilderness for which Scotland is so famous – and all neatly packaged into one island. But it’s no secret, so dodge the biggest crowds (and midges) by visiting in spring or autumn. That said, most visitors stick to Portree, Dunvegan and Trotternish – you can always find peace if you’re willing to venture further afield.

Bring your boots. Hikers are in their element with some of the roughest, toughest and most soul-stirring trails in the country. Ease yourself in gently on short hikes through the remote, boggy, loch-speckled, strikingly beautiful glens of Strath Mor, keeping an eye out for red deer and otters, or on moderately challenging ramble to the Old Man of Storr , an iconic pinnacle of crumbling basalt on the Trotternish Peninsula. Or throw yourself in at the deep end with a pulse-racing, nerve-jangling five-mile trek up 992m Sgùrr Alasdair, the loftiest peak in the Black Cuillin, where dark, fierce fangs of rock punch above the sea. Its summit has sensational views all the way to the isles of Rhum, Eigg and Canna. For rock climbers, the Inaccessible Pinnacle (In Pinn) is the Holy Grail. You might need a guide .

The secluded coves and sparkling sea lochs indenting Skye’s coast are best seen with your bum in a kayak and a paddle in your hand, some say. Whitewave Outdoor Centre and Skyak Adventures get you out on the water.

The outdoors is the big draw, for sure, but when the mist descends or the dreich weather blows in, there’s still plenty to do, from castles like mighty Dunvegan on the vast MacLeod Estate to the fascinating Skye Museum of Island Life , zooming in on the island’s crofting heritage, and jolly pubs where you can shelter from the drizzle with a pint.  

Skye is insanely popular and accommodation is therefore plentiful, from camping and glamping to backpacker hostels and high-end hotels. Nevertheless, you should book ahead. Harborside Portree is Skye’s largest and liveliest town, with options ranging from simple, homely B&Bs to the luxe Cuillin Hills Hotel , with broad views out to sea and up to the mountains. 

Housed in the old village school, Skyewalker Hostel in Minginish has a cool mix of rooms, glamping huts and a glass-domed outdoor seating area. 

How to get to Skye

Skye became permanently tethered to the Scottish mainland when the Skye Bridge opened in 1995. The crossing is free. There are buses from Glasgow to Portree and Uig via Crianlarich, Fort William and Kyle of Lochalsh, plus a service from Inverness to Portree. 

Despite the bridge, there are still a couple of ferry links between Skye and the mainland. Ferries also operate from Uig on Skye to the Outer Hebrides. The CalMac ferry between Mallaig and Armadale is very popular on weekends and in July and August. The Glenelg–Skye Ferry runs a tiny vessel (six cars only) on the short Kylerhea to Glenelg crossing.

Skye might be for you if: You are mad about big mountains and hardcore hiking.

Skye might not be for you if: You want to totally escape the crowds.

Give the world the slip in the Outer Hebrides 

When the sun breaks through the clouds on Outer Hebrides (or Western Isles), illuminating the velvet pleats of mountains, bracken-cloaked moors and machair-draped dunes that drop to frost-white sands fizzing into a sea of exquisite turquoise, it’s like witnessing the dawn of creation. Far removed from civilization, there are times you will feel like the last soul on earth here, especially if you come in the hush of spring or autumn. Times when you will forget the century we live in, walking barefoot on mile-long beaches made afresh by the tides, looking for otter footprints, witnessing a fiery sunset after a storm, or foraging for cockles and mussels in rocky bays.

These glorious isles – some just wee specks of rock – are  isolated, windswept, treeless places that have traditionally subsisted on fishing, weaving and livestock, though renewable energy is increasingly big business. You’ll hear the gentle lilt of Scottish Gaelic everywhere here as it’s still a working language.

What to do in the Outer Hebrides

The principal island, its northern half called Lewis and its southern Harris, is a terrific starting point, with out-of-this-world coastal scenery, traditional turf-roofed blackhouses, lonely peat bogs dimpled with lochans and the famous Harris tweed. 

Mountainous and virtually roadless, North Harris is the hiking dream. South Harris by turn beguiles with staggeringly lovely white-sand beaches like Luskentyre and Scarista, swirling into jade waters. They are all the more enchanting for often being deserted.

Heading to the far northern tip of Lewis brings you to the lighthouse-topped Butt of Lewis, battered by the North Atlantic. The hinterland is largely desolate peat moorland, glittering with lochans. The island is littered with mysterious prehistoric sites, most famously the late-Neolithic standing stones of Callanish , weighing in at some four and a half millennia, roughly contemporary with the Great Pyramid of Giza, and Dun Carloway , a 2000-year-old, dry-stone broch.

To the south, the lonely Uist islands are prime nature-watching territory and connected by a causeway, while little Barra offers memorable sea-kayaking and the chance to watch the Glasgow flight land on the beach. 

Where to stay on the Outer Hebrides

Given how remote they are, there’s a surprisingly great assortment of places to stay in the  Outer Hebrides, from basic campsites and hostels to B&Bs, sleek, architect-designed hotels and eco-friendly beach houses. A lot of accommodation swings with the seasons, closing down during the dark, rainy months from October to March. For hostels with a dash of history and incredible views, check out the Gatliff Hebridean Hostels Trust . Or if you fancy staying in a conserved village of traditional blackhouses on the Isle of Lewis, with the crashing Atlantic as your wake-up call, try Gearrannan Holiday Cottages .

How to get to the Outer Hebrides

Loganair flights operate to Stornoway from Edinburgh, Inverness and Glasgow. There are also flights (weekdays only) between Stornoway and Benbecula. There are daily Loganair flights from Glasgow to Barra, and from Monday to Saturday to Benbecula. At Barra, the planes land on the hard-sand beach at low tide, so the schedule depends on the tides. 

There are two or three CalMac ferries a day to Stornoway, one or two a day to Tarbert and Lochmaddy, and one a day to Castlebay and Lochboisdale (always weather permitting – it can get wild out here!).

The Outer Hebrides might be for you if: You love wild scenery, beaches and prehistory.

The Outer Hebrides might not be for you if: You want more action – it’s remote and quiet here.

This article was first published May 2014 and updated August 2022

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Inspiring Travel’s Guide to the Scottish Islands

18 Jul, 2021

After writing a blog explaining why you need to visit the Scottish highlands at least once , the natural follow-up is for us to argue the case for some of Scotland’s incredible islands. Take just a quick glance at a map of Scotland. We’ll bet you notice right away that its ragged west coast is packed with a mixture of small and large islands.

Scotland’s islands all have their own character, each offering different experiences to those who visit them. You could write whole books about each island — and people have. But our goal with this blog is to give a brief overview of Scotland’s four most famous islands, summarising what you can expect to find there.

Our hope is that this guide inspires you to include at least one Scottish island on your next big Scottish adventure. If this blog does inspire you, check out our customised Scotland tours page and tell us everything you’d like us to include on your perfect, tailormade Scotland trip!

Why You Need to Visit at Least a Few Scottish Islands

No trip to Scotland would be complete without a visit to its stunning west coast and islands. The landscapes and vistas here are truly breath-taking! Whether you’re seeking castles or whisky, waterfalls or wildlife, the Scottish islands offer it all.

While these are some of the largest and most popular islands, we also have plenty of favourite spots we won’t mention here. We’d be delighted to take you during your custom Scotland trip , however! Just let us know what you’d love to do and we’ll use all our local expertise and insight to make it happen.

Arran – Scotland in Miniature

Arran feels like the best start to this guide as it is often referred to as “Scotland in Miniature”. This is because it falls under the same Highland Boundary Fault that crosses mainland Scotland, turning it into the Lowlands and the Highlands.

This means that Arran is also split into its own much smaller Lowlands and Highlands. Arran is considered a geologist’s paradise, but its rock formations and general landscapes can be admired and appreciated by the layperson, too. 

Arran is one of Scotland’s larger islands. It can be found just off the west coast of Ayrshire within easy reach of Glasgow. And there is plenty to see and do over a 3- or 4-day stay!

Things to Do on the Isle of Arran

You can visit Brodick, the main village on the island. Enjoy an ice cream, pub grub, fish and chips, and the other trappings of an idyllic Scottish seaside town.

Travel north a little and you’ll find Brodick Castle, widely regarded as one of the finest castles in Scotland . However, the grounds and gardens around the castle are just as impressive.

If you’re looking for a little physical exercise, you can climb Goatfell — the highest mountain on the island, at 874 metres. Seeking outdoor activities during your Scotland trip? You may also want to check out our inspirational guide to outdoor adventure in Scotland .

Heading to the west of Arran, you’ll find Machrie Moor Stone Circle. Despite the name, there are actually several stone circles, all dating back to approximately 4,000 years ago. You will also find a burial cairn on the coastal path that dates back to the Bronze Age.

Arran is a truly unique island with lots to offer first-timers and plenty to reward returning visitors.

Islay – A Whisky Paradise

Islay can be found approximately 50 miles to the west of Arran, across from the Kintyre Peninsula.

Islay is a beautiful island with pristine sandy beaches and idyllic seaside villages. The houses are painted white, sitting out against the island’s lush, green fields.

However, while the island’s beauty is undeniable, it plays second fiddle to Islay’s more famous tourist draw: whisky distilleries. There are an impressive nine distilleries on Islay!

Islay is arguably the centre for Scotland’s whisky tourism and it even holds a whisky and music festival in May each year, called Fèis Ìle. The peat that can be found on the island finds its way into the whisky distillation process, giving many — but not all — of the Islay whiskies a deep, peaty flavour. 

Explore Whisky on the Isle of Islay

For Scottish whisky enthusiasts, Islay is a dream come true. You could spend nine days in Islay, taking a tour of a different distillery each day, or you could just visit one or two of your favourite distilleries.

Laphroaig is, arguably, Islay’s most famous whisky. Part of what makes Laphroaig famous is its strong peaty flavour, which completely divides whisky lovers. You’ll find the Laphroaig distillery to the east of Port Ellen, on the south of Islay.

Just to the east of the Laphroaig distillery, you’ll find both Lagavulin and Ardbeg distilleries. Lagavulin has been in competition with Laphroaig since its inception in 1816, one year after Laphroaig opened up shop.

While some Lagavulin whiskies have a deep, peaty flavour, the 16-year-old Lagavulin smooths out and is one of the island’s most famous and best-loved exports. 

Moving to the Rhinns of Islay, the island’s northwestern peninsula, you’ll find two of Islay’s other big whisky heavyweights: Bruichladdich and Kilchoman.

While Bruichladdich was founded in 1881, it has closed down several times and swapped hands over the last 140 years. Despite this, Bruichladdich is currently right at the forefront of modern Scottish whisky production, borrowing the idea of terroir from French wine production.

Terroir is the idea that the land, the weather, and other environmental factors affect the crop and impact the flavour of the whisky.

If you’re interested in whisky, then you may like to read our brief guide to Scottish whisky before you visit.  We also offer an Exclusive Scottish Whisky and Culture Tour that you may want to check out. After all, someone else should do the driving while you sample so many whiskies!

Skye — The Winged Isle

Where Skye, also referred to as “The Isle of Skye”, got its name is somewhat of a mystery. It is believed to have derived from a variety of sources. One theory is that it takes its name from the Celtic word Skitis, which means ‘winged’. Other theories connect the name to the Gaelic and Norse settlers that followed after the Celts.

Skye’s popularity in recent years has absolutely soared, which has led to over-tourism in some instances. However, the popularity is undeniably linked to the Isle of Skye’s breathtaking natural beauty.

Skye is the largest island in the Inner Hebrides group of islands, found to the northwest of Scotland. With an area of 639 square miles, there is a lot of ground to cover when you visit this Scottish island!

While all of Scotland’s islands can boast beautiful scenery, Skye is, arguably, the most impressive.

Most guests come specifically to see some of the island’s most beautiful spots. It’s perhaps no surprise that the age of social media – of Pinterest and Instagram — has produced thousands of images of Skye.

In fact, it’s very likely that the profluence of gorgeous online images has directly contributed to Skye’s rise in popularity.

Things to Do on the Isle of Skye

If you do visit, walk the Quiraing. This circuit of hills allows you to sample the island’s incredible landscapes. The walk will take about 3–4 hours and it starts off close to Uig, on the northeast of the island.

The Quiraing might be the most impressive walk you ever go on! You will pass other famous Skye features, such as the Needle and the Prison, and it offers high relief views of Skye and the smaller Islands of Raasay and Rona.

If you’re a photographer and you’re visiting Skye, walking the Quiraing is an absolute must. 

The Old Man of Storr is another unmissable natural feature on Skye. Located not far from the Quiraing, hikers and hillwalkers love the Old Man of Storr. 

This fascinating rock formation atop a hill is one of the most striking natural landscapes you’ll ever see — and the views from the top of the hill make the climb more than worth it.

Moving to the south of the island, at Glenbrittle, you’ll find the Fairy Pools. These picturesque rock pools are becoming increasingly popular. It’s due to the sense of peace and tranquillity of the pools, the springs, and the waterfalls that feed into them.

There are so many things to see and do in Skye that we’ve only scratched the surface, but there’s one more Scottish island we’d like to discuss in this guide…

The Isle of Mull

Last, but certainly not least, is the Isle of Mull, often just called Mull. Mull is further north than Skye, and it’s the second biggest of the Hebrides islands — second only to Skye.

There is plenty to see and do over a 3-4 day stay, and we hope to inspire a few readers to add it to their itineraries. Mull has castles, picturesque seaside towns, and enchanting wildlife. Plus, it’s only a short journey away from Staffa, which we’ll discuss later on.

Things to Do in Mull

Mull is one of the best places in Scotland for nature lovers. There are plenty of opportunities to go out in search of its majestic sea life.  You can go out on a boat in search of seals, otters, and whales. Or you can visit the nest areas for the island’s famous kittiwakes and fulmar birds, as well as black guillemots and great black-backed gulls.

You can also take a short boat ride to the smaller islands around Mull. There, you’ll find nesting razorbills, guillemots, and puffins in even larger numbers. 

While in Mull, make sure you visit the town of Tobermory, the capital of Mull. Dating back to 1788, Tobermory was designed around its natural harbour, with parts of the town stretching up into the hills beyond.

The multi-coloured buildings on the harbour make Tobermory one of the most visually striking ports in Scotland.

In Tobermory, you can visit the Mull Museum, the Marine Visitor Centre, take in a show at the Mull Theatre, and you can take a guided tour of Tobermory Distillery. 

Don’t Forget the Isle of Staffa!

To the west of central Mull — just a short boat ride away — you’ll find the Isle of Staffa.

This small island is only really easily accessible from Mull. But it is well worth the additional effort required to get there! Staffa is unlike anywhere else in Scotland, due to the densely packed pillars of basalt that make up most of the island.

Staffa comes from the same rock formation as The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland and Stuðlagil Canyon in Iceland. However, for many who visit it, Staffa is often regarded as the best, most impressive example of this incredible, otherworldly phenomenon. 

Go Visit the Scottish Islands

That’s all we have time for in this guide. We’ve only covered 4 of Scotland’s 130 inhabited islands, but we’ve tried to discuss the most important ones.

Want to learn more? Check out our inspirational guide for you to tour the Scottish islands !

Whether you visit all of these islands or just one or two, you’re guaranteed to have an incredible time. Scotland’s wild and varied landscape has so much to offer visitors, and no two of its islands are the same. We hope this guide has inspired one or two readers to visit the Scottish islands.

If you have any questions about the Scottish islands and would like help to organise your next big Scottish adventure, please don’t hesitate to get in touch . 

This post was originally published in September 2019 and was updated in July 2021.

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• Scottish Isles

Islay, Scotland, is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides and many travellers’ first gateway into the awe-striking beauty that the Hebridean islands are known for. The island is famous for its excellent range of distilleries, remarkable historic sites, and hotspots filled with culture and heritage. You’ll find many things to do in Islay, making a vacation here a must!

You’ll know when you’re in Islay when the peat and boggy heath come together and form one of the unique islands in Scotland. The Isle of Islay is home to about 3,000 people, mainly grouped around the main towns of Bowmore, Port Ellen, Port Askaig, and Port Charlotte.

The ‘whisky coast’ is an excellent trip for anyone who loves the single malt whiskies – aficionado or casual consumer. Thankfully, the Isle of Islay is easy to get to and only requires a brief ferry ride, with excellent views along the way!

In This Post

Things to Do in Islay

The isle of Islay is home to an extraordinary number of attractions, and it’s no surprise that it lays claim to one of Scotland’s most popular islands to visit.

One morning could have you enjoying a traditional Scottish breakfast (complete with black pudding), learning about the island through its fascinating museums, and finishing the day with a private tasting at one of the many ‘Whisky Coast’ distilleries.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by one of the finest jewels of the Southern Hebrides. See our guide for the top things to do in Islay.

Visit the Cities of Islay

The cities within the Isle of Islay are bursting with Hebridean culture and exciting attractions. As you explore the far corners of the island, you’ll soon find that the cities of Islay are a comforting and reliable sanctuary with excellent accommodation, self-catering cottages or hotels, and amenities and Islay info for your upcoming adventures.

Each city is uniquely different but interconnected by its long history of living on a relatively sparse and ruthless island. It’s not uncommon to overhear the Gaelic language in the Southern Hebrides, so keep an ear out for this unique tongue!

We’ve listed some of the Isle of Islay’s most exciting towns and their most popular things to do!

Start big with the city of Bowmore! The administrative capital is at the centre of the Isle of Islay and is one of its most popular destinations.

Like the other major cities of Islay, Bowmore is home to many Islay distilleries, churches, and beautiful beaches. A visit to Bowmore should always include a trip to the cafes, shops, and restaurants, all with the refreshing smell of the nearby ocean.

Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte is a well-preserved and attractive town on the south-west coast of the island of Islay. It’s home to some of the most exciting attractions on the island, as well as an excellent selection of Islay whiskies.

Most notably, Port Charlotte holds the fantastic Museum of Islay Life, which gives an impeccable look into the island life of many generations on the Isle of Islay. A visitor centre, accommodation, and great restaurants in Port Charlotte are the perfect start or end to an eventful day travelling to the Southern Hebrides.

Just after Bowmore, the stunning Port Ellen is the largest town on the island of Islay and a significant port town to come and see.

Port Ellen is ideally situated between the Oa Peninsula and Kilnaughton Bay, making it an excellent location to see the immense natural beauty of the south coast. Port Ellen is the most common way to enter Islay from Kennacraig, and there’s no better introduction to Islay than the picturesque Port Ellen.

Port Askaig

Nestled between the Isle of Islay and Isle of Jura sits the quaint Port Askiag, overlooking the Sound of Islay.

If you intend to travel to the other Hebridean islands, Port Askaig should be your first choice. Port Askaig has several excellent distilleries close to the town, and it was rated as one of the most attractive postcodes to stay in Scotland in 2014!

With some of the most peaceful views overlooking the Islay Sound between Islay and Jura, Port Askaig is a beautiful town you should not miss out on!

Discover the Kintyre Peninsula

The breathtaking Kintyre Peninsula is one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland to visit, with the Inner Hebrides islands of Arran, Islay, and Kintyre being the crown jewels.

It’s the perfect setting for any week-long holiday and one of the most popular ways to traverse the contrasting islands of the Hebrides. The stunning Isle of Arran is filled with history and a peaceful respite from working life. At the same time, the Isle of Islay is the go-to destination for anyone who wants to savour the finest variety of whisky that Scotland offers.

Mainland Scotland is great for immersing yourself in the culture and life of the modern Scot. Still, the Inner and Outer Hebrides are where the history and tradition of Scotland genuinely lie, and the Kintyre Peninsula is your gateway to some of the most impressive sights in the country.

Finlaggen is known as the ‘Centre of the Lordship of the Isles and is one of Scotland’s most important historical sites.

In Finlaggen, the influential Clan Donald members were inaugurated, granting the Isle of Islay the nickname ‘Cradle of MacDonald’. You can see the remnants of ruins as you walk the informative trail along Loch Finlaggan, and some signs and guides will bring to life the fascinating events and deeds that took place here.

Loch Finlaggen will always be a symbol of importance to some of the most influential figures of Scottish history, and you too can relive their records at Finlaggen.

Dunyvaig Castle

The history of Dunyvaig is filled with extraordinary details that make it a fantastic attraction to see while on Islay.

This centuries-old castle was built on top of an Iron Age fort and was occupied at various points by Clan MacDonald, MacLean, and the Campbells for many sieges. Time has rendered it a ruin now, but the sight of this attraction still very much imposes a sense of power. The ruins are jumbled, almost fused to the underlying rock, but exploring and discovering the Castle is half the fun of this visit!

You can find Dunyvaig Castle in Lagavulin Bay, a few miles east of Port Ellen.

The unspoilt sands of Machir Bay are a real treat for an afternoon walk, with spectacular views and an enchanting serenity you can’t get anywhere else.

Situated on the west coast of Islay near the town of Kilchoman, Machir Bay is a long stretch of flat sands and peaceful waves that make it the perfect spot to lay down a blanket and have a picnic.

Whether for a brief walk in the fresh air after tasting some fine whisky at Kilchoman Distillery or for a beautiful day out in the sun, Machir Bay is an excellent attraction to see when you visit Islay.

Museum of Islay Life

A visit to the excellent Museum of Islay Life is one opportunity you can’t pass up. It’s practically an essential attraction to see an in-depth look into island life.

Home to a vast and fascinating collection of books, photographs, and stories that recount the island life that was present on Islay, you’ll receive unparalleled insight into the cultural history of Islay from prehistory to today! The Museum opened in 1977 in Port Charlotte, determined to maintain the record of Islay for all to see. With over 3,000 items, including uniforms, pottery, books, and several thousand more photographs, it’s fair to say they’ve succeeded.

The Museum enhances any visit to Islay, so ensure you’ve added this top attraction to your list!

Islay American Monument

You can find the towering American Monument in the National Reserve just north of Port Ellen, a tribute to the loss of American lives off the coast of Islay in 1918.

The monument is eye-catching and reaches 10-metres into the sky! It has a stunning array of coloured stones that make up the monument. The Islay American Monument is a testament to the hundreds of American troops who lost their lives during the end of World War I and regularly sees many visitors throughout the year.

This monument is the crown attraction amongst the stunning natural beauty of the park it sits in.

Discover Islay’s Distilleries

Islay is famous for the number of notable distilleries it has tucked into every corner of its beautiful island. After a day of discovery and adventure, there’s nothing more exciting than sitting down and chatting the day over with friends or family with some of Scotland’s finest single-malt whisky.

We’ve detailed our favourite ones here, but we highly recommend you take some time to savour each and everyone you come across to get an intimate knowledge of the smoky taste Islay is known for.

Laphroaig Distillery

You’ll never taste a more decadent flavour of whisky than at your next visit to the Laphroaig distillery.

Taking a distillery tour through Laphroaig will reveal that this whisky is more than alcohol; it is a testament to the hardiness and honesty of the Laphroaig community, who’ve kept their exceptional whisky brewing for generations.

The whisky produced here even has the Royal Warrant on its bottles, marking it as a favourite of the Prince of Wales – what more of a seal of approval could you ask for?

Lagavulin Distillery

Lagavulin Distillery is said to be the oldest distillery on Islay – the iconic “Lagavulin” sign graces the white distillery and is sure to catch your eye.

This distillery dates back to 1816 and has been distilling excellent single-malt whisky for just as long! Taking a tour through their distillery is unlike anything else you’ll experience, and you’ll gain a newfound respect for the complex process that makes your favourite whisky.

Out of the many distilleries you can find on Islay, putting the very first at the top of your list is a must.

Ardbeg Distillery

The Ardbeg Distillery is one of the most remote distilleries in Islay, but your voyage to reach this distillery is undoubtedly worth the trip.

This Distillery has been making smooth single-malt whisky for over 200 years and holds one of the most significant whisky committees (larger than its actual population). The whisky also has an excellent monster theme that gives this distillery a unique and passionate flare!

Bowmore Distillery

Bowmore Distillery is synonymous with power and elegance, and their whisky follows suit – you won’t want to miss a tasting here.

One of the excellent whisky distilleries on Islay, Bowmore has been crafting fine whisky for over 240 years and is a top attraction for any whisky lover. A tour of one of the Islay distilleries will immerse you into a world of unique tastes and experiences as Bowmore doesn’t shy away from pushing the envelope on their whisky.

Bruichladdich distillery

Bruichladdich is an exemplary distillery you can find when reaching the southwestern tip of the isle of Islay and holds an entirely different distillery experience.

Unlike other distilleries on Islay, Bruichladdich creates their whisky unpeated and instead draws on the bountiful Scottish barley that Scotland cultivates. Adding this distillery to any whisky circuit is necessary for this variety alone, but it doesn’t hurt that their whisky is also terrific.

For the whole experience, you can fill an afternoon by touring the southern distilleries of Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte Distillery, and Octomore, all close to one another.

Bunnahabhain distillery

Overlooking the Sound of Islay, the Bunnahabhain distillery is a beautiful destination with some of the smoothest single malt whisky available on the island.

This distillery had the honour of being 2022 Islay Best Single Malt Whisky for their unpeated 25-year-old whisky – mixing sweet cherry, caramel, dried fruit, and roasted nuts for a taste you will keep coming back to. A visit to the fantastic Bunnahabhain Distillery grants incredible views of the peaceful Sound of Islay and the smoothest blend you’ll have the opportunity to taste.

Kildalton Cross

A few miles east of Port Ellen is a fascinating historical site known as Kildalton Old Parish Church and the Great Kildaton Cross.

Standing nearly 3-metres tall, the Kildaton Cross is filled with religious symbols and iconography detailing the beliefs of its carver in the 700s! You can get lost studying its profound portraiture and markings – a fascinating object for any budding historian!

The ruins of the Old Parish Church are similarly intriguing and cast a light on history that is well worth exploring.

Carraig Fhada Lighthouse.

A visit to Islay isn’t complete without admiring the incredible Carraig Fhada Lighthouse near the Port Ellen harbour.

It was built by the Laird of Islay, Walter Frederick Campbell, for his wife, Lady Ellenor Campbell, in 1832. The square design of the Lighthouse is often the most eye-catching detail and is the only example in Scotland of such a unique shape for a lighthouse!

You can’t miss it while visiting the picturesque city of Port Ellen in Islay, so we highly recommend you pay this attraction a look-see.

The Oa Nature Reserve

When you visit Scotland, a trip to Oa Nature Reserve & Peninsula deserves a full day out!

This staggering peninsula is home to breathtaking views and amazing wildlife. The views from the dramatic cliffside that overlooks the ocean, moorland and grasslands, and freshwater lochs are outstanding. You have the chance to spot golden eagles and other wintering birds that make these rocky skyscrapers their home.

For those travelling to Islay wanting to enjoy trail walks and wildlife, the Oa Nature Reserve is the number one attraction that won’t leave you wanting.

Visit the Singing Sands

Few people who journey to Islay realise that the sands here sing in the wind! If you’re near the Oa Nature Reserve, you’ll have the chance to witness a beach choir, unlike anything you’ve heard before.

Thanks to the unique composition and size of the sands in Islay, walking along the sands with the right sole creates a hum akin to an aeroplane flying overhead – fascinating! Keep in mind that conditions must be just right for this natural phenomenon to occur, so it may not happen on your first go.

Although there are other locations where you can enjoy singing sands, there are only a few in Scotland and only one on Islay!

Kilarrow Church

The Parish Round Church of Kilarrow is a unique attraction in Bowmore, the island’s capital.

The round church was built in 1767, and its unusual circular design grants many a great attraction to visit while exploring the town of Bowmore. Best of all, the Kilarrow Church is a functioning round church, meaning you can see the stunning interior and the curious architecture that makes the church exist whenever you choose to seek it out!

A trip to Kilarrow Round Church will certainly charm anyone who comes across it, so make sure to add it to your list of things to do.

Soldier’s Rock

Wandering the Oa Peninsula, you may be lucky enough to spot the lonely Soldier’s Rock, a titanic sea stack that rises from the ocean.

No natural trail is complete with an excellent view, and while the high seaside cliffs grant spectacular views of the islands, there is nothing as impressive as Soldier’s Rock. Nearby you can also enjoy sights of the ruined town of Grasdale as you ascend to the ledge overlooking the sea stack. Be warned: the wind is occasionally quite heavy, so always remain a safe distance from the edge.

Soldier’s Rock is one of the most popular attractions that grace the beautiful island of Islay, so taking an afternoon to check it out is a must!

Treat yourself to Islay Wines

The rare winery in Islay is a treat amongst the many types of single malt whisky, and Islay Wines has just the thing to switch things up on your tour through the ‘Whisky Coast’.

Home to a wide range of excellent wines, from sweet whites to deep reds and everything in between, a trip to Islay Wines guarantees a great atmosphere and a wonderful evening. You can find Islay Wines in Port Ellen, so it’s the perfect way to cap off a day of adventuring throughout the Isle of Islay.

Stop by Islay Wines if you’re passing through Port Ellen or staying here for a few days, and you certainly won’t regret it.

Kilnave Chapel & Cross

Sitting on the northwest of Islay in the expansive estuary of Lord Gruinart are the ruins of Kilnave Chapel & Cross, your view into the Medieval past of Scotland.

The ruins of this haunting chapel are right next to the beach and are a short trek to reach. And although the Kilnave Cross has been severely weathered, it’s still easy to spot when exploring the rest of the church. The Chapel was burned down in 1598, but its history reaches much further back, with the Cross dating back to the 5th century!

The Northwestern region of Islay has many unique attractions, and the Kilnave Chapel & Cross are some of its best.

Islay Natural History Trust

Dedicated to preserving the wildlife and geology of Islay, The Islay Natural History Trust is one of the most informative groups on the island. It provides many activities for you to do if you’re interested in conservation.

Take a natural history walk with members of the Natural History Trust and become an expert on every bit of wildlife or plant you come across. The Trust also organises talks and activities for children to teach them about the importance of the island and its history, complete with examples and exhibits!

You can find the Nature Centre in Port Charlotte, your gateway to a superior insight into Islay’s wildlife.

Rinns of Islay Lighthouse

The Rinns of Islay Lighthouse sits off the west coast of Islay on the island of Orsay, a perfect retreat from the bustling isles and Mainland Scotland.

Not only is the Rinns of Islay Lighthouse a magnificent lighthouse, but it grants stunning views of the Atlantic beyond it. The Lighthouse even doubles as an additional accommodation option for those who love the idea of peace amongst the singing winds and crashing waves.

It’s a dream of many people to visit or stay at a unique attraction, and the Rhinns of Islay Lighthouse is an excellent choice if you fully want to explore the isles of Islay.

Loch Gruinart

If you’re coming to Islay to see the wondrous natural landscapes and fauna, stop by Loch Gruinart.

It’s one of the top wildlife sites in Scotland and has a wide array of habitats and farming operations. There is no better location on Islay to admire the many species of birdlife that call this island their home, especially the hen harriers, white-fronted geese, and many more! You may even be lucky and see great finds like Greenland barnacles and even otters!

You can drive or cycle through this sanctuary – a must include in any vacation to Islay.

Islay House Square

Established by Walter Campbell in the 1790s, the Islay House Square is now a hub for entrepreneurial ventures and excellent shops ripe for exploration.

You may find your next souvenir at the Islay House Square, as the Square is home to a batik store, marmalade store, and several excellent Islay ales and gin brewers! While you’re in Bridgend, the Islay House Square is a great place to come and pursue traditional Scottish produce and craft shops.

Islay Woollen Mill

One of the most curious attractions near Port Askaig, the Islay Woollen Mill, is an excellent place to learn about the fascinating process of creating wool. It’s also one of the best places to pick up a keepsake from your trip.

The Woollen Mill was first established in 1883 and reopened in 1981, providing visitors with various excellent woollen products from blankets, scarves, and other accessories. You’ll likely catch one of the owners, Gordon and Sheila Covell, on-site and find they are thrilled and excited to chat about the finer details of owning a loom.

Port Askaig is a top location to visit while you’re on the Scottish island of Islay, and the Islay Wollen Mill is the cherry on top!

Cultoon Stone Circle

The Cultoon Stone Circle brings to life an intriguing look into a world 3000-years-ago – complete with a mystery of why its builders never completed it.

Out of the 15 holes dug to erect stones, only three were eventually filled before work had ceased on the site. Historians are fascinated about why the work stopped, and theories ranging from clan disagreements, changes in beliefs, or mysterious disappearances are possible solutions! Why not visit the Stone Circle and craft your theories?

Islay’s rich history is on full display with a visit to the Cultoon Stone Circle, making it one of the best attractions for those visiting Islay.

Tormisdale Croft Crafts

Make sure to take some time and visit one of Port Charlotte’s hidden gems, the quirky and fantastic Tormisdale Croft Crafts!

This unique shop is filled with not only fabulous gifts and souveneirs but also some incredible traditional Islay quilters. If you’re looking for a new silken scarf, wildlife paintings, handmade canes, or even staghorn work, then a trip to the Tormisdale is undoubtedly going to please.

Scotland is filled with talented people and it’s permanently displayed here at this west coast isle store in Islay.

Bridgend Woods

The stunning town of Bridgend is one of the many great attractions you can find while exploring Islay, just off Loch Indaal.

The verdant woodlands of Bridgend Woods are a pleasure to behold, and it’s a great way to spend an afternoon seeing the peaceful wildlife and flora. The Woollen Mill is also nearby, which serves as an excellent way to cap off a rejuvenating walk through Scotland’s picturesque woodlands.

The Bridgend Woods are a fairytale wonderland, and it’s not uncommon to see curious red squirrels and other woodland critters watching over you.

Old Kiln Cafe

Keen for a hearty meal as your tour the ‘Whisky Coast’? The Old Kiln Cafe at the Ardbeg Distillery is ideal for fueling up before heading out onto the road.

This cafe is famous for its delectable assortment of light and tasty meals, including homemade soups, sandwiches, and excellent coffees and desserts. If you’re willing to go traditional, the Old Kiln Cafe’s staple is their clootie dumpling. This dumpling dessert is packed with raisins and currants – perfect after a hearty meal!

You don’t know a place until you’ve had its food, and the Old Kiln Cafe is your way of understanding Islay.

Try Pony Trekking on Islay

As you navigate the island of Islay, you’ll undoubtedly encounter adorable ponies along your travels. Lucky for you, pony trekking is one of the best ways to experience the natural landscapes of Islay.

Multiple farms offer pony trekking on the north and south of the Island of Islay, so you’ll always be near at least one place that provides the experience. The best part is that the ponies take you to places you otherwise couldn’t find by car or are too far to walk, all while being some of the most friendly creatures you’ll meet on the island!

Don’t miss out on one of the most exciting and unique activities you can partake in a while on the Isle of Islay.

Kayak through Islay’s Coves

One of the best ways to experience the wondrous small island of Islay is with an intimate kayaking trip.

From the excellent harbours dotted around the island, you can only reach many hidden coves and islands with a personal kayak. You won’t receive a more intimate encounter with Scotland’s seaside flora and fauna than from aboard your kayak.

For families and friends, you can fill a whole day of fun kayaking around the island’s fabulous lochs and shores.

Enjoy Boatrips Around Islay

For a different perspective and bolstering sights, booking a boat trip around to see the views of Islay is essential.

From sea stacks and staggering cliffsides, there is no parallel to the views you’ll get from aboard a boat on the rocking waves. Better still, many of the incredible wildlife near Islay is only willing to show themselves once you enter their domain – dolphins, seals, whales, and much more!

You’d be doing yourself a disservice by not voyaging out to the seas around the island of Islay.

Catch a Ferry

You may be wondering how to reach the stunning Isle of Islay, and the answer is more straightforward than you would think – ferries!

As with the many British Isles, from Northern Ireland to the Outer Hebrides, many ferries run between the Scottish Mainland and Scottish Islands. You can reach Port Askraig or Port Ellen through the popular Caledonian MacBrayne and be treated to spectacular views of the islands and waters.

Catching a ferry is a unique and terrific way to start a journey to the Isle of Islay, so make the most of this experience.

Fly Fishing

When in Islay, there’s no better way to enjoy the natural beauty of the island than a spot of flying fishing!

Islay Guided Fly Fishing treats visitors to try out the quick-witted and exciting sport of fly fishing. Quick casters and bespoke anglers will love the tours given by this local company, and you’ll be able to fish for brown trout, sea trout, and salmon.

If you’re interested in fishing, there’s nothing better than a trip or two with the experienced guides of Guided Fly Fishing.

Isle of Jura

Should you want to expand your horizons past the gorgeous island of Islay, look no further than the nearby Isle of Jura.

The Isle of Jura is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Islay and easily accessed through a ferry from Port Askaig. The Isle of Jura also has many excellent whisky distilleries, soaring mountains, and a mere population of about 200!

The untamed Isle of Jura is lovely and a perfect addition to anyone who has an appetite for more of Scotland’s wilderness and wildlife.

Celebrate The Islay Festival

If you happen to be on the Isle of Islay during the latter end of May, consider attending the lively and musical Islay Festival.

The Islay Festival brings to life what Islay is most famous for – whisky! You can enjoy whisky nosings and tastings, traditional Scottish music, and a fantastic atmosphere. The Festival isn’t even limited to the grounds, and you’ll often find campfires lit across the nearby beautiful beaches of Islay.

The Islay Festival combines great whisky distilleries with an unforgettable atmosphere, so grab a ticket if you’re on the island during the last week of May.

Achamore Gardens

In between Islay and the Scottish Mainland sits the small island of Gigha, and on it is one of the most beautiful gardens in Scotland.

The Achamore Gardens are home to rare and extraordinary plants, including Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Hydrangeas and Fuchsias. There’s even an entire bamboo forest for children to traverse and find their way out of! You may have to catch a ferry from Port Ellen or Port Askaig to reach the Isle of Gigha, but the trip is well worth it if you have a free day.

Why not take a romantic walk through the lush and exemplary Achamore Gardens? You won’t regret it.

The sunsets you can see from Saligo Bay are legendary, with rosy pink shades dappling the sky above before twilight begins.

Near the town of Ballinaby, Saligo Bay sits on the far west coast of the island and draws many visitors with its white-sand beaches, calm waves, and, of course, spectacular sunsets. If you’ve come to the lovely island of Islay with a partner, a trip to Saligo Bay as the sun sets will set anyone’s heart fluttering.

The disappearing sun of Saligo Bay is the perfect place to propose or reaffirm your love, right on the doorstep of Islay.

Other Things To Do in Scottish Isles

• Things to do in Arran
• Things to do in Brodick
• Things to do in Harris
• Things to do in Isle of Lewis
• Things to do in Isle of Mull
• Things to do in Isle of Skye
• Things to do in Kirkwall
• Things to do in North & South Uist
• Things to do in Orkney
• Things to do in Portree
• Things to do in Shetland
• Things to do in Stornoway

Graham Grieve

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Wander With Alex

Isle of Skye, Scotland: An Enchanting Island Gem

Posted: February 14, 2024 | Last updated: March 22, 2024

Visiting Isle of Skye, Scotland: An Enchanting Island Gem

The Isle of Skye is one of the most beautiful destinations on Earth. Located off the coast of Scotland, this island is one of the Outer Hebrides and is 50 miles (80 km long). 

Famous for its scenic beaches, rugged landscapes, and historic castles, the Isle of Skye has so much to offer. It’s also a popular spot for hikers and nature lovers, as endless wildlife-watching opportunities exist here.

To reach the Isle of Skye, cross the Skye Bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh or take the ferry from Mallaig. As the island is in the Scottish Highlands , you’ll need to fly into Scotland first, to Aberdeen, Edinburgh , or Glasgow. 

The Best Time to Visit the Isle of Skye, Scotland

The most popular time to visit the Isle of Skye is during the summer months of July and August. During this time, temperatures are at their highest, and you have a better chance of having pleasant weather.

However, the Isle of Skye can get very crowded since school is out during this time. This can be a problem, especially as many roads are single-lane and narrow.

May, June, and September are better times to visit, as they’re much quieter. Temperatures are still pleasant this time of year, and the island is far less crowded. 

Things to Do on the Isle of Skye, Scotland

This guide will take you through things to do, restaurants to try, and day trip opportunities to ensure you have the best time. Explore the rugged coastline, mystical landscapes, and quaint villages of the Isle of Skye, delving into its rich Gaelic history and folklore.

The Old Man of Storr

The Old Man of Storr is a must for any Isle of Skye itinerary . It’s a unique rock formation found on the Trotternish Peninsula, and you can hike to the top of it. It’s a 3.8 km (2.4 miles) return hike from the parking lot, which takes an average of 1.5 hours. However, you don’t want to restrict yourself on time, as you’ll be treated to epic views of the Sound of Raasay. Make sure you do the hike on a clear day.

Visit Portree, the Capital

The colorful town of Portree is an excellent home base for your trip to the island. Although small, it’s the island’s capital, so plenty of amenities exist, including shops, cafes, and accommodations. It’s also a great place to pick up a souvenir or two.

The town’s location is beautiful, as lush green hills, the Sound of Raasay, and Loch Portree surround the town. If you have a car, you’ll also have easy access to some of the island’s main attractions.

Take a Sound of Raasay Boat Trip

You can take a boat trip from Portree to the Sound of Raasay. A ‘sound’ is essentially a body of water that isn’t fully open to the sea, and it’s a great place to spot wildlife (bring binoculars if you can).

If you’re lucky, you can spot seals, dolphins, eagles, whales, and other marine life, including orcas. There are a couple of companies to choose from once you get down to the harbor, or you can book a tour online.

Drive the Quiraing Pass

Driving the Quiraing Pass is a fantastic experience for those renting a car. This mountain pass is 856 ft (261 meters) above sea level and offers stunning views of the Trotternish Peninsula.

However, this road is only suitable for confident drivers due to its one-lane road and narrow passing places. Make sure to drive it on a clear day, too, so you can appreciate the views and the road surface isn’t wet. 

Once you get to the top, there’s a viewpoint where you can park. 

Views from Neist Point

Neist Point is one of the best places to visit on Skye ! Here, you’ll find the Neist Point Lighthouse on the island’s most Western tip. This lighthouse has been around since 1909 and is surrounded by some of Skye’s most rugged landscapes. 

The walk down to the lighthouse takes around 45 minutes, or you can admire the views near the parking lot. If you’re lucky, you might be able to spot marine life here, with basking sharks and whales known to make an appearance off the coast. 

Relax at The Fairy Pools

One of the most unique places on the Isle of Skye, the Fairy Pools are gorgeous. It is found in Glenbrittle and has several crystal-clear water pools that flow from the Cuillin Mountains.

You have to pay for parking, but other than that, the site is free to visit. It’s a 15-20 minute walk to reach the first set of pools. If you’re brave enough, you can jump in for a swim, but be careful, as the waters can be frigid.

Restaurants on the Isle of Skye, Scotland

Indulge in the hearty flavors of traditional Isle of Skye cuisine, where fresh seafood like succulent scallops and flaky haddock take center stage. Explore the island's culinary heritage with classic dishes such as stovies, a comforting mix of potatoes, onions, and meat slow-cooked to perfection, offering a taste of Scotland's rich gastronomic tradition.

The Old School Restaurant  is one of the best places on the island to sample local produce. It’s located in Dunvegan and offers a fantastic dining experience, complete with a pre-dinner room, open fireplaces, and a varied menu. The menu highlights include the beer-battered haddock, langoustine, and sticky toffee pudding.

The Oyster Shed is a perfect choice if you're a seafood lover. It’s found in the small village of Carbost, and the menu changes daily depending on the catch. Popular options at this eatery include oysters, lobster, smoked salmon, mussels, and crab. There’s even a seafood platter if you’re after a bit of everything. 

The Stein Inn is the oldest pub on the Isle of Skye, dating back to 1790. It’s located on the shores of Lochbay, so it offers stunning views of the Outer Hebrides. Here, you can try a variety of Skye-inspired dishes, including shellfish and over 120 Scottish whiskies. It’s also possible to stay overnight in a sea-view room.

You’ll find Cafe Sia & Siaway in the town of Broadford. A highlight of this place has to be its wood-fired pizzas, which are also available for takeaway. The ice cream milkshakes are another delight, as well as the real-fruit smoothies. Of course, there are plenty of other tasty dishes on offer too. 

Another popular spot in Broadford is Deli Gata , known for its charming setting, signature sandwiches, cream cheese bagels, and soups. Many tasty sweet treats are available, including scones, coffee and walnut cake, lemon drizzle, and chocolate orange cake. So much to choose from! 

Day Trip: Fort Augustus + Loch Ness (1.5 Hours)

If you head over the Skye Bridge, you can easily visit Fort Augustus. This charming village is located on the Caledonian Canal and is a must-visit.

Fort Augustus is also found on the Southern tip of Loch Ness, one of Scotland’s most popular tourist attractions. This colossal freshwater loch is famous for being home to the Loch Ness Monster, with daily boat trips around the lake. 

If you don’t mind driving further, Drumnadrochit is just 30 minutes away. Here, you’ll find the Loch Ness Centre, a popular tourist attraction, which will take you through the loch’s history and mysteries. 

Day Trip: Fort William (2 Hours)

Often referred to as the UK’s outdoor capital, Fort William is another fantastic place to visit. The United Kingdom’s tallest mountain towers behind the town, so Fort William is naturally known as the ‘Gateway to Ben Nevis.’

Thanks to its location on the shores of Loch Linnhe, Fort William is incredibly scenic. There are also many things to do, such as visiting the West Highland Museum, taking a tour of Ben Nevis Distillery, or picking up a souvenir from Treasures of the Earth.

However, Fort William is most popular with hikers as there are some fantastic trails in this area, including one that leads to Steall Falls.

Day Trip: Glenfinnan Viaduct (2 Hours)

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, don’t miss out on visiting Glenfinnan Viaduct. This is the famous bridge from the Harry Potter movies, where the Hogwarts Express takes its students to Hogwarts from Kings Cross Station. 

You can see the famous Jacobite Steam Train (aka Hogwarts Express) go over the bridge if you time your visit right. You’ll need to research the train times in advance and then get to the viewpoint before it crosses. 

Just be aware that this area can get very crowded during the peak summer season, as everyone comes to see the train. Try to avoid visiting on a weekend. 

Visiting the Isle of Skye, Scotland

As you can see, the Isle of Skye, Scotland, is the perfect destination for nature lovers. Whether you’re looking to go hiking, search for wildlife, or head out on a boat trip, this beautiful island has something unique for everyone to experience. Vacationers should allow at least 3-4 days for their visit. If you want to take day trips from the island, consider visiting for a week so you are not rushed. 

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Rannoch Moor and the Black Mount during the winter months

© Julian Elliott Photography

Rannoch Moor

Isle of Skye & Glencoe Photography Tour | 18 - 25 January 2025

A seven-night, eight-day winter photography tour of the Isle of Skye and Glencoe.

Join me for a fabulous photography tour and workshop based on the Isle of Skye and Glencoe in Scotland during the Winter of 2025. The photo tour is centred in the very heart of Glencoe and Portree on the Isle of Skye. We will use our two bases to photograph the stunning mountain scenery of Glencoe as well as the surrounding Scottish Highlands landscape and lochs up on the Isle of Skye.

During January, the area around Glencoe will be transformed into a winter wonderland. Snow will be on the high peaks and with any luck will be on the ground around Rannoch Moor. The Isle of Skye is similar and if we’re lucky we may even get an aurora borealis above the island.

Our stay is based firstly in the village of Onich, 5 miles north of Glencoe. Double rooms are provided with breakfast. Then we will move northwards to the Isle of Skye where our stay will be based in the Portree Hotel which is a central point on the island.

Highlights of the Isle of Skye and Glencoe photo tour, other than the endless mountainous scenery, will be Rannoch Moor, Buchaille Etive Mor, Lochan na h-Achlaise and the Black Mount as well as other places such as Castle Stalker and and the Fort William area. And up on the Isle of Skye will will cover locations such as the Old Man of Storr, the Trotternish Ridge and Elgol.

During January the average time of sunrise is 0850am whilst sunset is around 400pm. During our photo tour of the Isle of Skye and Glencoe, we will have breakfast before heading out to catch the sunrise.

After sunrise, we continue until lunchtime either into the landscape or in woodland before breaking for lunch.

In the afternoon, we’ll head back out again this time concentrating on photographing the landscapes. The day will finish with sunset then we’ll head back to our base to eat dinner in the evening.Isle of Skye.

18 January 2025

Pick up at Glasgow Airport (GLA) at 930am. From here we will drive to our hotel in Onich to start the photo tour of Glencoe. We will endeavor to make the best of the light during the day and capture the stunning scenery around us.

19 – 21 January 2025

During the next two days, we will again make the best of the scenery of the Scottish Highlands around the Glencoe area. In the late morning, we’ll start the drive northwards to the Isle of Skye where we’ll check into our hotel in Portree.

22 – 24 January 2025

We’ll have three whole days to take in the otherworldly landscapes of the Isle of Skye. This island otherwise known as the Inner Hebrides has become world renowned for its stunning scenery. We’ll have access to places such as the Trotternish Ridge, the Old Man of Storr (a 1-hour hike up), and Elgol.

25 January 2025

If we get the weather then we’ll head out to do one last sunrise then head back to Glasgow Airport (GLA) for a drop-off time of 630PM. This will give us plenty of time for us to take the long drive back and stop for lunch on the way.

In January temperatures can reach well below freezing and especially so on Rannoch Moor. You’ll need to ensure that you have clothing that will keep you warm from the inevitable cold and wind chill that we will be experiencing during our days out.

Make sure you bring good quality footwear as well as warm socks. Wind chill is likely to be a factor as if we are standing around waiting for the most opportune light then you’ll need to make sure you have the appropriate clothing such as a down jacket to deal with this. Don’t forget the all-important base and mid-layers too. A good pair of trousers to ensure that your legs are kept warm. I usually put my Paramo Cascada trousers on to help against the cold. Lastly, make sure a good quality hat and gloves are part of your wardrobe.

Good, sturdy walking shoes that are waterproof are perfect for the terrain that we’ll be working in. Places such as Rannoch Moor can be wet and muddy underfoot and so make sure your feet are protected. On the Isle of Skye be prepared for the rocky beaches and hike to the Old Man of Storr.

A wide-angle lens (16-35mm) and medium zoom (24-70mm) are the lenses we’ll be using the most. A longer zoom (100-400mm) will be useful to cover most compositional eventualities that we may need to isolate. It’s likely the most used lens will be in the 24-70mm range as a super wide-angle can create the pancake effect on the mountainous landscape, so make sure this focal length is covered. 

Although not essential, it’s a great idea to bring a laptop computer with you so you can discuss imagery with myself. 

What’s included in the tour?

• Double room single occupancy accommodation with ensuite bathrooms
• Transport during the tour
• Pickup from Glasgow Airport (GLA)
• Tuition from Julian Elliott

What’s not included

• Meals not mentioned
• Transport to Glasgow Airport

Ab £2595 pro Erwachsener

Abreisedaten.

• T Donnerstag

Januar — Januar

Kontaktdaten

• +44 () 7749356942
• Tourdaten ansehen
• [email protected]

Tour information

• Glasgow Airport
• Photography

Ab £2595 Pro Erwachsener

Preise variieren je nach Saison

Haltepunkte

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Small-group photography tours concentrating on both landscape and travel photography. I offer personalised tuition with small groups in stunning locations across the world including Glencoe and the Isle of Skye in Scotland as well as in Italy, Vietnam, and Asia. As a professional travel photographer, I offer a raft of experience having traveled in over 40 countries. I get clients to the right location in order to take full advantage of the best light available. The small group format enables me to maintain a flexible itinerary giving clients better access to locations more quickly.

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Monday to Sunday 9am to 5pm. Please contact me either through my website or using WhatsApp as I may be traveling in an area without internet access.

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Isle of Skye & Glencoe Photography Tour | 17 - 24 Janua...

Fahrt ab: Glasgow Airport, Glasgow

A seven-night, eight-day winter photography tour of the Isle of Skye and Glencoe...

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£2595pp

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News / Scotland

Monday, April 8th, 2024

Where and when will the solar eclipse be visible in Scotland?

The rare occurrence will see many flocking to catch a glimpse of the Moon completely covering the Sun as they stand in the darkest part of the Moon’s shadow.

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North America will be treated to a total solar eclipse on Monday, plunging into darkness during the daytime.

For Scotland, its first partial solar eclipse since 2022 when around 35% of the Sun was obscured by the Moon in the north east of the country.

What is a total solar eclipse?

An eclipse of the Sun occurs when the Moon moves directly between the Sun and the Earth.

During a solar eclipse, the Earth is basically in the Moon’s shadow.

Because the Moon is much smaller than the Earth, its shadow only covers a small area of the Earth’s surface. Any solar eclipse therefore will only be visible from certain parts of the planet.

Can the UK expect to see the solar eclipse?

Unfortunately, the total solar eclipse will not be visible from the UK and Ireland. However, a partial solar eclipse – where a little bit of the Sun is covered, and a small percentage is blocked out by the Moon – may be visible close to sunset, between about 7.50pm and 8.50pm

Where in the UK can I see a partial solar eclipse?

Monday’s solar eclipse will see up to 38% of the Sun obscured on the western side of North Uist, but just 3% in Dunbar and 4% in Aberdeen. About 6% of the Sun will be obscured in Edinburgh and 12% in Glasgow.

The path of the totality – where the eclipse will be fully visible – crosses the Atlantic and parts of eastern Canada and the US.

There are two things working against us for this eclipse, and that’s extensive cloud cover which will spread in from the south today with much of the country under cloud by the time the eclipse begins. The other thing is the timing of this eclipse.

First contact occurs just 15-20 minutes before sunset which means you need to have a very clear view of the western horizon – so either a hill or a view from the west coast is the most ideal spot to see it.

The good news though is the areas with the maximum eclipse in Scotland such as the Western Isles will hold onto cloud breaks until a bit later this evening meaning we’re in with the best chance of seeing something here.

One word of warning, this is a very small solar eclipse which means most of the Sun will still be exposed. This should only be viewed using eclipse glasses or using a pinhole viewer. Although as the Sun will be setting, it may be that it is too weak to project properly.

What do skygazers need in order to be able to see the phenomenon?

When is the next solar eclipse?

The next partial solar eclipse should be better as it occurs during the morning on March 29, 2025, and there will be up to 50% of the Sun obscured in the far north west.

The next solar eclipse which will be noticeable to all of us will be the one on August 12, 2026 when as much as 93% of the Sun will be eclipsed in the Western Isles.

This is enough to have a noticeable dimming effect on the ground, even if we cloudy skies. This is as close to a total eclipse we’ll see from Scotland until the next one in the year 2135.

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Storm Kathleen: Scotland hit by high winds, heavy rain and travel disruption

Flood and wind warnings remain in place, with Sepa warning of ‘real danger to life’ on coastal roads and paths

High winds and heavy rain from Storm Kathleen persisted through Sunday, battering parts of Scotland and Ireland and disrupting travel.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) had 18 regional flood alerts and 37 flood warnings in place in Scotland. They have been in force since Saturday.

The Met Office has also issued a yellow wind warning from 9am on Sunday covering parts of the west and northern Highlands, the Isle of Skye and the Hebrides. It will remain in force until 11:59pm.

Winds as high as 73mph were recorded in Drumalbin, South Lanarkshire.

A previous warning stretched from the Scottish Borders to just south of Stirling. It spanned the west coast, throughout much of central Scotland, and ended just short of the east coast.

Janine Hensman, Sepa’s flood duty manager, said: “Across Sunday, we’ll continue to see high tides, storm surges and large waves across coastal areas. This combination is particularly dangerous – especially around high tides. There is real danger to life from wave overtopping, particularly around causeways, coastal roads and paths.

“While the risk is greatest around high tide times, our message is clear: Take extra care if you are near the coast at any point and stay well clear of waves and water. Be careful when travelling around exposed coastal areas and don’t walk or drive through flood water, as there may be hidden hazards.”

She added: “Whilst Storm Kathleen will ease on Sunday evening, another weather system is on the way. Significant flooding from rivers and surface water is possible in southern, central and north-eastern areas on Tuesday, with coastal flooding continuing due to high spring tides.

“Flood alerts and warnings are in place, so stay up to date though our website. We will continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7 and review regional flood alerts and local flood warnings as required.”

The Met Office has warned of potential power cuts, damage to buildings, poor mobile phone coverage and danger to life because of large waves and debris from beaches being thrown on to seafronts. About 34,000 people were left without electricity on Saturday, with a few thousand customers remaining without power overnight, but by Sunday afternoon almost all had had their supply restored.

CalMac, Scotland’s largest ferry operator, cancelled a number of its services and many other ferries were operating on reduced timetables, while others faced potential disruption.

ScotRail also faced a number of disruptions throughout the day, including to its Helensburgh Central and Dumbarton Central services.

However, the services, according to ScotRail, were “starting to return to normal”.

On Saturday, more than 140 flights throughout the UK were cancelled as a result of the storm.

In Ireland, a girl was swept out to sea from the east pier of Dún Laoghaire harbour in County Dublin on Saturday evening. Rescuers were able to pull her out of the water within eight and a half minutes, with a lifeboat volunteer revealing that pockets of air trapped under her coat helped keep her afloat before the rescue.

Andrew Sykes, a volunteer helm with the RNLI, told PA Media that the stormy conditions made the rescue operation difficult.

“With the high winds and storm we were experiencing, with large waves and surge coming off the pier, to get alongside her was extremely difficult,” he said. “She would be pushed one way and we would be pushed another,”

The girl was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Titanic Belfast was forced to close after strong winds damaged part of its roof on Saturday. However, the yellow wind warning covering Donegal, Mayo and west Galway was lifted at 4pm on Sunday.

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