There are so many fantastic islands to visit in Scotland and these are some of the best Scottish islands! Many of these isles are off the West Coast of Scotland, but we also have Northern Isles and some of the East coast islands. Many of the islands also have whisky distilleries, but as I’m not a whisky drinker I haven’t researched these!
In no particular order, lets go through these 10 fantastic Scottish Isles!
Table of Contents
Orkney Isles – Best Islands
The Orkney Isles are often seen as a popular destination for a day trip from the North of Scotland by a boat then bus trip. Which is great if you’re short of time. However to see the Orkney Islands properly you’ll need to spend a few days there at the very least!
Orkney is a group of islands of varying sizes, with the larger mainland Orkney island connected by the Churchill barriers to the smaller isles of South Ronaldsay, Burray, Glimps Holm and Lamb Holm. There are many other islands that can be visited by ferry or plane, including the isle of Hoy, Sanday and Papa Westray.
The isles still have a Scandinavian feel, particularly evident in the Orcadians accent and names. They are plenty of names that are derived from Viking names, which is not surprising as it was settled in the 8th century by Vikings! You can find lots of interesting places to visit with a Viking heritage, along with older archaeological sites such as the UNESCO world heritage site of Skara Brae and stone circles such as the Ring of Brodgar. There are also the interesting historical importance of Orkney in the two World Wars. Which may seem strange considering how isolated it seems now, but it was a very important Naval location.
You’ll find plenty of other places to visit on Orkney, including beautiful beaches, wildlife and food! Definitely somewhere you want to explore properly. You can find out more about Orkney in the best Orkney 7 day itinerary here or this Guide to Orkney here.
Harris
This island of Harris is actually joined to the Isle of Lewis, so they are basically two islands on one piece of land. Although I am listing Harris here I also love the Isle of Lewis and definitely suggest visiting the Isle of Lewis too!
However, back to the Isle of Harris. Harris is well known for the luxurious Harris tweed. Which is a woven wool fabric that can only be called Harris tweed if it’s made in the Outer Hebrides.
Aside the Harris Tweed it’s also a beautiful island with stunning beaches, machair (natural meadow grassland) and stunning mountains. Luskentyre is one of my favourite Harris beaches, it’s huge and beautiful white sand. You would be forgiven for thinking that it was a tropical beach. Aside the temperature of course! Although on a warm summers day you will surely want to dip your feet in the ocean.
With such stunning landscapes you are also going to want to find some beautiful walks. I highly recommend the Walk Highlands website for fantastic walking routes. It’s a great place to explore on foot! You may even be lucky enough to spot some Golden Eagles!
Iona – Best Scottish Islands To Visit
We were very lucky to visit the Isle of Iona during a heatwave. So it was an amazing week enjoying the beaches and swimming in the sea. Admittedly isn’t always so warm, but whenever you visit it will still feel magical!
Iona has the history of Saint Columba and the stunning white sand beaches in the North. But there are also the beautiful rocky bays in the South, where you can search for little marble pebbles. These are Iona marble, from the old quarry just around the coast.
Don’t forget the boat trips taking you to see wildlife and other nearby islands such as the Treshnish Isles. It’s the perfect place to enjoy island life and a small community.
Tiree
Tiree in the Inner Hebrides can take some time to get to by ferry. However, you can also fly there if you are short of time. Flying may mean you miss seeing dolphins on the journey to Tiree, through the Sound of Mull. We’ve seen them several times in that area! I’ve written a Complete Guide to Tiree here, for more information.
The island itself is windswept, which is why it’s excellent for surfing. Every year Tiree holds the Tiree Wave Classic, a competition for wind surfers from all over the world. You can also have your own surfing or wind surfing lessons on the island.
Aside water sports the island has stunning landscapes with beautiful beaches to explore. Take some time looking for tiny cowrie shells or look for the magical ‘Ringing Stone’. Plus there are the elusive corncrakes which you can hear all over the island in the summer months!
Gigha – Best Scottish Islands To Visit
The tiny island of Gigha is often overlooked, many people in Scotland don’t even know of its existence! We only became aware of the island ourselves after flying over it on a seaplane experience. However, the island has a lot to offer, despite it’s small size.
You can read my guide to the Isle of Gigha here. However recently it has had some new additions, including a new campsite near the ferry pier and lots of fantastic new paths that you can walk or cycle along. It makes it easier to get around off the single track roads! Don’t forget to check out the awesome white-sand beaches on the island too.
The island is owned by the island community, after buying it out from the previous owners in 2001. Since then it’s been developed by the islanders to make it an excellent place for both day visitors (only 20 minutes on the ferry from the Scottish Mainland) as well as longer stays.
Eigg
The Isle of Eigg is best visited on a longer trip of a few days, however you still visit the island on a day trip. We used the Arisaig foot passenger ferry MV Sheerwater to visit the island for a few hours. It’s a good way to enjoy the spectacular island from the mainland.
The island has a lot to offer in terms of scenery, walks and of course kayaking or sailing around the coastline. You will find plenty of wildlife, beautiful beaches and stunning views. We even saw Minke Whales and porpoises whilst on the ferry to the island.
Like the Isle of Gigha, Eigg is community owned and has a great community shop and cafe area near the ferry pier. It also has a self sufficient renewable energy scheme, which is the world’s first!
Isle of May
In the Firth of Forth on the East coast is the delightful island of the Isle of May. You are only able to visit on day trips as the island is home to many species of seabirds. Particularly the well loved puffins who visitors flock to see in the Spring and Summer!
You can book a place on a boat trip (weather dependant) from either Anstruther in Fife or North Berwick near Edinburgh. When you land on the island you will have a few hours to enjoy watching the birds before getting back on the boat to the mainland. It’s definitely worth it to see all the bird life soaring overhead and burrowing into the ground around you!
Kerrera
Near Oban is the small island of Kerrera. With a population of around 34 people it’s a fairly small community. However, it’s only a 10 minute ferry journey to the mainland.
The island has several sandy beaches that are worth visiting, along with some beautiful walks around the island. Don’t miss the picturesque Gylen Castle perched on cliff face and the self service farm shop with local produce and ice cream.
Near Gylen Castle you will also find the Kerrera Tea Gardens, the perfect stop for hearty soup and bread, delicious cakes and tea or coffee! They also have a bunkhouse that can accommodate up to 7 people.
Barra
In the Western Isles, South of South and North Uist is Barra. If you can afford to fly to Barra then you can land on the famous beach runway! It’s one of the only places around the world which you can land on the sand as an official runaway. Even if you choose to take the ferry to Barra, you can still enjoy watching the places land on the beach during your stay.
Other places to visit include Kisimul Castle, isolated from the town of Castlebay on a tiny rocky island! You need to take a boat to the castle, which is a fun way to visit too.
Barra has many beaches to visit, but you can also travel across the causeway to the adjoining island of Vatersay for more beach fun, with some great waves for body boarding. Day trips to nearby islands or as far out as St Kilda are possible. Read more about Barra and the other Outer Hebrides islands in this post.
Inchcolm Island
You may not have heard of Inchcolm Island, but it’s another island in the Firth of Forth. This time, instead of wildlife, it’s the history you visit the island for. Inchcolm Abbey stands out as a major landmark in the firth, which is beautiful to both look at and explore.
You can also find plenty of WW2 bunkers around the island. It was an important point to look out for ships coming in to attack the City of Edinburgh via the Firth of Forth.
To visit the island you will need to take the tourist boat as a day trip. There’s nowhere to stay on the island and as it’s owned by Historic Scotland you will also need to pay an entrance fee or use your membership card on top of the boat trip cost.
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