Many of the best islands in Scotland are a ferry ride from the mainland and offer gorgeous scenery and exploration. There are around 900 offshore islands, each with their own unique characteristics. In this blogpost, we narrow it down to a small selection of some of best ones!
This eye-catching island is rugged and has fantasy-like landscapes. Despite being the biggest island of the Inner Hebrides archipelago, it only has a population of 10,000. It is located off the northwest coast of Scotland but is linked to it by a bridge. The Isle of Skye’s inland area is dominated by mountains, but there are also lots of lakes and the coastline scenery is straight out of a book. You can take boat trips from Elgol to see some wildlife on Lake Coruisk. If you’re looking for some memorabilia from the island, the de facto capital of Portree has a couple of cute boutique shops for souvenirs.
This tiny isle is on the itineraries of boat tours from the Scottish Islands of Mull or Iona thanks to its intriguing natural features. This includes a series of basalt columns and the large Fingal’s sea cave near its southern tip, which can only be explored at low tide. This island is uninhabited, outside of the seabirds. If you’re lucky enough, you may also come across the spectacle of dolphin pods or fin whales swimming by.
Catch a ferry to this island from the town of Ardrossan, in the southwest of Scotland. Here you can go on an excursion with medieval landmarks and beautiful hiking trails in the forests and mountains. Some other things sites to discover while on the island are the quaint villages and the Brodick Castle. The island has a diverse set of attractions, making it a great island to explore – whether you’re an adventurous hiker, passionate golfer, or a family on an exploration mission.
This island is one of the most popular islands in Scotland for spotting a variety of sea life including dolphins, whales, and porpoises on their summer migration from Africa to the Nordic seas. Some of the more common sightings are northern bottlenose whales, sperm whales, humpback whales and pods of white-sided dolphins. Besides the wonderful wildlife, this island offers beautiful seascapes, landscapes and culture.
Looking for a true Scottish Island experience? Then you definitely shouldn’t skip Islay Island. It is best known for its many single malt distilleries and stunning hiking trails where the views will take your breath away. Walking through the islands main town is also very pleasurable, you can go on whisky tours in Bowmore or simply appreciate the stunning views.
