Scottish Island breaks

[Zazu62]

Anyone have any info on the best Scottish islands to visit? What’s the most expensive/cheapest.. easiest/hardest to get too

[Mr Grieves]

Arran is a good shout, plenty to see and do and easy to get to.

https://www.calmac.co.uk/destinations/arran

The above website will help you out for travel to most of the islands.

[Pretty Boy]

Islay is one of my favourite places in Scotland.

The whisky (and gin) distilleries are an obvious attraction but there’s more to it than that. Great beaches, the Oa is a brilliantly dramatic coastline, pretty villages, great walks either in woodland or on hills, Finlaggan is a great visit and you can visit Jura and access the Corryvrekan.

The 1st time I went I wondered how I would fill 5 days. I’ve been multiple times since and still haven’t done everything I want to.

A car is certainly useful and you are looking at about £90 on the ferry, leaving from Kennacraig, for a car and 2 people. Although you can fly from Edinburgh now and hire a car over there. I can’t help with accommodation costs as I use a family friends house when I’m there.

[hibsbollah]

Islay is one of my favourite places in Scotland.

The whisky (and gin) distilleries are an obvious attraction but there’s more to it than that. Great beaches, the Oa is a brilliantly dramatic coastline, pretty villages, great walks either in woodland or on hills, Finlaggan is a great visit and you can visit Jura and access the Corryvrekan.

The 1st time I went I wondered how I would fill 5 days. I’ve been multiple times since and still haven’t done everything I want to.

A car is certainly useful and you are looking at about £90 on the ferry, leaving from Kennacraig, for a car and 2 people. Although you can fly from Edinburgh now and hire a car over there. I can’t help with accommodation costs as I use a family friends house when I’m there.

Very little to add to that. Islay is a special place. I'm off to Mull for a week this summer for the first time, and Orkney is a definite possibility as well. But we'll probably be back in Islay sooner rather than later.

[Alfiembra]

Been to Lewis and Harris a few times, fantastic place beaches like I’ve never seen before. Also been to Islay had crappy accommodation so kinda spoilt a wee bit for me. If you’re looking for accommodation on any of the islands though you need to be in quick they’re very popular and get booked up fast.

[Mibbes Aye]

Lewis and Harris offer tons of fantastic beaches, the standing stones at Callanish and some other historical bits and pieces as well as stuff like going out on rigid raiders to see dolphins and seals. The roads are relatively good. You can also get to St Kilda from there, weather permitting.

A slightly alternative suggestion might be the Ardnamurchan peninsula, anywhere near Kilchoan. There are a bunch of attractions within relatively easy driving range , Tioram Castle possibly being the best. More importantly Kilchoan has a ferry service to Tobermory, so you can get to Mull pretty easily. Outside Tobermory there’s not a great deal, Torosay Castle on the south of the island was worth visiting but the owner closed it to the public a few years back and I think you can only access the gardens now, and that’s very restricted. You can get to Staffa and Fingals Cave from Mull too.

Alfieimbra’s advice is right, book early for accommodation, and if you are thinking to do the Ullapool-Stornaway ferry to get to Lewis then that’s worth booking sharpish as well. Alternatively, you could go to Skye and spend some time there then get the ferry from Skye to Harris.

A lot of accommodation is cottages which usually are viewable on websites but the bed and breakfasts aren’t always so, though I found that if you rang one and they were full they would happily give you the numbers of other folk in the area you wanted.

[MagicSwirlingShip]

There’s a crew of us heading to Barra for a week over Easter. Will report back, all reports are it’s an absolutely stunning place.

[patch1875]

Skye would get my vote.

We go in October few tourists no midges and the weather is usually fine.

We normally stay on the mainland Glenelg(good pub!) is a favourite and go over for a couple of days.

[marinello59]

Orkney is a fantastic place to visit, not just one island but a group of Islands so you could visit a few. it's a fair old drive to get up to Scrabster for the ferry but the sea crossing is relatively short. What makes it special for me though are the people, very welcoming.
I'll give another shout out for Islay as well. It's been my home from home for nearly 30 years now and I was lucky enough to live there for a short spell. I visit 3 or 4 times a year, it's amazing how different the Island can be from season to season. The whisky tourist trade has rocketed over the past decade so as others have said, accommodation needs to be booked early.

[Jim44]

Tiree is a lovely island for a holiday. I spent many holidays there as a young man and then later with my family. I don’t know about statistics now but it used to be the place with the longest sunshine rate in Scotland. Lots of lovely beaches and now a Mecca for windsurfers.

[Hibrandenburg]

Cramond Island is the place to go. Couple of bottles of cider and a couple of bags of crisps and your sorted. Accommodation is basic but affordable.

[danhibees1875]

Cramond Island is the place to go. Couple of bottles of cider and a couple of bags of crisps and your sorted. Accommodation is basic but affordable.

I once had an American couple ask me if that was "burnt island" :greengrin

I've actually rarely ventured off the mainland, only been to Skye which was nice. Ullapool and the surrounding area is really nice - I'd go back there and get the ferry to Stornoway for an island adventure.

[HarpyHibby]

Mull is pretty amazing. I feel the island is split into two - in the north you’ve got Tobermory which is probably the island’s main attraction. If you base yourself here, there’s plenty to do and you could also manage day trips out to Calgary Bay, Ulva etc.

The Ross of Mull in the south of the island is totally wild and you’ll really feel like you’re on an island. I’d recommend staying in Fionnphort (or Bunessan), the beaches on the south coast are incredible, and you’d genuinely think you were elsewhere in the world at times. Iona is just a 10 minute ferry from Fionnphort and is pretty amazing as well.

Staffa and the Treshnish Isles can be visited from either Tobermory or Fionnphort. Well worth a day trip to see the Puffins alone.

There’s 3 ferry crossings between Mull and the mainland, Oban - Craignure is the main one. 1 adult & car return is £32. If you’re going in summer, make sure you book in advance - especially if travelling on a Saturday which is the main changeover day for self catering accommodation.

If you want any more advice about accommodation etc. give me a PM.

[Moulin Yarns]

As the Hebrides are very different from south to north have you considered a Calmac island hopping trip. start at one end, Barra or Lewis, and work your way to the other end. Beautiful beaches on the Atlantic coast and more rocky deep sea lochs on the Minch coast. landscapes, wildlife, ancient monuments and culture everywhere.

[Franck Le God]

Islay is one of my favourite places in Scotland.

The whisky (and gin) distilleries are an obvious attraction but there’s more to it than that. Great beaches, the Oa is a brilliantly dramatic coastline, pretty villages, great walks either in woodland or on hills, Finlaggan is a great visit and you can visit Jura and access the Corryvrekan.

The 1st time I went I wondered how I would fill 5 days. I’ve been multiple times since and still haven’t done everything I want to.

A car is certainly useful and you are looking at about £90 on the ferry, leaving from Kennacraig, for a car and 2 people. Although you can fly from Edinburgh now and hire a car over there. I can’t help with accommodation costs as I use a family friends house when I’m there.

Like the sound of Isaly, looking into a trip in August. Would you recommend staying in Bowmore or Port Charlotte?

[JeMeSouviens]

Echo all the above comments. Since nobody else mentioned them, a wee shout for the Small Isles. Rum is like a mini version of Skye but unspoiled wilderness (apart from the monstrous Victorian fake castle but it's interesting in a freak show way), so hardly anyone goes there.

[JeMeSouviens]

Like the sound of Isaly, looking into a trip in August. Would you recommend staying in Bowmore or Port Charlotte?

The Lochside hotel in Bowmore has a superb whisky bar with views out over Loch Indaal.

[Peevemor]

I love the West Coast & the Islands.

I was lucky that we had the use of a cottage (timeshare) at Loch Melfort, about half an hour South of Oban. It was as a base to go exploring - either staying on the mainland or visiting different islands for a day or two at a time.

I'm often asked for advice on where to visit in Scotland and, for those staying a couple of weeks, I usually suggest staying a week in Oban (which isn't great but OK as a base) and then visiting different places on a day to day basis depending on the weather, etc.

[southfieldhibby]

Have cycled From Vatersay to the tip of Lewis, all of the islands are tremendous. I'm less keen on Lewis, fairly flat and boring and the 25 mph relentless headwind didn't help, but Geararran is a very special wee spot.
Harris and the Golden Road are tremendous, Berneray was probably the most surprising in respect it was lovely.
North and south Uist are lovely, Benbecula is alright too.

Top of the Pops is Barra and Vatersay. Very special places. The pub in Castlebay is some night if the locals are in full flow!

Tiree and Coll are also pretty nice.

Not a huge fan of Skye, over crowded, over priced and midge heaven.

[JeMeSouviens]

Have cycled From Vatersay to the tip of Lewis, all of the islands are tremendous. I'm less keen on Lewis, fairly flat and boring and the 25 mph relentless headwind didn't help, but Geararran is a very special wee spot.
Harris and the Golden Road are tremendous, Berneray was probably the most surprising in respect it was lovely.
North and south Uist are lovely, Benbecula is alright too.

Top of the Pops is Barra and Vatersay. Very special places. The pub in Castlebay is some night if the locals are in full flow!

Tiree and Coll are also pretty nice.

Not a huge fan of Skye, over crowded, over priced and midge heaven.

All true, but it does have some of the world's best mountains. These are from a flying weekend a couple of years ago. In May, just before midge season :wink:

https://scontent-prg1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/18358777_1268546929926234_7295433313524658658_o.jp g?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ht=scontent-prg1-1.xx&oh=1a599bcc3d6e962a0a475ed863e80ca7&oe=5D059BDA

https://scontent-prg1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/18358880_1268546979926229_3928762990974917179_o.jp g?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent-prg1-1.xx&oh=cb14d0f38dfc4d64e03a8a88d615d904&oe=5D10E2EC

https://scontent-prg1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/18359018_1268547139926213_4830474851459327669_o.jp g?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent-prg1-1.xx&oh=538d2303035e0a2b5aa393aee94eeed1&oe=5D241A6A

https://scontent-prg1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/18359015_1268547216592872_7261854181071505744_o.jp g?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-prg1-1.xx&oh=62773effdc22a8cf9346a629dded83f5&oe=5D04997E

https://scontent-prg1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/18320845_1268547369926190_8175709743197207102_o.jp g?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent-prg1-1.xx&oh=19e2b2ccced5900cd8e9c6113e34803a&oe=5D227F5A

https://scontent-prg1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/18358864_1268546709926256_4503004518418707386_o.jp g?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent-prg1-1.xx&oh=12e95824b44d06c3e5dbdfeab9ef2e93&oe=5D1E3ABB

[Peanut Shaz]

Like the sound of Isaly, looking into a trip in August. Would you recommend staying in Bowmore or Port Charlotte?

Port Charlotte would be my preference. I go there every year and as much as Bowmore has more shops etc, PC is my idea of island life.