Scotland’s islands are gorgeous places! They encompass almost all ecosystems within Scotland, from stunning white beaches to mountains. There are four major island groups within Scotland, the Inner Hebrides, the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland.
What are Scotland’s islands?
The Outer Hebrides are Scotland’s barrier islands. They line the west coast from the north of Skye to Oban. Flat and marshy in many places, they are also home to staggering mountains and barren moors.
The Inner Hebrides are inner barrier islands. They line the coast near Oban and are popular with Scottish locals for summer homes or weekend getaways. These islands are also home to the Islay whisky.
Orkney, in the north, are known for their prehistoric ruins. There are hundreds of neolithic sites scattered across the islands. There are also stunning natural sites, incredible birding opportunities, and the chance to see the northern lights.
Although, you might have better luck spotting the aurora in the Shetland Islands, in the middle of the North Sea. These are the most northern of Scotland’s islands and have Viking heritage similar to the Faroe Islands.
These island groups are destinations in themselves, full of great seafood, whisky, and wine. These really are the places to go for fish caught that day – by locals. Whisky can be found in all groups but the Shetlands. (Unfortunately, Scotland is not the place to go for wine, but you’ll find Spanish, French, and Italian wines in most restaurants.)
Exploring Scotland’s Islands
I definitely suggest having multiple days to explore them. Over this next week, I am going to share snippets about each island group – which islands belong to which group, what to do there, etc. I’ll also touch on the best time of year to visit each of them.
Each island group has a main airport, which is accessible from Glasgow, Edinburgh, or the Highlands. Ferries, especially between the mainland and the Inner Hebrides, Outer Hebrides, and Orkney, are easy and fast. Most are car ferries too, if self-driving around Scotland is part of your itinerary.
Scotland is very easy to get around. While spending a week in the islands is highly suggested, you can easily combine it with a few days in the Highlands or in one of the cities.
