Scottish Islands

With just under 800 islands off the Scottish mainland it could be tricky to figure out the best Scottish islands to visit. Although only 90 of those Scottish islands are inhabited you may still be struggling to choose, so we have put together a brief round-up of Macs Adventure's best Scottish island tours to help you decide.

Best for...

• Adventure

For experienced hikers seeking adventure and an off-the-beaten path experience, : A Long Walk on the Isle of Skye fits the bill and delivers no shortage of unforgettable scenery and dramatic mountain to sea vistas. 

• Access

Closer to Glasgow, hikers of most experience levels will delight in the Arran Coastal Path, encircling the Inner Hebridean island known as "Scotland in miniature".  For those ending their Scottish Highland adventure in Fort William, the 4 day Skye Highs Shortbreak is the perfect Scottish Island add-on to any Scotland vacation.

• Island Hopping the Outer Hebrides

If you're looking for the flexibility of a drive & hike trip, and to squeeze in as much as you can, then an island hopping experience is the one for you. Check out our Outer Hebrides Island Hopscotch trip and explore the length of the Outer Hebridean archipelago made of of Barra, the Uists, and the isle of Harris & Lewis. Lose yourself in the wild island landscape, and stroll along stretches of white-sand beaches bordered by flower-strewn dunes.

• History

Orkney is an island shrouded in legends, and peppered with enough archaeological sites and historical points of interest to keep any history-buff interested. Not only does the island abound with cultural highlights, but the back-drop of beautiful clifftops and beaches combined with easy-going walking should keep everyone happy. Our driving-free Walking on Orkney Slower Adventure includes hand-picked walks to archaeological sites and included transfers, and being twin-center it means less unpacking and re-packing along the way.

• Wildlife

The Scottish islands are blessed with great wildlife watching opportunities, so depending on your interests we recommend a little prior research. You can take boat tours from most of the islands that will take you out to sea in the hope of spotting whales, dolphins, basking sharks, and seals. The islands themselves are also a haven for nesting sea bird colonies so keep a look out, and bring your binoculars to make the most of any clifftop walks in case you spot any diving gannets, nesting puffins, or razorbills bobbing on the waves.  With a bit of luck and planning, all the islands on our self-guided hiking tours may offer you plentiful opportunities to admire the unique fauna of the Scottish Islands.

To help you get inspired here are some things you might not know about Scotland's storied isles ...

Skye 

• Home to the oldest inhabited castle - Dunvegan Castle has been occupied by the MacLeod clan for over 800 years. The castle itself has sections dating from as early as the 1200s, but its most recent reincarnation is the result of restoration in the mid 1800s. 
• You can find dinosaur footprints on the island's northeast coastline at Staffin. 
• The Cuillin Ridge on Skye has the greatest number of island Munro's (Scottish mountains over 3000 ft). 
• Ian Fleming created the character of James Bond on the island, which also featured in the Skyfall film. 

Islay

• Islay has more whisky distilleries than all the other Scottish islands combined!  

Jura

• This remote island, neighbor to Islay, is home to more red deer (5000) than people (200)!
• George Orwell traveled here for solitude so he could complete his world-famous novel 1984. 

Lewis (Outer Hebrides)

• Home to the Callanish Standing Stone Circle, even older than England's Stonehenge, at 5000 years old. Why it was constructed remains a mystery.  

Arran

• Arran is often referred to as 'Scotland in miniature', and with two castles, a distillery and mini mountain range who could disagree?

Orkney

• Many customers ask us, where are the Orkney Islands?  The answer is the far north east of Scotland, surrounded by the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean,
• Because of the dramatically rough sea conditions during the winter, a couple of small islands near Orkney are linked by the shortest commercial flight in the world, normally it takes 1.5 minutes, but the record is set at 50 seconds!
• History - Orkney is home to the Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae, the standing stones of Stennes, and is dripping in Norse artifacts and legends. More recently, Orkney houses a tiny Italian chapel built by Italian POWs, turned allies, during WWII in 1943.

Mull

• The colorful village of Tobermory on Mull's east coast was the inspiration behind the popular children's TV show Balamory. 
• The little tidal island of Erraid off Mull's coast is said to be Robert Louis Stevenson's inspiration for his renowned novel Kidnapped.

Iona

• The site of the Iona Abbey is where St Columba arrived in Scotland 563 AD, and has been a site of religious importance since.

No Scottish vacation would be complete without experiencing the best local cuisine. Historically the UK (and least of all the Scottish Highlands) hasn't exactly been renowned for fine dining. However, things have certainly changed in the past couple of decades in the Highlands and islands and enterprising and taste-making locals are keen to show-case their local larders and the foods that make Scotland special. From local venison and salmon on the menus of Michelin Guide listed restaurants, to small-batch coffee roasters, a smattering of gin producers, decadent afternoon teas, freshly caught seafood, buttery shortbreads, local breweries and of course many whisky distilleries. There is plenty on offer, so treat your taste buds and sample some of best food on the Scottish islands. Here are our recommendations; from fine dining experiences to local delicacies, and indulgent offerings. 

Seafood

Some of the freshest most delightful seafood can be found on nearly all of the Scottish Islands on our Macs Adventures.

Arran Cheese, Isle of Arran 

For any cheese-lovers the Isle of Arran Cheese Shop is a must on a visit to Arran on our Arran Coastal Way walking holiday. The southerly location of Arran, and the lush surrounding pastures of Ayrshire are unrivaled elsewhere in Scotland giving Arran cheese a special edge. Located near Brodick, the island's capital, the shop sells many great variations on the classic cheddar from chili, oak-smoked, and chive to the more unusual ginger or raspberry infused wax-coated blocks. Why not pop in a buy a block for your picnic lunch? Delicious!     

Gin, Isle of Harris (Outer Hebrides)

The Isle of Harris Distillery greets you as you arrive off the ferry in Tarbert. And what a welcome to the island! Take a tour of this community-focused distillery and buy a bottle of their unique gin. With an interesting botanical blend the gin is infused with sugar kelp, and comes in a beautiful bottle that will double as a great keepsake from your trip. The perfect serve is tonic water and red grapefruit, but why not try it in a martini for a Hedridean twist on a classic?

Fine Dining, Isle of Skye

The Kinloch Lodge hotel is one of the best fine dining experiences on the Isle of Skye. The hotel features on our Luxury Highlands & Isle of Skye Rail & Hike, but if you're a foodie it's worth visiting even if you aren't overnighting to sample the mouth-watering cuisine on offer. Make sure to call well in advance to book though! They also offer a sumptuous afternoon tea and a foraging experience for something that's a little bit different. 

Stornoway Black Pudding, Isle of Lewis (Outer Hebrides)

The town of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis is renowned for it's "black pudding". Admittedly, when you list out the key ingredients of Stornoway Black Pudding as beef suet, oatmeal, onion and blood (the source of its dark color) it is likely to sound unappealing to most. However, this well-seasoned, rich, moist sausage-shaped pudding is a local delicacy, not just on the isles but across the country. Normally served in a slice with a cooked breakfast or alongside meat cuts such as chicken or with burgers for extra flavor.