Lady’s 11 Best Islands to Visit in Scotland

Today I want to share my top picks for the best islands to visit in Scotland. This part of the UK is packed with isles, and they’re great places to get away from it all. From the Outer Hebrides to the east coast, there are a lot of great Scottish islands to travel to.

Best Islands to Visit in Scotland

Many of my favorite places to visit in the UK are islands. Their dramatic scenery, amazing opportunities for outdoor exploration, and beautiful views make them ideal British travel destinations.

Some of the most beautiful islands in the country are up north. The best islands to visit in Scotland are dotted along the coast of this part of Great Britain, beckoning the adventurous to their shores.

While some Scottish isles are firmly on the beaten path, others feel like they’re the most remote place in the UK. Whatever your preference, there’s a spot you’ll love.

This list isn’t meant to be comprehensive. I’ve traveled to far more islands than the ones in this post, but I want to give you a taste of some of the best isles to whet your appetite for Scottish island getaways.

1. Isle of Arran in Scotland

I’ll start my list of the best islands to visit in Scotland with the Isle of Arran. The largest island in the Firth of Clyde, it’s often referred to as Scotland in Miniature.

That’s because everything Scotland has to offer can be found here. From rugged coastline to medieval castles and whiskey distilleries making the most famous of Scottish drinks, this Scottish island has it all.

The Isle of Arran offers waterfalls hidden down quiet paths, ancient stone circles full of mystery, and enough sheep to keep one on cute overload at all times.

My Glaswegian grandmother spent her summers on the Isle of Arran when she was a child. I went for a visit once, and I could see why she loved it. I hope you’ll feel the same if you get a chance to travel here yourself.

2. Isle of Skye in Scotland

Next on my list of the best islands to visit in Scotland is the Isle of Skye. The largest island in the Inner Hebrides, it’s one of the most famous Scottish islands.

This is partly due to the fact that Skye is connected to Scotland’s northwest coast by bridge, making it easier to get to than many other Scottish isles.

The Isle of Skye is a popular stop on many Scottish Highlands tours. It’s an ideal place to take in the beauty of the Hebrides and enjoy the colors of towns like Portree.

Highlights of Skye range from enchanting fairy pools to powerful waterfalls. The island has some of the best restaurants in Scotland, too.

I’ve been visiting this Scottish island since I was a teenager. While it’s beautiful at any time of year, I particularly love the Isle of Skye in winter.

I’ve been twice in the colder months, and there’s a magic to the landscape on the Isle of Skye in January and other parts of winter.

3. Lewis and Harris in Scotland

Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides is another of the best islands to visit in Scotland. Despite the name, this is a single island divided by mountains.

The main island in the Outer Hebrides and the largest island in Scotland, Lewis and Harris is known for its beautiful beaches and rich cultural heritage.

From the white powder and turquoise water of Luskentyre Sands to the Neolithic Calanais Standing Stones and rugged shores of Loch Suaineabhal, there’s a lot of natural and historic beauty in this part of the Western Isles.

Add to that culinary offerings like Stornoway black pudding and sartorial highlights like the famous Harris Tweed, and this Scottish island has it all.

4. Coll Island in Scotland

Next on my list of the best islands to visit in Scotland is Coll. This island in the Inner Hebrides has crescent beaches, sand dunes, castles, and some of the best seafood I’ve had in the UK.

I visited Coll while spending a week sailing in the Hebrides with friends. I loved how sparsely inhabited and amazingly desolate it felt. Our mooring in a bay with a ruin on the beach was as romantic as anything I’ve seen on my travels.

The locals on Coll are friendly, too. A couple pulled over and offered my friends and me a ride to a local hotel restaurant when they saw us walking along the road.

They told us all about their love of the island along the way, and it was great to hear them sing its praises.

5. The Shetland Islands in Scotland

The Shetland Islands (also called Shetland) form an archipelago in the Northern Isles. Shetland is the northernmost part of the United Kingdom, too.

The Shetland Islands are some of the best islands to visit in Scotland for North Sea beauty. Their remote beaches, dramatic coastline, and Viking heritage lure visitors who want to get away from it all and experience the magic.

From the lanes in Lerwick, the capital, to the orca whales and Shetland ponies, there’s a lot to discover in this part of Britain.

6. Lunga Island in Scotland

Pint-size Lunga is another of the best islands to visit in Scotland. It’s one of the Treshnish Isles in the Inner Hebrides, and it’s known for its puffins and guillemots, among other bird species.

I visited Lunga in spring when bluebells carpeted the island and puffins walked all over the cliffs. It was amazing to watch the birds waddle about and fly in from the sea, their mouths full of fish.

Lunga also has great views over the water and of ships, boats, and ferries below. It’s a great island to visit for nature. You can see what I mean if you watch my Scottish Hebrides video.

7. The Orkney Islands in Scotland

Up north, the Orkney Islands (also called Orkney) form an archipelago in the Northern Isles. They’re some of the best islands to visit in Scotland for their remote beauty and rich history.

Orkney is known for Neolithic sites like Skara Brae, a 5,000-year-old village, and Maeshowe, a chambered burial tomb with carvings by the Vikings.

The islands are also famed for their stunning sandstone cliffs, seals, and dramatic coastline.

But it’s not just about natural highlights here. Orkney has an abundance of creative designers. From jewelry to furniture, local makers produce beautiful goods on the islands.

8. Isle of Rum in Scotland

The Isle of Rum is one of the Small Isles in the Inner Hebrides, and it’s another of the best islands to visit in Scotland. I traveled here on another sailing trip in the Hebrides, and I loved everything from its castle to its beaches.

The island’s notorious Kinloch Castle is what puts Rum on the map. Its original owners are rumored to have thrown scandalous parties back in Edwardian times, and today visitors can tour the interior.

Rum also has great walking paths through the fields, over the hills, and along the coast. From lone red phone boxes to wild deer and turquoise water, this Scottish island has a lot to offer travelers.

9. Isle of May in Scotland

Next on my list of the best islands to visit in Scotland is the Isle of May. Located on the east coast in the Firth of Forth, it’s a nature reserve famous for its seabirds and historic smuggling legends.

The Isle of May is a haven for avian species, which dominate the landscape and pack seemingly every cliff edge. From puffins to guillemots, it’s easy to spot them from the paths.

Bird life here is so important that the Isle of May is home to the oldest bird observatory in Scotland. Visitors can see it and other parts of this Scottish isle on boat trips from North Berwick and Anstruther in the warmer months.

10. Iona, Scotland

Next on my list of the best islands to visit in Scotland is one of the most legendary isles in the Inner Hebrides. Iona is known for its connections to Saint Columba and his 6th-century monastery.

From the Caribbean-blue water of the beaches to fluffy sheep in flowery pastures, Iona’s hills and shoreline are the stuff of island getaway dreams.

There’s a busier side to this Scottish isle, too. Sweet little shops, the ruins of a nunnery, and the renowned Iona Abbey lure sailboats and ferries alike.

But for me the real draw is the northern beaches in Iona. Their fine white sand and turquoise water is so unexpected it’s hard to believe they’re in the United Kingdom.

11. Barra in Scotland

Last on my list of the best islands to visit in Scotland is Barra. Along with Vatersay, it’s the most southerly of the inhabited Outer Hebrides islands.

Barra is unique among Scottish islands in a number of ways. The most unusual of them is that Barra Airport is the only one in the world where the runway is a tidal beach.

Scheduled flights have to time their landings to coincide with low tide if they want to avoid arriving when the runway is under water.

Beyond the airport, Barra has white sand beaches, stunning landscapes, deep historical roots, and a strong sense of community.

From the dramatic outline of Kisimul Castle to Neolithic sites and standing stones, there’s a lot to discover on this Scottish island.

Best Islands to Visit in Scotland

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my list of the best islands to visit in Scotland. There are a lot of enchanting isles to discover in this part of Britain, and they’re great places to get outdoors and away from it all.

If you want more, my guides to the best UK islands and the world’s best islands will give you travel inspiration for isles beyond Scotland’s shores. Happy island hopping!

Find this post helpful? Buy me a coffee!

New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email.

Pin it!