ISLE OF LEWIS

Stornoway

Old Man of Hoy

Incredible landscapes | Distinctive culture | Amazing wildlife | Viking heritage

Lying in the North Sea, around 100 islands comprise Shetland, with 16 inhabited and many others accessible by boat. On Mainland find the capital, Lerwick and Scalloway- whose excellent museum tells of the top-secret WWII Shetland Bus operation. Further south are Sumburgh Head’ s seabird colonies; Old Scatness, an excavated Iron Age village; the archaeological treasures of Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse settlements; and, the Zenith of Iron Age Shetland. See also Fair Isle for its birds, knitwear and shipwrecks; Unst for walks and golden beaches; Foula, designated as a Special Protection Area for birds; Fetlar, the Garden of Shetland and beguiling Whalsay.

Orkney’ s 70 islands, 16 of which are inhabited, boast many sites and cultural attractions. On Mainland, is the capital Kirkwall and nearby Stromness. In West Mainland, discover Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which includes Skara Brae; the Ring of Brodgar; the Stones of Stenness and the Maeshowe chambered tomb. On Hoy see the famed Old Man of Hoy sea stack plus Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and Museum; the Brough of

Birsay’ s Norse ruins; Rousay’ s archaeological sites; and North Ronaldsay for heritage and history.

The largest island of the Outer Hebrides is the Isle of Lewis whose capital is bustling Stornoway. Elsewhere, Ness is the stronghold of the local language and in Uig visit the Uig Abhainn Dearg Distillery. Head to Ardroil sands to kite or windsurf, explore Garry Beach’ s sea caves, admire the white sands of Bosta on Great Bernera or take a boat out to the wildlife-rich Flannan Islands. See also the monolithic Callanish Standing Stones.

Hailed as“ Scotland in miniature”, the Isle of Arran on the west coast of Scotland boasts an everchanging coastline, dramatic mountain peaks, sheltered beaches, verdant forests and more. Brodick serves as its central hub plus there are lots of other lovely villages dotted about the coast. Highlights include the Arran Geopark, Arran Heritage Museum, Glenashdale Falls, Kings Cave and Brodick Castle. It’ s also a place to watch amazing wildlife, enjoy thrilling adventures or just chill with locally produced food and drink.

At 50 miles long, the Isle of Skye is the largest of the Inner Hebrides. Its capital is Portree while other notable villages include Dunvegan, Uig, Staffin and Broadford. The island has a rich history covering dinosaur fossils, clan warfare and the infamous Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite Rebellion. It’ s great for wildlife watching and is a world-class destination for walkers and climbers.

Part of the Inner Hebrides, the Isle of Mull provides an outstanding abundance of scenery, culture and wildlife to discover. There is also evidence of a captivating past, from early Viking settlers to stories of the Spanish Armada, much of which can be uncovered as you explore the ruins of ancient sites, dramatic historic monuments and evocative deserted townships. Not to be missed is Tobermory, the island’ s main town, which is known for its colourful harbourside buildings.

All of our featured islands offer a chance to spy the Northern Lights, particularly in autumn and winter. They also tempt with local produce and an array of annual festivals. With easy connections, island hopping is highly recommended.

See pages 7-8 for Travel information

106 Scottish Islands visit your local travel agent or call 03444 937 777