West Coast Scottish Islands
Here, I blog about some of my favourite West Coast Scottish Islands with photographs taken on visits for work and pleasure.
I love to escape on a CalMac ferry to an island off Scotland's wild and exciting west coast. Each has a unique identity, but on any of them, you quickly absorb and enjoy the island life, which is slower and calmer than the busy mainland.
Some of this content comes from a recent article I created for Park Life Magazine, and all of the pictures (and more from my collection) are available to license. Get in touch for more information.
Bruichladdich Distillery, Islay
Carraig Fhada Lighthouse, Islay
Visit Islay & Jura
Ferries to Islay depart from Kennacraig on Kintyre, arriving at Port Ellen or Port Askaig. It's a short ferry from Islay across to neighboring Jura, home to just two hundred people and an island of wilderness and beauty.
Islay is the fifth-largest Scottish island, with many distilleries, including Bruichladdich, Bowmore, and Bunnahabhain. Take a tour and enjoy tasting a dram or two.
The American Monument, high on the cliffs of the Oa Peninsula, pays tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in tragedies in Islay's waters in World War I and honors the islanders who helped rescue and look after the survivors.
Views to Jura from Gigha
Twin Beaches, Isle of Gigha
Visit the Isle of Gigha
Further along the Kintyre peninsula from Kennacraig towards Campbelltown is Tayinloan, where ferries depart to the nearby island of Gigha. Leave your car and travel on foot as you can easily walk to Achamore Gardens, full of rare and exotic plants, helped by the island's mild weather.
Gigha is community-owned and has a bike rental just as you get off the ferry. Head north on two wheels for a pleasant cycle to Twin Beaches, with sandy beaches and a turquoise sea. From here, you get a good view of the striking Paps of Jura on the skyline.
View of Goatfell from Broddick, Isle of Arran
Holy Isle off Arran at Sunset
Visit Arran
The Isle of Arran can also be accessed by ferry from Kintyre (in summer months), although the main route is from Ardrossan in Ayrshire.
Known as Scotland in miniature, the Highland Boundary line cuts through the island, making the southern end flatter and the northern part more mountainous.
At Broddick Castle, there is an excellent adventure playground on the grounds. From Lamlash, you can join a ferry to Holy Isle. Alternatively, climb Goat Fell, the island's highest mountain at 874m.
Puffins on Isle of Staffa
Iona Abbey
Visit Mull, Staffa, and Iona
On one excellent trip from Oban, Ardnamurchan, or Tobermory on Mull, you can enjoy three islands. Staffa Tours take you to the remote and uninhabited Isle of Staffa, famed for Fingal's Cave, which inspired Mendelssohn to compose his Hebrides Overture. In the summer, the island is home to a colony of Puffins who happily pose for photographs.
The tour also covers Mull and Iona. The holy isle of Iona is known as the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland. St Columba and 12 companions came here from Ireland in AD 563, and the magnificent abbey can be seen as you approach by boat.
Portree Harbour on the Isle of Skye
Isle of Skye
Visit Skye
You could take the ferry to Skye, but you don't have to do so. Cross the road bridge instead at Kyle of Lochalsh to reach Scotland's second-largest island and one of the nation's most popular tourism destinations. Recent investment has improved the infrastructure for popular attractions such as the Fairy Pools and The Old Man of Storr. Portree is a pretty village and an excellent place to stay.
Butt of Lewis Lighthouse
Hushinish Beach on the west side of the Isle of Harris
Visit Lewis and Harris
Occupying the same land, the islands of Lewis and Harris are Scotland's largest and home to some spectacular scenery. Lewis is wilder, and Harris is gentler.
Luskentyre on Harris is one of the UK's loveliest beaches, and thanks to the remote location of these islands, Luskentyre is said to be crowded if ten or more people are on it! The island is quiet, apart from the distillery famed for its gin, which draws the crowds; as of recently, whisky is also distilled here.
Meanwhile, on Lewis, step back in time at Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, a restored crofting village with nine cottages with thatched roofs. Go back further, over 5,000 years with Calanais Standing Stones or head to the Butt of Lewis, known as the windiest part of Britain, at the northern tip of Lewis, which the Atlantic Ocean regularly batters.
There's a taster of just some of the dramatic, charming, and unique islands on Scotland's west coast; take a trip and enjoy island hopping.
Calmac Ferry departing Arran
Broddick Castle on the Isle of Arran
About Paul
Paul Saunders, a professional photographer, is based in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, photographing weddings, families and businesses throughout Scotland. He also runs popular short photography training courses.
