Scottish Islands A-Z


The wildly beautiful coast of Scotland is scattered with hundreds of islands and islets shaped by the relentless pounding of the sea and the ever-changing weather. Sublimely secluded, all are unique, forming a world apart that is little-known and accessible to the very few – yours to explore from the comfort of our delightfully small ship, Hebridean Princess. Experience their magic and mystery; revel in their rich diversity from the Firth of Clyde to the Inner and Outer Hebrides and the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland. Come and discover these precious island gems.


Bressay Northern Isles


Lochranza Caslte, Arran Arran


Firth of Clyde Islands


Influenced by the mild North Atlantic Drift, Arran is a wildlife haven rising to high peaks, including four Corbetts. At the foot of the highest, Goatfell, nestles 16th century red-sandstone Brodick Castle, close to Brodick town. Fifteen miles (24 km) to the north, the 14th century ruined castle of Lochranza was once a royal hunting lodge.


Please see pages 18, 20, 22, 24, 82, 84, 86 and 88. Ailsa Craig Firth of Clyde Islands


Ailsa Craig is a granite islet at the mouth of the Firth of Clyde, nicknamed ‘Paddy’s Milestone’ for it’s location halfway between Glasgow and Belfast. The name Ailsa Craig is thought to derive from Gaelic words meaning ‘Fairy Rock.’ Its rock has been used to make curling stones as well as paving stones and the precipices have large breeding colonies of gannets and other seabirds.


Please see pages 20 and 86. Barra Outer Hebrides


Named after a 6th century saint and world-famous for its unique beach airport, Traigh Mòr, Barra is a beautiful, tranquil island with a fascinating history. Golden beaches backed by sandy, wild flower- dotted machair surround a more rugged interior. The main centre is the once prosperous herring port of Castlebay, where the Macneil’s medieval fortress, Kisimul Castle, perches on a rocky outcrop offshore.


Please see pages 34, 40, 42, 62, 64 and 66. Bute Firth of Clyde Islands


Crossed by the Highland Boundary Fault, Bute is an isle of distinctly contrasting landscapes from the bare, rounded and craggy uplands of the north to the lower, undulating and fertile south. Golden beaches fringe the west coast, many with views over the sound towards Arran. The Victorian resort of Rothesay is the only town.


Please see pages 15, 20, 22, 84 and 86.


Canna, Small Isles Inner Hebrides


Joined to Sanday by a causeway, secluded Canna lies less than 5 miles (8 km) off Rum. Dubbed the ‘Garden of the Hebrides’, this elongated, green and grassy isle is capped by magnetic Compass Hill at 458 feet (140 m) in the north. Canna was one of the earliest Christian settlements, associated with St Columba, who was later adopted as its patron saint.


Please see pages 32, 40, 64 and 66. Rothesay Castle, Bute


Old Norse for ‘Broad Island’, Bressay offers Shetland in miniature – seabird cliffs, quiet bays, hill and coastal walks, freshwater lochs and a profusion of archaeological and historical sites. The east side of the island is sparsely inhabited and the island shows evidence of occupation from Neolithic times. The lighthouse was built by the famous Stevensons in 1858 and is dramatically sited above a beautiful natural arch.


Please see page 58. Carna Inner Hebrides


Carna is a small island lying in Loch Sunart, nestled between the Ardnamurchan and Morvern peninsulas. Packed with history stretching back to being formed up to a billion years ago, the island is a 600 acre mosaic of wildlife rich habitats.


Please see page 26 and 80. Coll Inner Hebrides


The rocky, wild and virtually treeless island of Coll was first settled in the Stone Age. Dotted with ruined cottages, this bird haven is picturesquely clad in flower- dotted machair, fringed by silver-white beaches, and offers refreshing bike rides and walks.


Please see pages 30, 32, 34 and 52.


Colonsay Inner Hebrides


Another bird haven, home to some 200 bird species including the elusive corncrake, and 400 species of flora, Colonsay is a landscape of many contrasts from machair to woods, moors to green fields and rocky to sandy cliff-backed shores. Its finest beach is dramatic Kiloran Bay and inland lie the exotic woodland gardens of Colonsay House.


Please see pages 28, 30, 38, 50, 66 and 74. Cumbraes Firth of Clyde Islands


The contrasting Cumbraes afford fine views to the mainland, Arran and Bute. Green and undulating Great Cumbrae is home to the only town at Millport, elegantly lining Millport Bay. Here the tiny but beautiful Cathedral of the Isles, regarded as Britain’s smallest cathedral, seats only 100 worshippers. Rough and rocky Little Cumbrae, held by the Hunters and later by the Montgomeries, was maintained as a royal hunting forest. Its surviving ruins include the castle demolished by Oliver Cromwell’s army in 1650 and a small chapel dedicated to St Beya.


Please see pages 18, 20, 82, 86 and 88.


Eigg, Small Isles Inner Hebrides


Bought out by its islanders in 1997, Eigg has been settled since prehistoric times and was once the seat of the Lord of the Isles. Its rich past is marked by Iron Age forts, a 6th century church, Viking burial mounds and a graveyard that is a moving testament to the 395 MacDonalds massacred in a cave by the MacLeods in 1577. Rising sheer above the plateau of this wildlife reserve, columnar pitchstone An Sgùrr adds magic and mystery.


Please see pages 26, 28, 34, 70, 74 and 80. Eriska Inner Hebrides


‘Water-nymph Island’ in Gaelic, Eriska is a flat tidal 300 acres (121 ha) island at the entrance to Loch Creran, linked by bridge to the mainland. Privately-owned, it is run as a luxury hotel, based at Scottish Baronial Eriska House, built in 1884 by the Stewarts of Appin, in wooded grounds.


Please see pages 28 and 74.


Flannan Isles Outer Hebrides


The mysterious Flannan islands or Seven Hunters are situated 20 miles west of the Isle of Lewis and support a wide variety of wildlife. The first known inhabitant was the 7th Century preacher and Abbot, St Flann, after whom the islands are named. The infamous lighthouse is situated on Eilean Mor. Engineered by D. A. Stevenson, it was just over a year after commission, on 15th December 1900, when the 3 lighthouse keepers mysteriously disappeared. It is generally thought they were swept away by a freak wave, but the truth of what actually happened that night has never been proved.


Please see pages 44 and 50. Gigha Inner Hebrides


Three miles (4.8 km) west of Kintyre, green and fertile Gigha, ‘God’s’ or ‘Good Island’, is now owned by its community. In addition to dairy farming, goats are reared to produce a distinctive, fruit-shaped cheese – one of the isle’s main exports. Ardminish is the only village and site of Achamore House set in 50 acre (20 ha) gardens planted by Sir James Horlick.


Please see pages 24, 66 and 76. Handa Inner Hebrides


Eriskay Ponies Eriskay


Outer Hebrides


The reputation of the tiny, hilly yet well-populated isle of Eriskay extends far beyond its shores. Home to a rare pony breed, once used in the mines, it was here that Bonnie Prince Charlie first stepped onto Scottish soil in 1745. Eriskay is also famed as the site of the sinking of the SS Politician offshore in 1941, which inspired Compton MacKenzie’s novel and the 1949 film, ‘Whisky Galore’.


Please see pages 40 and 64.


This small, rocky isle sits across the Sound of Handa from the wildly beautiful west coast of Sutherland. Magnificent, horizontally stratified rocks of Torridonian sandstone to the north-west, weathered through time into ledges, form a perfect habitat for nesting seabirds, making Handa one of the largest colonies in north- western Europe.


Please see page 44. Harris Outer Hebrides


Historically and geographically apart from Lewis, Harris is a small region of many contrasts, offering wonderful walks and the beauty of Luskentyre beach on its sandy western shores. Rodel boasts the finest Pre-Reformation church in the Western Isles and the Harris tweeds produced here are world-famous.


Please see pages 40, 44, 60 and 70. Holy Isle Firth of Clyde Islands Fair Isle


Fair Isle, Shetland Northern Isles


Fair Isle’s landscape of high red-sandstone cliffs descends to a low coastline in the south. Archaeological sites bear witness to its occupation since the Bronze Age. An important watch-point for migrating birds, Fair Isle has been the site of a permanent observatory since 1948. The island is also synonymous with its unique geometric knitting, of possible Spanish or Scandinavian origin.


Please see page 56 and 58. 14 Please refer to the 2019 Cruise Diary and Tariff for prices • Hebridean Island Cruises 01756 704704 • www.hebridean.co.uk Please refer to the 2019 Cruise Diary and Tariff for prices • Hebridean Island Cruises 01756 704704 • www.hebridean.co.uk 15


Located across Lamlash Bay, Holy Isle has a long history as a sacred site; a spring or Holy Well held to have healing properties, the hermit cave of 6th century monk Saint Molaise and evidence of a 13th century monastery can be found here and there is evidence of some runic writing on the roof of the cave of Saint Molaise.


Please see pages 20, 82 and 86. Islay Islay Inner Hebrides


Erstwhile seat of the MacDonalds, Lords of the Isles, mild Islay is renowned for the peaty single malts of its eight operating distilleries. Islay abounds in birdlife at the RSPB Loch Gruinart Nature Reserve, hub of a barnacle geese colony and historic treasures from the 18th century round church at Bowmore to the late 9th century High Cross of Kildalton.


Please see pages 28, 32, 46, 52, 68, 74, 76 and 82.


Isle Martin, Summer Isles Highland Isles


Isle Martin is an uninhabited island in Loch Broom, on the west coast of Scotland. It is the closest of the Summer Isles to Ullapool and has been the site of a monastery, a herring curing station and a flour mill. Now recognised as a bird sanctuary, it is owned and managed by a community trust.


Please see page 42. Iona Iona Inner Hebrides


The exiled Irish prince and missionary St Columba reached Iona in 563 to found his community, landing at pebbled St Columba’s Bay in the south, as the legend goes. Originally dating from the 12th century, the restored abbey remains a much-revered place of pilgrimage. An enjoyable walk across the windswept machair leads to the Bay at the Back of the Ocean, with its Spouting Cave, facing the open Atlantic and America.


Please see pages 30, 32, 50, 52 and 66.


Hoy Northern Isles


Synonymous with the world-famous sea stack the Old Man of Hoy, Orkney's second largest island rises dramatically from the sea. Hoy is rightly famous for its birdlife. 10,000 acres of moorland and dramatic sea cliffs form an RSPB Nature Reserve which attracts large numbers of migrating and resident birds, including the much loved Puffin.


Please see page 58.


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