⛵ Just a quiet Gigha evening ⤵️ ⚓ After a delicious meal at @boathousegigha I went to stretch my legs before bedtime. The evening was peaceful and still, the air punctuated occasionally by shouts of laughter that floated from cheerful drinkers at the The Beer Box Garden across the way. The water was smooth as an oil slick, barely a ripple breaking the surface. 🐚 I sat a while on the beach in the gentle, quiet evening. The yachts moored up out in the bay pivoted with the tide, a seagull flapped lazily past, and the overhanging clouds glowered. It was growing chillier than I’d anticipated. I tugged down the sleeves on my light jacket and shivered, hunching over. Another couple of minutes of contemplation and then I admitted defeat and strolled back the way I’d come. 🚶🏻♀️ The next day I was due to leave Gigha and head home. My week off was coming to an end, and I felt sad about it. I’d been dying for a holiday for so long, and then it had flown by. Still, as I reflected on the day of cycling and exploring I’d just enjoyed, I knew I had made the most of the trip. And there’d be other trips, coming very soon. #scottishislandsadventure #isleofgigha #argyllandbute #wildaboutargyll #gigha #scottishbeaches #scotlandtravel #visitscotland #visitgigha | Scottish Islands Adventure. Tranquil evenings on Gigha. Beaches on Gigha. Exploring the island of Gigha. |
🥪 Everything I ate on Gigha ⤵️ 🧁 As per usual, while I was on Gigha, I enjoyed some really great food. Obviously I wanted to share everything I ate and where I got it from, so you can enjoy it too if / when you visit Gigha yourselves! Have a little look through the slides, and check out where I got each of my tasty snacks and meals below. 📍 Cakes from Achamore Gardens. I was fortunate enough to visit on a day when they were holding a bake sale. They were such a lovely treat! Visit the blue honesty box on the way to or from the gardens instead - there were lots of great looking cakes for sale there! Make sure you have some cash to pay. 📍 Cheese & chutney toastie from @weeislecafe_gigha which was really good. Sit in or find a picturesque bench nearby and takeaway. I’d highly recommend visiting for lunch or a snack break. 📍 Tablet from @gighas_naturalskincare shop. Really excellent tablet! And some great soap too, not that I’ll be eating that 😉 📍 Dinner from @boathousegigha which served outstanding food. It was a highly enjoyable experience eating great veggie food in very pleasant surroundings. 📍 Honourable mention from this great breakfast roll I got from Big Jessie’s Tearoom at Tayinloan, right next to the ferry slipway. A great way to start the day. 📍 Not mentioned but highly recommended by others - @thenookgigha where they serve great sea food. I couldn’t partake, as unfortunately there were no veggie options, but I’ve heard wonderful things and so wanted to share! #scottishislandsadventure #gigha #isleofgigha #wildaboutargyll #innerhebrides #scottishfood #scotlandtravel #visitgigha #scottishfoodscene | Scottish Islands Adventure. Food I ate on Gigha. Eating around the Scottish islands. Dining out on Gigha. |
Not long till our first Outer Hebrides Adventure of 2024 kicks off. Will you be joining us? #scotland #visitscotland #outerhebrides #OuterHebridesAdventure #WalkingUK #ScottishIslesWalk #HebrideanHikes #ExploreScotland #NatureWalksUK #HebridesHoliday #UKWalkingTours #ScottishHighlandsWalk #IslandWalking #WalkScotland #HebridesExploration #ScottishIslandsAdventure #HikingHebrides #WildScotland #DiscoverOuterHebrides #ScotlandWalking #HebrideanJourney #ScottishNature #ScenicScotland #UKNatureWalks #HebridesExperience #ScottishWalks #OuterHebridesBeauty #HebridesEscape #WalkingScottishIsles #TranquilHebrides
Whilst waiting for the ferry to the Outer Hebrides you can't beat fish and chips with a view... Join us for a walking holiday exploring this stunning part of Scotland. #scotland #visitscotland #outerhebrides #OuterHebridesAdventure #WalkingUK #ScottishIslesWalk #HebrideanHikes #ExploreScotland #NatureWalksUK #HebridesHoliday #UKWalkingTours #ScottishHighlandsWalk #IslandWalking #WalkScotland #HebridesExploration #ScottishIslandsAdventure #HikingHebrides #WildScotland #DiscoverOuterHebrides #ScotlandWalking #HebrideanJourney #ScottishNature #ScenicScotland #UKNatureWalks #HebridesExperience #ScottishWalks #OuterHebridesBeauty #HebridesEscape #WalkingScottishIsles #TranquilHebrides
🏅 I’ve passed my Day Skipper! ⤵️ ⛵️ I’m so proud of myself, and very happy that I’ve passed. All that hard work paid off! It’s been a wonderful week - I’ve learned so much, met some lovely people, and experienced all the weather Scotland has, I’m sure. From sunshine to showers to gusting Force 8 wind, we really had a great adventure. And back on the Clyde, one of my favourite bits of water in the world. ⚓️ Now to try and put it to some use… My next sailing adventure is in September, where I’ll venture away from the Clyde for the first time and explore the Hebrides by boat. And then… Who knows?! The world is my oyster, and I can’t wait! 📸 First photo kindly taken by one of my fellow course mates, Gordon, who snapped it on his Samsung. Other two are my own. #scottishislandsadventure #dayskipperpractical #firthofclyde #yachtlife #boatlife #scotlandtravel #scotlandadventure #yachtingadventures | Scottish Islands Adventure. Day Skipper practical. Firth of Clyde. Exploring the Clyde by boat. Yachting adventures. |
🫶🏻 Simple post today, it’s been a busy one! I’m on the first day of my Day Skipper practical and I’ve ended up back on Bute 🩵 Today I was lead skipper!! I did all the planning, then implemented the plan with the crew. Tough to throw myself right into it, but rewarding, and I’m pleased with how the day went. Now we are having a quiet afternoon sheltering from the rain, though I’ll likely go and stretch my legs soon! 💙 #rothesay #isleofbute #scottishislandsadventure #scotlandtravel #firthofclyde #yachtlife #scottishsailing #sailinglife | Scottish Islands Adventure. Firth of Clyde. Sailing on the Clyde. Sailing in Scotland. Isle of Bute. |
⚓ Boat nerd alert! ⤵️ 🚢 I had the best time visiting Inchcolm Island on the weekend! One of my favourite moments was standing on the western cliff tops, watching this impressive oil tanker ship nosing up the firth towards Hound Point oil terminal. Look at the size of this thing!! It’s so cool. Something this huge shouldn’t move so elegantly or glide through the water so smoothly. 🛳️ Since I started sailing and exploring islands, my boat nerdiness has increased quite rapidly. I love watching ships and boats navigate the waters I’m on or near, and I’m a big lover of the Marine Traffic app where I can find out more info about the boats I’m looking at. 🪶 I also love how the birds frame this photo too. There are so many on Inchcolm at this time of year as they return to nest and raise their young. April is a great time of year to visit the islands in the Firth of Forth if you’re a bird nerd as well as a boat nerd! #scottishislandsadventure #boatnerd #firthofforth #inchcolmisland #visitscotland #scotlandtravel #scottishislands #boattrip #daytrip #oiltankership | Scottish Islands Adventure. Boat nerd. Exploring the Firth of Forth. Visiting the islands of the Firth of Forth. Inchcolm Island. Boat watching. |
The Isle of Gigha🫶🏽! The Isle of Gigha is a community owned island a 20 minute ferry via @calmacferries from Tayinloan. We had booked to spend the weekend but when we realised the ferries were going to be cancelled rather than rearranging or cancelling our trip we took the 3 hour drive to Tayinloan and got the last ferry out on Friday night⛴️… We stayed at @gighacampsite 🏕️! Anna was so helpful, she gave us regular updates on the ferries and when we did arrive let us know the reduced hours of local businesses and offered support and advice during the weather warning💨! The campsite has fantastic and clean facilities and lots of tent, motorhome and electric pitches🚐. Here is some of the things we done and recommended you do if you ever visit Gigha📍♥️… 📍 sunshinebreadgigha - for some freshly baked rolls. 📍 @thenookgigha - a little seafood take away next to the local shop. I can’t recomend their prawn bap enough😋. 📍Gigha Dark Skies - due to practically no light pollution Gigha is one of the best places to see the stars🌠🌌. 📍 @boathousegigha - The Boathouse which is about a 8minute walk from the campsite. The staff were lovely and the food was delicious🍴. 📍 @achamoregardensgigha - make sure to stop by and enjoy a peaceful walk around the gardens🌷🌸! (This has paid entry) 📍 @weeislecafe_gigha - The Cafe serves a range of hot food and delicious ice cream made at one of the farms on the island🍦. 📍 @gighas_naturalskincare - The shop is right next to the cafe and has a range of health and skincare products. They also offer treatments pre-booked in advance🧖🏽♀️! 📍Twin Beaches - at the north of the island they are definitely a must see🌊. 📍Honesty Boxes - We got the brownies, tablet and caramel cake from the Gigha honestly box and all 3 were delisous🧁. 📍Walking and Cycling Routes - there is so many walks and cycling routes around the island, pop into the visitor centre as you get off the ferry and pick up a free map which will guide you in where to go based on what you want to see. All routes and marked clearly and easy to follow✔️. We felt like we had this little bit of paradise to ourselves, such a slow and easy going weekend🌻♥️
📸 @calmacferries lookin’ fine! Swipe for more pics! ⤵️ ⛴️ Travelling on a Calmac ferry is always a delight. They’re the gateway to island life, the interlude between real life and the epic holiday you’ve had planned for days, weeks, months, or even years! It’s a moment where you can take a breath & really enjoy the journey before you reach your destination! 🚢 I have travelled on countless Calmac ferries by now, and have a few top tips to help you really get the most out of your journey with them! 🍝 Don’t miss the Calmac ‘n’ cheese. It’s a highlight on their menu! Grab a table by the window so that you can enjoy the views while you eat. ⛰️ Speaking of views, try to get up on deck if you can during your journey. You’ll often be treated to exceptional scenery, and you may even spot some wildlife 🤞🏻 🧥 Bring a coat or jacket so you don’t get chilly up on deck - remember it’s always cooler on water than land. 🚘 If you’ve brought your vehicle along, follow the guidance from staff. They’re experts at getting all shapes and sizes of vehicle on board, so do as they tell you and you can’t go wrong. 🕞 Sounds obvious, but make sure you arrive in time for check-in. Check-in usually closes 30 minutes before departure. 🤦🏻♀️ Double check the check-in closing times and ferry departure times. Don’t make my mistake and accidentally miss a ferry because you read the times incorrectly. 📱 Keep up to date on service statuses by downloading the Calmac app, or follow them on Twitter. Calmac will contact you directly if your service has been delayed or cancelled. 🎫 Book tickets for your ferry in advance, particularly if you’re bringing a vehicle, or if you’re travelling on a busy route like Ardrossen to Brodick. 💃🏻 Above all, relax, and enjoy the journey! #scottishislandsadventure #calmacferries #scotlandtravel #travelbyferry #ferryboat #explorescotland #scottishislands #scotlandisnow | Scottish Islands Adventure. Travelling by Calmac ferry to the Scottish islands. Travel by ferry. Exploring Scottish islands. Travel between islands. |
💸 How expensive is it to fly to Barra? ⤵️ ✈️ The honest answer? It depends when you book your flight! 🛫 When I took this flight last year, I booked the trip five months in advance, on 22nd January, and flew on 2nd July. The flight times vary depending on the tides (as you’ll be landing on a beach on Barra!), so on that particular day I flew 10.15-11.30am from Glasgow to Barra, and then back 1.40-2.50pm from Barra to Glasgow. The total cost for my same day return flight, booked five months in advance, was at that time £164. I flew with @flyloganair 🛬 I’ve been doing a bit of research today, and if I were to book today for the same first weekend of July this year, I’m looking at a same day return flight price of £325.44. That’s a massive increase on what I paid, even taking into account the general annual price inflation you might expect. 💡 So, what is my one biggest single piece of advice if you want to take this flight? ⚠️ It’s easy! Book well in advance! The earlier you book, the more likely it is you’ll get a cheaper flight. It helps if you can be flexible about your day of travel too - some days are a bit cheaper than others depending on remaining capacity and so on. ⛴️ It’s worth pointing out that the flight to Barra is generally (according to my research) more expensive than taking the ferry. If you’re a flying enthusiast, who wants to land at the world’s only commercial airport with a beach runway, then you might feel that paying extra for the flight is very worthwhile. However, if you’re heading to Barra for a longer holiday, and especially if you want to take your vehicle, then going by ferry is probably a better option for you. #scottishislandsadventure #scenicflight #barra #barraairport #beachrunway #scotlandtravel #outerhebrides #yourhebrides #scotlandadventure | Scottish Islands Adventure. Flying to Barra. Landing on a beach runway. Barra Airport. Flying Glasgow to Barra. Taking a scenic flight. Barra’s beach runway. |
🐶 What a cutie! ⤵️ 🐕 I posted this lovely dog on my Stories last month, but adored her so much that I thought she deserves to be permanently added to the main grid. Meet Skye - a dog owned by one of the ferry operators on the Cuan Ferry. She was super friendly, coming over for a pet and stroke during the five minute trip across the sound. In my opinion, all ferries should have dogs! They add much to the experience! 📍 The Cuan Ferry runs daily, taking passengers and vehicles back and forth between the islands of Seil and Luing. It takes just five or so minutes to cross the Cuan Sound, and costs £12 return for a driver and a car. Check the timetables before you go, but I’ve always turned up and gone, sometimes just waiting a while until the next ferry. 📅 Monday to Saturday it operates half hourly (except for a break for lunch). On Sunday, it also runs on a half hourly basis, but it starts later and there is a two hour gap in the middle of the day. 🤔 This ferry navigates a channel with an incredibly strong current, with tidal streams attaining up to 7 knots on a spring tide! You can see it in the water, which roils and eddies and moves slickly, like oil. Watching the ferry cross the channel is an interesting experience - it does a pretty big ‘ferry slide’ to ensure it meets the jetties on either end just right! #scottishislandsadventure #dogsofinstagram #dogslife #doglover #slateislands #cuansound #cuanferry #cuanferrydog #scotlandtravel #isleofluing #isleofseil #explorescotland | Scottish Islands Adventure. The Slate Islands. Cuan ferry. Navigating the Cuan Sound. Dogs on ferries. Scottish islands. Isle of Seil. Isle of Luing. |
⛰️ One from the archives! ⤵️ 🍂 It’s Throwback Thursday! I’ve dug deep into my collection of photos today to bring this golden oldie but goodie from the Isle of Skye! I’ve been to Skye twice now, once in the autumn of 2020 between lockdowns, and the second time in late summer 2021 between jobs. I think Skye is uniquely beautiful, but I’ve not been since I moved to Scotland as my focus has been on visiting islands that are new to me. 🍁 However, a return to Skye feels long overdue! I’m actually kind of in the process of planning a big 2025 island roadtrip (stay tuned, let’s see I can make it happen!), and going back to Skye could definitely be on the books if that all goes ahead! ⛅ To once again wander among the serrated mountains, experience the magical wonderlands of Fairy Glen and the Quiraing, and return to Portree would be a delight! I’d love to go there under my own steam too - both times I’ve visited before have been using public transport or cadging lifts, so it’d be nice to see more of the island at my own pace. 🔊 Oh, and by the way… I’ll be resharing this beautiful photo, plus a few others from Skye, in my newsletter this month! Subscribe to my mailing list today to ensure you get the newsletter when it lands next week. We’re back with a bang this month after skipping March! 🌄 Have you been to Skye? Is it on your wishlist? #scottishislandsadventure #isleofskye #skye #scotlandtravel #mountainsofskye #cuillins #waterfallphotography #roadtripscotland #scotlandisnow #scottishmountains | Scottish Island Adventures. Isle of Skye. Skye roadtrip. Exploring the Isle of Skye. Mountain hiking on Skye. Waterfall photography. |
🌿 Happy Global Rewilding Day! ⤵️ 💚 Did you know that today was Global Rewilding Day? I’ll admit, until quite recently, rewilding wasn’t something I knew a lot about. I still don’t, to be honest. But I’m learning, and what I’m learning I like. Rewilding seems to make sense to me. It helps to heal the earth, bring back equilibrium, rejuvenate ecosystems. What’s not to like? 🌱 Rewilding has benefits to human society too. Did you know that a rewilding scheme near Skipton has been proven to reduce flooding downstream along the River Aire, leading to calls for the project to be extended. In Scotland, there are loads of rewilding projects happening - you can find out more by checking out @rewildingb . 🍃 There are even a couple of rewilding projects happening on Scottish islands. There’s the Torosay Hills project on Mull, or the Community of Arran Seabed Trust project. I’ve visited the latter, and love how calm, tranquil, and healthy Lamlash Bay appears. This ground-breaking project started in 1995, and studies show that marine life has returned to these waters in dramatic levels. King scallop density, for example, has increased by over 850% since the protection measures were brought in. Truly awesome, and proving that rewilding schemes make a difference! ℹ️ To find out more about rewilding, or schemes near you, or how you can get involved, why not check out @globalrewildingalliance where you’ll find tonnes of info! #scottishislandsadventure #globalrewildingday #rewildingscotland #rewildingbritain #scotlandtravel #wildscotland #isleofarran #lamlashbay | Scottish Islands Adventure. Global rewilding day. Rewilding projects on Scottish islands. Rewilding Scotland. |
🌊 St Ninian’s Beach is so beautiful! ⤵️ 🐚 On our first day on Shetland, we headed south to visit St Ninian’s. We had hoped we would be able to cross the famous tombolo and walk around St Ninian’s isle, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. The tombolo was completely covered over by tide and big waves! 🫶🏻 But what a beautiful beach though! We soaked up the Vitamin Sea, basked in the sunshine, and enjoyed hot chocolate with a view from the nearby Bigton Community Shop. We could’ve stayed and watched the waves for hours to be honest - they were so big, and the water was so blue! 🩵 If you visit Shetland, I’d 100% recommend visiting St Ninian’s. If and when I return, I’ll definitely be going back! Hopefully next time I can visit the island too! #scottishislandsadventure #shetlandislands #stniniansisle #shetlandbeaches #visitscotland #visitshetland #scottishbeaches #scotlandtravel #scotlandisnow | Scottish Islands Adventure. Visiting St Ninian’s beach. Shetland beaches. Beautiful beaches. Exploring the Shetland Islands. |
🙌🏻 A walk on Bute ⤵️ 📅 Back at the start of December, I had a weekend on Bute, and I completed the Kilchattan Bay circular hike while I was there. It was the kind of day where the light felt low in the sky, there was a slight atmosphere, and towards the end of the walk it began to rain steadily. Still, nothing could detract from how beautiful and peaceful this walk was. 🌥️ The hike itself is approximately 5 miles, according to Walk Highlands, and is a route that takes you from Kilchattan Bay along the rugged coastline to Glencallum Bay. After this, you rise steadily, taking on the short section of the walk along the clifftops, before descending down to Loch na Leighe. To finish, you pass St Blane’s (ruined) chapel and then pass through some farmland before finally arriving back into Kilchattan village. 🫶🏻 I really enjoyed this hike. It wasn’t too long or strenuous, it was impossible to get lost (well signposted and a clear path), and there was plenty of differentiating scenery to keep my interest. I loved the coastal section, but the silence to be found when turning inland was really blissful. I finished the walk with a hot chocolate from Kilchattan Bay Tearoom, which I’d recommend. The tearoom itself is full of interesting Titanic memorabilia, if that’s your kind of thing! ⏱️ Overall, this route took me about 3 hours to complete (I wasn’t going quickly and I stopped for photos etc). It felt like a relatively easy hike for someone of reasonable fitness. If you’re visiting Bute, I’d highly recommend it! #scottishislandsadventure #isleofbute #firthofclyde #hikingadventures #hikinglife #scotlandtravel #scotlandwalks #scottishislands | Scottish Islands Adventure. Isle of Bute. Walk recommendations. Hiking in the countryside. Island hiking recommendations. Walking on the Scottish isles. |
🫶🏻 What kickstarted Scottish Islands Adventure ⤵️ 📖 A few years ago, I experienced an upheaval in my life that resulted in my big decision to move out of London and come to Edinburgh. It was quite a turbulent time, as times of change often are, but by August of 2022 I was feeling more settled. It was around that time that I took myself off for a week away camping on Mull, and things started to fall into place. That trip felt like a catalyst. 🐋 I saw a whale for the first time in UK waters, and felt envious of the people who were yachting around us and had the whale come right up to their boat. Three months later, I tried sailing for the first time, and now I’m in the process of completing my Day Skipper. 🚢 I also fell in love with Mull that week. I was fortunate to have a week of endless sunshine, and I made the most of this rare opportunity to swim, walk, laze, kayak, paddle, and BBQ through the hazy days. Life twinkled. Iona shone like a precious gem. Mull felt special. Three months later, scrolling back through my photos, the idea came to me to start an Instagram account documenting my trips to Scottish islands. And here we are. 💃🏻 Getting to combine two new and exciting interests throughout 2023 was incredibly exciting. I got to visit multiple brand new islands, learn the ropes (literally) on a yacht, and live a life at sea. All these moments became some of my happiest memories from last year. And best of all, there’s so much more to come. I can feel my life continuing to grow and evolve. I am re-centering to accommodate the new things in my life that I now love. And this excites me beyond words! 🐋 Come along with me for the ride as I continue to change, and Scottish Islands Adventure develops with me. #scottishislandsadventure #scotlandtravel #visitscotland #scottishislands #scotlandisnow #visitshetland #stninians | Scottish Islands Adventure. Exploring the Scottish isles. Learning to sail. Yachting. Visiting Scottish islands. |
🌲 A view of Seil ⤵️ 🤎 Until this weekend, I’d always driven through Seil on my way to Easdale or Luing. But today I made the decision to rest, instead of getting up at 6.30am to catch the early ferry to Lismore as I’d intended. That choice left me with an open opportunity to explore Seil a bit more, and get a little further under the skin of this island. 🟤 Walking is always the perfect way to get to know any island better. My meanderings today took me to Ballachuan Hazelwood, located on the south east coast of Seil, where I spent a couple of hours exploring the area. Admittedly, I did get lost for about thirty minutes, and I didn’t manage to finish the route I had planned, but upon arrival back at my accommodation, I could safely say I felt I understood Seil a little better than before. 🌳 Eerily quiet woods. The gentle breeze rustling branches against one another. The soft patter of raindrops on foliage. Twisted, winding paths. Mud up to my ankles. Water sloshing over the tops of my boots. The sudden alarm call of birds as I make my approach in their haven. Gently lapping water against a rocky shoreline. A wide loch complete with a flotilla of squawking seabirds. That’s Seil. 🤍 Sometimes, the place you usually journey through becomes the destination. More often than not, that’s a good thing. #scottishislandsadventure #slateislands #seil #scotlandtravel #hikingadventures #exploringscotland #hikingphotography #scotlandisnow #winteradventures #scottishislands | Scottish Islands Adventure. Seil. The Slate Islands. Exploring the Slate Islands. Day trips from Oban. Island hiking. Exploring Scottish islands. |
#neistpoint #neistpointisleofskye #skye #neistpointskye #neistpointlighthouse #skyeisland #skyeislandscotland #scotland #skyeislands #isleofskye #rabbies #rabbiestour #rabbiestours #rabbies_tours #rabbiestoursscotland #scotland #scotlandtravel #scotlandisnow #scotlandtravel #scottishislands #scottishislandsadventure
#neistpointlighthouse #neistpoint #neistpointskye #neistpointisleofskye #rabbies #rabbiestours #rabbies_tours #rabbiestour #rabbiestoursscotland #scottishislandsadventure #scottish #scottishscenery #scotlandislands #scotlandexplore #scotlandtravel #scotlandisnow #scotlandphotography
⭐ Coll & the Cosmos ⤵️ ✨ Did you know that Coll has official dark sky status? It’s one of only two dark sky locations in Scotland, and one of only two islands with dark sky status in the UK. This means it’s one of the most perfect places to come for stargazing, astronomical events, and the Aurora Borealis. 🔭 Now, Coll Bunkhouse and Cosmos Planetarium have teamed up to run Coll & the Cosmos, a stargazing weekend break for astronomy enthusiasts and novices alike. The weekend is designed to educate, and to allow visitors to experience how wonderful our skies are at night. 💫 The first event of 2024 is on 2nd + 3rd March, and there’s another weekend later in the year, on 2nd + 3rd November. While I unfortunately cannot attend myself this year, it’s definitely an event that’s firmly lodged on my list of Scottish island ‘must-dos’! And having visited Coll in 2023, I can vouch for the incredible dark skies, beautiful twinkling stars and the sheer delight of the island at night. 🌟 So, if stars and the cosmos are your thing, why not consider a unique trip to Coll this spring or autumn for this event? And if you do go, make sure you tag on a few days either side to enjoy the island to its fullest! 📸 Taken on first day on Coll in 2023, when I explored multiple glorious beaches. #scottishislandsadventure #isleofcoll #stargazingopportunities #darkskies #innerhebrides #scotlandtravel #scotlandisnow #explorecoll #internationaldarkskyassociation | Scottish Islands Adventure. Coll and the Cosmos. Stargazing. International dark skies. Inner Hebrides. Scottish island events. Stargazing in the Hebrides. |
Enjoy a cozy Afternoon Tea at Achnacriche dinner Bed and Breakfast. Please book in advance at [email protected] or call to 07715677277. Served until March. #luxurybandb #ukbedandbreakfast #scotlandbedandbreakfast #scottishislandsadventure #lochaline #mull
🪟 Through the Window - series ⤵️ 🧡 Our room at the @scalloway_hotel_ had a sea view, and over the course of two days I took this series of photos looking out of the window next to my bed. ❤️ Photos one and two are from the first evening, after our arrival on Shetland. Photo three is the next morning before we headed to Lerwick for Up Helly Aa. The fourth image was our third morning, when the storm hit and the wind drove rain horizontally against the window! The final image is also from the first evening, taken by me as I lay on my bed, admiring this absolute delight of a sunset. 💛 It’s not so much my usual style, but I really liked this series of photos, and wanted to share them with you all. A peak through the window out upon the Shetlands, from the comfort of our hotel room. #scottishislandsadventure #scalloway #shetlandislands #visitshetland #scotlandtravel #shetlandphotography #throughthewindow #seaviews #promoteshetland | Scottish Islands Adventure. Scalloway. Hotel sea view. Pictures through the window. Shetland islands. |
🔥 My 3 top tips for Up Helly Aa first timers ⤵️ 🧣 Dress warmly! I cannot overstate this enough. I am a generally warm-blooded person, and I was frozen by the time the torch-lit procession ended. I’d recommend at least two bottom layers, and I ended up wearing four top layers, and two coats! Pop on some thick woolly socks, good shoes, and a hat, scarf and gloves too. If you generally feel the cold, I’d recommend taking some hand warmers or a hot water bottle too! 👨👩👦👦 Arrive early to get a good view of the procession. We watched the Junior procession at 5.30pm, and stayed in our spot until the main procession at 7.30pm. You can stand anywhere along the procession route, but standing on King Harald Street, by the playground wall, will give you both maximum impact of the procession, and the best view of the burning site. 🎟️ If you’re looking to secure a ticket to the Halls for the post-procession celebrations, try your luck at the Tourist Information Centre in Lerwick. If any Halls have tickets left, this is where they’ll leave them, and it’s often your best chance of getting one, unless you know a local who can bag one for you instead! 🌧️ REMEMBER: The torch-lit procession and general Up Helly Aa celebrations are never postponed for weather. Be prepared on the day and make sure you take what you need with you to remain comfortable. Just a reminder that you will also likely be standing for a while. #uphellyaa #shetlandislands #scottishislandsadventure #lerwickuphellyaa #lerwick #visitshetland #shetlandphotography #promoteshetland | Scottish Islands Adventure. Up Helly Aa 2024. Lerwick Up Helly Aa. Top tips for first timers to Up Helly Aa. How to prepare for Up Helly Aa if you’ve never been before. Shetland islands. |
🔥 Lerwick Up Helly Aa 2024 ⤵️ ♥️ Although there is a strong Viking theme running through the festival, Up Helly Aa is actually a relatively modern festival, started in the 1800s. The theme of ‘guizing’, an elaborate element of disguise, was introduced along with the torch lit procession around 1870. In 1880, the Viking galley first appeared, and it wasn’t until 1906 that the ‘Guizer Jarl’ (chief guizer) became part of the festival. After the First World War, the squad of Vikings (the Guizer Jarl Squad) was introduced. ❤️🔥 These days, the festival lasts a whole day and night, with activities starting in the morning of the final Tuesday in January. The torch lit procession, a highlight of the day, kicks off around 7.30pm, when the street lights are switched off for maximum impact, and the signal is given for the torches to be lit. The torch lit procession then wends its way along the designated route, with 900+ people marching the streets with torches held aloft. It’s honestly an incredible sight! The Viking galley is burned in the grand finale, with flames leaping into the sky and sending sparks flying in the wind. 🎟️ Afterwards, the towns folk head to various halls where the celebrations continue until the following morning, with music, dancing, food and drink throughout the night. It can be quite hard for visitors to get tickets - but if you want to go, head to the tourist information centre to see if any tickets are there! Mum and I chose to head home after the torch lit procession, but the celebrations in the halls are an incredibly important part of the festival and if I were to attend again in future, I’d love to try and get a ticket! 👀 I’ll be sharing a post soon with some top tips for first time visitors to Up Helly Aa - keep an eye out for that! Up Helly Aa 2024 was an incredible experience! I really enjoyed myself, and I’d highly recommend adding the festival to your Scottish islands bucket list ASAP! #scottishislandsadventure #uphellyaa #lerwickuphellyaa #shetlandislands #visitshetland #promoteshetland | Scottish Islands Adventure. Up Helly Aa. Lerwick. Shetland islands. Fire festival. Lerwick Up Helly Aa 2024. Exploring Shetland culture. |
💨 What insane weather! ⤵️ 🌊 Had the most exhilarating day watching breakers roll in off the Atlantic and smash on the cliffs around Eshaness, in Northmavine. The spot was recommended to us by Eilidh at the Tourist Information Centre in Lerwick as a great place to go and weather watch, and she was not wrong! 🌬️ There’s something so life affirming and humbling watching weather like this. The wind was so strong you could fully lean into it and let it bear your weight. The waves were honestly the biggest I have ever seen, and the way they pounded the rocks was awe inspiring. And the colour of the ocean was just incredible, too. ⚓ What a fun day! If you’re ever on Shetland, and you experience a gale, and it feels safe to take a road trip in the weather, get yourself up to Eshaness and enjoy the wild forces of nature up there. It’s something you won’t forget in a hurry! #scottishislandsadventure #visitshetland #promoteshetland #scotlandtravel #wildweatherphotography #shetlandislands #stormwatching #oceanphotography | Scottish Islands Adventure. Eshaness cliffs. Experiencing wild weather. Storms on Shetland. Weather watching. Storm watching. Shetland travel. |
🫶🏻 Phewwwww eeeee. What an amazing first day on Shetland! And we have been so lucky with the weather! 🩵 We explored Lerwick, went to St.Ninian’s, and walked along Scousburgh Sands, all of which were utterly delightful. We saw seals lounging on the sand (can you spot them in this photo?!) and got our first feel for the isles. They feel magical, and I can’t wait to explore more in the rest of the week. 🤍 The weather is supposed to deteriorate, but I’m stoked for Up Helly Aa tomorrow, and then some trips north and onto other islands beyond Mainland. What a fabulous first day! Here’s to the rest of the trip! #shetlandislands #scottishislandsadventure #exploringshetland #scotlandtravel #shetlandbeaches #beautifuldestinations #shetlandphotography | Scottish Islands Adventure. Shetland islands. Exploring the northern isles. Exploring Mainland Shetland. Places to visit on Shetland. Visiting Lerwick. |
📚 5 favourite books about islands ⤵️ 📗 Argonauts of the Scottish Isles by Robin Lloyd-Jones. This wonderful book details Robin’s sea kayaking adventures around the Scottish coastline, including many visits and jaunts to both the western and northern islands. His narrative is insightful, suspenseful in places, and full of interesting facts and information about the nature of sea kayaking and his adventures. 📕 The Outrun by Amy Liptrot. A raw memoir, in which Amy shares her journey of addiction recovery and her return to Orkney. This book has just been turned into a film starring Saoirse Ronan, and I’m already dying to see the adaptation. The descriptions in this book are incredibly beautiful, almost haunting, bringing Orkney vividly to life. 📘 Sea Room by Adam Nicolson. I’m actually still reading this book, but it’s already one of my favourites on the topic of Scottish islands. Adam owned the Shiant Islands for many years before passing them to his son Tom. His book details his regular escapades to the islands over the years, and deep dives into the natural, cultural and religious history of the island. 📙 Scottish Island Bagging by Helen & Paul Webster. This is going to sound basic, but I honestly love this book because of it’s really gorgeous photographs! Put together by the pair behind Walk Highlands, this is lovely book providing clear lists of exciting and adventurous things you could do across the Scottish isles, as well a brief overviews of each island. 📔 The Summer Isles by Philip Marsden. This book takes us on an epic voyage around the Irish west coast, and then up the Scottish west coast in Philip’s sailing yacht. This is an interesting book as it includes travels to Irish islands that I’d never heard of before, as well as his eventual trip up to the Scottish Summer Isles. A definite must-read for anyone interested in sailing or islands, or both! #scottishislandsadventure #readinglist #mustreadbooks #bookrecommendations #scotlandtravel #scottishislands #bookreview | Scottish Islands Adventure. Books about the Scottish isles. Reading about Scottish islands. Must-read books. |
🤔 3 islands I’d recommend to Scottish newbies ⤵️ 🐚 First up, I’d recommend Arran. Nicknamed ‘Scotland in Miniature’ Arran is, in my opinion, the perfect introduction to the Scottish isles. It has everything - beaches, mountains, great food, whisky, ancient history… You name it, Arran most likely has it! The Ardrossen to Brodick ferry takes just under an hour, making it the perfect weekend getaway or inclusion into a bigger Scottish trip. Pop it on your bucket list, stat! ⛰️ Mull is another excellent island destination for first time visitors to Scotland. Just an hour from Oban, this large Inner Hebridean island is the perfect place to kick back and really disconnect. My favourite thing about Mull are the great opportunities to spot wildlife such as otters, white tailed sea eagles, and even whales during the season! The other big perk is Mull’s proximity to stunning Iona, which really is the most delightful island you ever will visit. 🏰 This might be a bit of a cheat, but my third recommendation is that you base yourself in or around Oban, and you explore a few of the islands nearby, such as Kerrera, Lismore, and the Slate Islands. This collection of islands are all within a stones throw from Oban, and all are worthy of your attention. Kerrera and Lismore have excellent hiking opportunities and great castles! Meanwhile, the Slate Islands contain a wealth of heritage and culture that make for a fascinating trip. Staying in this area means you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to islands to visit. 🛟 What was the first Scottish island you visited? Where would you recommend for first time visitors? #scottishislandsadventure #islandrecommendations #scotlandtravel #arran #mull #kerrera #oban #innerhebrides #firthofclyde #scotlandinminiature #explorescotland | Scottish Islands Adventure. Island recommendations for first time visitors to Scotland. Mull. Oban. Arran. Kerrera. Lismore. The Slate Islands. Inner Hebridean islands. Island day trip recommendations. First time Scottish tourists. |
🫶🏻 3 reasons I love Bute ⤵️ 1️⃣ It’s super accessible from the mainland, but has some pretty wild and remote feeling areas. Despite Bute’s proximity to some of the busiest parts of Scotland, you literally feel like you’ve arrived in a different world when you set foot on the island! Enjoy a hike around the southern end of Bute and you’ll likely not even see anyone for at least a couple of hours. It’s the perfect escape. 2️⃣ There are plenty of lovely local businesses, including great cafes and small shops. The community owned Anchor Tavern in Port Bannatyne, Ettrick Bay Tea Room and Bute Yard in Rothesay are particular highlights in my opinion. Enjoy a tasty meal out or browse the stores and buy a special souvenir. 3️⃣ It’s just so pretty! Bute has some truly beautiful sunsets, some gorgeous rugged scenery, and sweeping bays and beaches on the west side with stunning views across to Arran and Kintyre. 🆓 The best thing about Bute?! There’s still so much more to go back and see, do and explore. All the green pins in slide 4 show you what I want to see and do next time I visit. I currently don’t have plans to head back in the near future, but the fact it’s so accessible makes it the perfect weekend break, so let’s see what happens… 👀 🪟 These are mostly a ‘through the window’ selection of photos 😂 Enjoy! #scottishislandsadventure #isleofbute #firthofclyde #sunsetphotography #throughthewindow #stblaneschapel #rothesay #scotlandtravel #weekendgetaway | Scottish Islands Adventure. Isle of Bute. Firth of Clyde. Weekend adventures. Scotland travel. Exploring Bute. |
📩 Newsletter dropping tomorrow ⤵️ ✌🏻 The first newsletter of 2024 is scheduled to land in your inboxes tomorrow! Subscribe now to ensure you’re among the first to get a sneak peek at my upcoming travel plans for the year, as well as the usual tips, insights and recommendations I include every month. 🗞️ My monthly newsletter contains info and news that you won’t find here on my Instagram page until much later, so if you like being the first to know the news, make sure you’re subscribed! #scottishislandsadventure #newslettersubscription #monthlynewsletter #isleofbute #mountstuart #beautifulgardens #scotlandtravel #scotlandisnow | Scottish Islands Adventure. Monthly newsletter. Subscribe for newsletter. Scottish islands. Exploring Scotland. |
✌🏻 Three exciting 2024 island adventures ⤵️ 1️⃣ 🔥 Experiencing Up Helly Aa in Lerwick at the end of January. It’s actually coming up fast! I’m excited for this unique event and can’t wait to see how it’s all carried out. I’m also looking forward to my first ever visit to the northern Scottish isles, and I’m really glad I’ll get to experience it all with my Mum! Keep your eyes peeled for pics and info, coming very soon. 2️⃣ ☀️ I adore the endless hazy* days of a Scottish summer, and I intend to make full use of the long daylight hours exploring the Small Isles in June. This is my first visit visiting the archipelago, and I’m keen to get an overview before going back in the future to experience them in more depth. I’m curious which my favourite will be! *Hazy due to midges, probably! 3️⃣ ⛵ Keen for a week long sailing adventure, departing from Oban and traversing the exciting waters around Mull and other Inner Hebridean islands. This will be my first real sailing holiday (all other sailing has been training so far!), and my first time away from the Clyde too. I wonder how different sailing will be away from my beloved stomping ground. ❓❓ What island experiences are you excited for in 2024? I’d love to hear what your plans are, and where you’re hoping to visit or explore! #scottishislandsadventure #uphellyaa #shetlandisles #smallisles #sailingadventures #yearoftravel #scotlandtravel #scotlandisnow #scottishislands | Scottish Islands Adventure. Shetland. Up Helly Aa. The Small Isles. Sailing holiday. Year of travel. Year of adventures. |
💃🏻 Happy New Year from Scottish Islands Adventure. May your 2024 be peaceful, and contain everything you could possibly hope for. 🫶🏻 #scottishislandsadventure #newyear #visitscotland #scotlandisnow #scotlandtravel #arran #firthofclyde #sailinglife #islandlife
💝 My favourite island of 2023 ⤵️ 💃🏻 I have been fortunate in 2023 to visit so many new islands and enjoy some wonderful adventures. However, if I think back over the year, my mind usually wanders to Coll. It has to be my favourite new island visited of the year. 🐚 With a necklace of beautiful sandy beaches, turquoise blue shores and a rugged interior, Coll really feels remote and wild. It is sparsely populated, adding to the feeling of being somewhere really special. Although my time there was limited, I visited six beaches, walked miles and drove the entirety of the island’s roads in a bid to see as much as possible and explore it as thoroughly as I could. 🌊 I’m already looking forward to a return trip to Coll in the future. It may not happen in 2024, but I’ve got a plan in the works for 2025 already… Yes, I really am that person who loves to plan years in advance! I intend to stay longer next time to really get under the skin of the island, and maximise my fun. 🤍 Have you been to Coll, or do you live there? Do you love it as much as I do? #isleofcoll #innerhebrides #scottishislandsadventure #scotlandtravel #scotlandexplore #islandlife | Scottish Islands Adventure. Coll. Inner Hebrides. Island adventures. Exploring Coll. Favourite island of 2023. |
Outdoors #outdoors #islandliving #islandlifeskye #islands #yourislands #yourhebrideanisland #scottishislands #scotland #scotland_greatshots #scotlandtravel #photooftheday #photography #photographylovers #sea #views #lenstime #lens #driftwood #edgeoftheworld #scotlandscenery #scottishislandsadventure
🥾 2023 Memories: Even on a gloomy day the Outer Hebrides never fails to amaze. 🚌 Outer Hebrides - Adventure & Explore 📍 Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris, Scotland. #scotland #visitscotland #outerhebrides #OuterHebridesAdventure #WalkingUK #ScottishIslesWalk #HebrideanHikes #ExploreScotland #NatureWalksUK #HebridesHoliday #UKWalkingTours #ScottishHighlandsWalk #IslandWalking #WalkScotland #HebridesExploration #ScottishIslandsAdventure #HikingHebrides #WildScotland #DiscoverOuterHebrides #ScotlandWalking #HebrideanJourney #ScottishNature #ScenicScotland #UKNatureWalks #HebridesExperience #ScottishWalks #OuterHebridesBeauty #HebridesEscape #WalkingScottishIsles #TranquilHebrides
3️⃣ Favourite island towns ⤵️ 🏘️ Some of the Scottish island towns and villages are really great. They’re filled with shops, cafes, pubs and other amenities, and they often are the very hub of island community, brimming with life. I adore popping into these towns and villages, always finding something to interest me without fail. But not all Scottish island towns and villages are created equally (sorry, not sorry!) and I definitely have my favourites… ⛵ Is any list of island towns complete without Tobermory? It’s an obvious choice, but I stand resolutely by it - I really do adore Tobermory and think it’s the epitome of an island town. Colourful houses, many fabulous shops to buy souvenirs and local goods, a distillery, an aquarium, a brewery and much more besides. It’s hard to get bored in Tobermory, and I am excited to return in 2024. 🏰 I love Lochranza, a small, relatively sleepy village located on the north end of Arran. It’s home to a ruined castle, which juts into the river estuary, as well as the best sandwich shop. It’s also the location of Arran’s whisky distillery. From Lochranza, it’s possible to do several really beautiful walks, and you can often spot seals basking on rocks at low tide, as well as the plentiful deer that live in the area. I’d choose to stay in Lochranza over Brodick every time! 🏡 Finally, Portree. The capital of Skye, and a deeply popular destination for many people. I really love the shorefront area, and there are so many great little cafes and shops to explore. If you’re in Portree, definitely take a stroll around the shore, or try the Isle of Skye Seafari Experience, which departs from the jetty in town. I’ve not been since 2020, and really long to return soon and spend more time exploring. 💜 What are your favourite island towns? I’m looking forward to seeing where I end up in 2024, & what other island towns & villages will capture my heart. #scottishislandsadventure #portree #isleofskye #tobermory #isleofmull #lochranza #isleofarran #scottishtowns #scotlandtravel #islandlife | Scottish Islands Adventure. Scottish island towns. Portree. Tobermory. Lochranza. Scottish towns. Visiting Scottish towns. Arran. Mull. Skye. |
🐴 Holy Isle, September 2023 ⤵️ 🚤 We got the dinghy out, a tiny cheap thing that couldn’t carry more than two people at a time. The outboard motor stuttered and started, and we made little headway against the tide. I was nearly hysterical with laughter at how pathetic the whole thing was as we toiled closer and closer to shore, leaving the yacht at anchor behind us. The whole thing felt ridiculously comical. 🫶🏻 Finally safely on land, we wandered the foreshore and watched the Eriskay ponies bask and bathe in the bright sunshine. A few leggy Soay sheep strolled amongst them. A delightful, almost pastoral scene, and the yacht only a stones throw from the beach. It felt so close I almost wanted to swim back, and avoid the hassle of the return dinghy. 💦 On the journey back to the yacht, we took on water, and I ended up so wet I might as well have swum! I was still chuckling at the unexpected adventure of the afternoon as I wrung out my t-shirt and socks and pulled on a spare dry pair of shoes. 🩵 Sometimes the best island visits are the short, sweet and unexpected ones. The ones where you laugh until you nearly cry, and make a happy memory that’ll stay locked away forever. Sunshine, sailboats, Soay sheep, and a soggy sorry dinghy. What could be better than that?! #scottishislandsadventure #lamlashbay #isleofarran #holyisle #firthofclyde #sailinglife #yachtlife #dinghylife #wildponies #scotlandisnow #scotlandtravel #sailingscotlandswestcoast | Scottish Islands Adventure. Holy Isle. Lamlash Bay. Sailing adventures. Yachting. Boat trips. Island adventures. |
❤️ A note on life ⤵️ 🌍 In the past two months, it has often felt difficult to continue posting as normal on Scottish Islands Adventure. With the atrocities that we’re witnessing in Ga za, carrying on with ‘life as normal’ has felt disingenuous, or even fake. I don’t post about Ga za on this account because I have a private IG account where I share my views on the situation, but I have acknowledged the situation here previously between posting content about my island trips. 💔 At the moment, it’s usually the gaps where I don’t post that you’ll get the strongest hint at how I feel about everything that is happening. I’ve not posted here since Wednesday because I’ve felt so uninspired, demotivated, sad, helpless and generally awful about what is happening right now in Ga za. Posting carefree island content when a gen0c1de is happening elsewhere in the world feels so off-kilter to me. So I take breaks and try to keep my mental health in check, while continuing to bear witness and do what I can to support the Pa1estinian people. 🫶🏻 If you feel similarly to me, and are finding the current situation hard, please know you’re not alone. Our government and the majority of others around the world are currently failing a population of 2 million people, and that is a really difficult thing to experience. But please keep showing up and doing what you can. Try to fight the feelings you might be experiencing and demonstrate, donate, petition, write to your MP, boycott, share, bear witness. We may feel helpless, but if enough of us pull together in solidarity and strength, then hopefully we can make impact and invoke change. 🖤 Remember, my DMs are open if you ever want to talk. The SIA community is extremely special to me. Let’s be here for one another during the best times while exploring the Scottish isles, but also during the darker times when the world feels scary and the helplessness is very real. 🇵🇸 🇵🇸 #scottishislandsadventure #mentalhealth #useyourvoice #freepalestine #ceasefirenow
🚨 Sign up today! 🗞️ 🔗 Link in bio 📰 Don’t forget I have a monthly newsletter, packed full of useful advice and tips for island travel, and anecdotes from my own trips. 🗓️The next newsletter is due to go out next Thursday, so subscribe today and don’t miss out! 📸 Rubh' an Eun Lighthouse, located at the southerly tip of Bute. #scottishislandsadventure #isleofbute #newslettersignup #newslettersubscription #lighthousephotography #firthofclyde #scotlandtravel #scottishislands #scotlandisnow | Scottish Islands Adventure. Newsletter sign up. Subscribe to newsletter. Island information. Scotland travel. |
🌅 The light! ⤵️ 🫶🏻 At this time of year it is crazy beautiful, and honestly one of my favourite things about winter island travel is getting to witness absolute scenes like this. ✨ If you visit Bute, get yourself to Ettrick Bay to catch your own epic sunset, and don’t forget to tag me in your pics! #scottishislandsadventure #isleofbute #ettrickbay #firthofclyde #sunsetphotography #sunsetscenes #sunsetscotland #scotlandtravel #seasidelife | Scottish Islands Adventure. Bute. Ettrick Bay. Winter sunsets. Firth of Clyde. Sunset scenes. |
⚓️ Adventure time! 🛥️ Do you want the most incredible adventure? Of course you do! Introducing the St Kilda archipelago, the ultimate Scottish Islands Adventure. Remote, rugged, wild, eerie and hard to reach, these islands are not for the faint hearted. But… If you do make it, visiting them is also a stunningly beautiful, breathtaking experience that you’ll be hard pressed to beat. Here’s what you need to know. 🩵 The easiest way to visit the islands is to take a day trip. There are trips departing from the Outer Hebrides (the closest inhabited islands to St Kilda) and also from Skye. Bear in mind that departure from Skye will include a considerably longer boat ride over potentially rough seas to reach St Kilda. From Harris, where I departed from, the boat trip took approximately two hours each way. 🩶 Once you arrive, you’ll take a tender to land on Hirta, the main island of the archipelago. There’ll be a warden there to meet you and explain a little about the island history, culture and wildlife. The best time of year to visit for great bird watching in the summer months, when puffins come to St Kilda in their droves! 🤍 It’s most likely you’ll have 3-5 hours to explore Hirta. It’s your own time - spend it however you want. I climbed to the highest point of the island, wandered the abandoned village and ate my picnic lunch. Make sure you take all your food and drink with you. There are no shops on Hirta, but there is a toilet. Be sure to dress warmly and bring waterproofs. 🖤 Once back on board your boat, it’s likely you’ll be taken around the other islands and stacs to see the birdlife and marvel at the splendour, before starting the return trip home. It’s a long day, with an early start time and you won’t arrive back until late, but it’s so worth it! St Kilda is one of the best adventures I’ve had in Scotland! #scottishislandsadventure #stkilda #boattrips #scottishislands #scotlandisnow #scotlandtravel #scotlandadventures | Scottish Islands Adventure. St Kilda archipelago. Boat trips. How to visit St Kilda. Best Scottish adventure. |
#portree #portreeharbour #portreeskye #portreescotland #skye #skyeisland #skyexperience #scottish #scottishislands #scottishislandspassport #scottishislandsadventure #scotlandshots #scotlandtravel #scotlandexplore #scotlandisnow #rabbies #rabbiestour #rabbiestours #rabbies_tours
🛋️ In stark contrast to last Saturday, where I froze and basically drowned in torrential rain on the boat, this Saturday I’ve literally not moved off my sofa! Not going to lie, this kind of lazy day has been exactly what I needed. 🌊 It ain’t always island adventures and sailing trips. Sometimes the best things are the quietest things, the slowest things and the most unassuming things. Sometimes, being at home all day, watching crap TV and eating brownies - that’s living. #scottishislandsadventure #sailingtrip #sailingyacht #boattrip #portbannatyne #scotlandisnow #scotlandtravel | Scottish Islands Adventure. Downtime. Sailing boat. Yachting. Boat trips. |
🌈 Can you spot the rainbow? 👈🏻 Throwback to my 2020 visit to Skye. I travelled there by public transport when I still lived in London, and enjoyed a few shining days on this most stunning of islands after months stuck in the city due to the pandemic. 🚌 On this particular day, I booked a minibus tour of the island and the weather chased us as we criss-crossed Skye looking at all the highlights. This was a lucky moment, where we paused to view the Quiraing and, looking to the right, saw a beautiful rainbow arcing over the landscape. ⛰️ I’ve been back to Skye only once since, a brief stop in 2021 which didn’t encompass much exploration. I don’t have plans to return anytime soon, but make no mistake, one day I will go back! #scottishislandsadventure #skye #isleofskye #innerhebrides #rainbowchaser #mountainscene #islandexploring #scotlandtravel #scotlandscenery #quiraing | Scottish Islands Adventure. Skye. Inner Hebrides. Island exploration. Island weather watch. Minibus tours of Skye. |
🤍 Six great things to know about when you visit Vatersay. 1️⃣ There is excellent hiking on Vatersay. It’s a small island, so in a short space of time you can see a lot! Check out the @walkhighlands website for the perfect circular walk encompassing the majority of the island. 2️⃣ The community cafe @vatersaycommunity sells really excellent cakes! Perfect for refuelling after a hike, swim or cycle. There’s also good parking there, and other handy facilities. 3️⃣ The beaches on Vatersay as superb. Truly, some of the best I’ve come across during all of my island travels. The sand is so white, I was literally blinded and had to put my sunglasses on! 4️⃣ You can find the famous Vatersay Boys here! They’re famous across Scotland and if you’re lucky you may enjoy an impromptu gig either on Vatersay itself, or at Castlebay Bar on Barra. 5️⃣ Vatersay is the site of the fatal Catalina plane crash, and you can still see the wreckage on the island. It’s possible to get down to it very easily and view it more closely, but remember to be respectful. 6️⃣ Hunt for the pink honesty shed! You’ll find treats inside, in the shape of baked goods, and they’re all really great! Pay £2-3 per item, and enjoy your treats on your hike, or later in the day. #scottishislandsadventure #vatersay #outerhebrides #hikingadventures #cakelovers #scotlandisnow #scotlandtravel #islandlife | Scottish Islands Adventure. Vatersay. Outer Hebrides. Hiking. Baked goods. |
☁️☁️ The weather closing in around Bute today, as seen from the good yacht Loralei as we sailed into Port Bannatyne. 🌧️ The weather was dreich today - wet wet wet. This was a brief calm spell during which we decided to cut our losses and head to the marina to take shelter and head to the pub 😂 ⛵️ Still drying off tbh, but all in all a good experience and a nice visit to The Anchor Tavern, a community owned pub which felt homely, cosy and infinitely welcoming after a chilly, damp to the bones day on the water. Who said sailing in November was a good idea?! 😅 #scottishislandsadventure #yachtlife #sailingyacht #sailingadventure #isleofbute #firthofclyde #portbannatyne #yachting | Scottish Islands Adventure. Sailing. Firth of Clyde. Isle of Bute. Port Bannatyne. Yacht sailing. |
📚 I love reading, and one of my favourite ways of planning my island trips is to read guidebooks to get inspiration and ideas on the things I want to do and where I want to go. These are the three books I use most often when planning my Scottish island travels. 📗 Rough Guides Scottish Highlands and Islands. Perfect for giving a detailed overview of the islands, including some of the key accommodation options, places to eat, things to explore and activities to do. I always use this as my starting point when planning trips to get top-level, easily digestible information. 📘 Bradt Outer Hebrides. Slightly more in-depth than the Rough Guide, with more specific information about the islands. This is the Outer Hebrides example, but they also sell guides for Orkney and the Inner Hebrides. I tend to use these for slightly more detailed tips and guidance. 📙 Scottish Islands by Hamish Haswell-Smith. The holy gospel for all things to do with the Scottish isles! I use this to find out very specific information about island histories, geographical features, sailing information and much more besides. Haswell-Smith has a few rather controversial opinions as to what constitutes an island, but there’s no denying his almanac is a mine of info! 📸 Kerrera, as seen from the Barra to Glasgow @flyloganair flight I took back in July. The window makes this unfortunately quite a grainy photo, but I love the view never the less, so am sharing anyway. #scottishislandsadventure #travelplanning #guidebooks #tripplanning #scotlandexplore #scotlandtravel #scottishislands | Scottish Islands Adventure. Guidebooks. Travel planning. Island trip planning. |
🐄 You’d better get moo-ving if you want to receive my FIRST newsletter, which is due to go out this week! ✨ 🙌🏻 Subscribe today (link in bio) and receive a fantastic monthly newsletter, containing all the tips and advice you need when exploring the Scottish isles. 🩵 You’ll also get EXCLUSIVE access to my SIA Island Guides. These contain all the information you need to plan the perfect island adventure. First up - Barra! #scottishislandsadventure #newslettersignup #subscribenow #scotlandtravel #beachvibes #cowsoninstagram #cowsonbeaches | Scottish Islands Adventure. Newsletter subscribe. |
🌅 This was one of my favourite moments in 2023. ⛵️ Sitting on deck by myself, having just finished dinner, waiting for the light to fade so we could begin our night passage around Holy Isle. We were on a mooring buoy, my first time sailing and not overnighting in a marina. It felt exciting - like I was finally properly ‘at sea’. ☀️ As the sun sank, the sky turned a fiery orange. The light changed, softened, a warm glow before dusk settled over us and began shrouding the mast in darkness. A quiet moment alone, while my fellow sailors were down below listening to soft music and washing dishes. 📸 I have better photos of this sunset, but this one, with the other yachts and the soft peachy ambience captures those few minutes the best. Literally seconds later, others came up on deck, and the spell was broken. Hustle and bustle once more as we readied for our night passage. #scottishislandsadventure #arran #firthofclyde #holyisle #sunsetsky #yachtinglife #sailingyacht #scotlandtravel | Scottish Islands Adventure. Sailing. Yachts. Sunset photography. Arran. Holy Isle. Firth of Clyde. |
[Save for inspo!] 🏆 I’ve eaten some amazing food this year, and when I explore the Scottish islands, eating well is a big part of my trips. Fortunately, there are many wonderful eateries to choose from on the islands, from cafes and restaurants to pubs, chocolatiers, cheesemongers & many more besides. Here are just three of the delicious dishes I’ve eaten this year from the islands! 🧁 This epic Terry’s chocolate orange slice was from @vatersaycommunity It was huge. It was mouth watering. It lasted me three whole days. It had me running back to my car for another bite. It even had its own Instagram Stories dedicated to it! I literally could not get enough. I dubbed it the King of Cakes. Honestly, if you’re ever at the Vatersay Community Cafe and you spot this delectable slice, buy it immediately, without hesitation and savour it. 🥪 The first sandwich (in the picture) from The Sandwich Station in Lochranza was so good that I went back two days later and bought another. This was the vegan option when I visited Arran in May. Weighty and full of flavour, it made for the most perfect of picnics on my day trip to Holy Isle. Eating this with that view and the sound of Eriskay ponies munching grass a few metres away was pure bliss. Make sure you check out this fabulous sandwich shop when you visit Arran, you will go away fully satisfied. 🍨 During a rainy day on Tiree, I popped into @alanstevensonhouse for a late lunch. Not only did I enjoy the tastiest homemade veggie burger with great chips, but I also got to sample this absolute treat of a dessert. Sticky toffee pud is always going to win me over, but this one was particularly good, with whisky toffee sauce and that soft scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side just melting gently alongside. I could’ve eaten another, and then some! #scottishislandsadventure #eatingout #scottishfood #scottishfoodie #scotlandfoodies #scotlandtravel | Scottish Islands Adventure. Eating out. Food recommendations. Scottish island food. |
🫶🏻 Three of the best things I did while on Barra, all of which I’d recommend to you if you visit! 🎉 👌🏻 Watching the planes at Barra Airport. It’s so fun seeing them come into land on the beach, and I always think the pilots are so talented. It’s a great way to pass time and get some interesting photos too. 🛬 🙌🏻 Going to @castlebay.hotel and having a pre-dinner drink in their conservatory while enjoying the wonderful views across the bay. I’d recommend going when the ferry is due, so you can watch it come in and berth. 🚢 👏🏻 Taking a long walk along Eolaigearraidh Beach. It’s honestly a picture perfect beach, and despite the howling gale when I was there, I thoroughly enjoyed my stroll. What a beautiful stretch of pristine, blinding white sand, perfect for exploration. 🌊 #scottishislandsadventure #barra #outerhebrides #scottishislandlife #barraairport #castlebay #scotlandisnow #scotlandtravel | Scottish islands. Barra. Walking. Plane spotting. Outer Hebrides. |
Beautiful glass chopping boards with our local artists print of @hannanobleart of the Main Street here in Tobermory Available in two sizes #tobermory #isleofmull #scotland #innerhebridesofscotland #westcoast #islandlife #rurallife #artist #bakery #scotland_insta #scotlandhighlands #scottishislandsadventure #localartist #smallbusiness #shopsmall
⚡️ When planning a trip to any island, there’s always the possibility that there could be ferry issues. It’s a fact of life that disruption happens, sometimes caused by adverse weather or mechanical malfunctions. It helps to be prepared and ready should this happen. 🖤 I’ve certainly encountered my fair share of problems when travelling to the islands. Sometimes the problems are even caused by my own mistakes, like the time I misread a status update and missed my ferry as a result. 👍🏻 Mistakes aside, I’m well versed in island travel, and I’ve compiled my five top pieces of advice for travelling to the islands, helping you stay relaxed and calm should your plans go unexpectedly awry. ✅ Get live status updates from X (formerly Twitter). ✅ Download the ferry apps for up to date information. ✅ Have a whole holiday contingency plan in your back pocket! Yes, really!* ✅ Be ready for adverse conditions on board your ferry. ✅ Prepare for a potentially longer island stay. 🌧️ *I’ve literally had to reschedule an entire island holiday at a moment’s notice due to a storm that caused widespread, prolonged ferry cancellations. Nowadays, I usually find a few potential accommodation options in or around the ferry departure port so I have a back up plan if I need one. If I’m travelling in winter, I’m likely to go as far as planning a whole other ‘ghost’ holiday just in case it’s needed. #scottishislandsadventure #islandtravel #travelpreparation #scottishwinter #holidayplanning #scotlandisnow #scotlandtravel | Winter island travelling. Scottish islands. Holiday planning. Island travel preparedness. |
🎃 Happy Halloween! 💀 I’ve been to a few eerie places on my Scottish island travels. For me, ‘eerie’ isn’t ghost stories or spooks, it’s an energy that you pick up in a place. ☠️ It’s that prickle between the shoulder blades when you turn your head, or the feeling you can’t shake that you’re being watched. It’s a deep silence, as if a breath is being held. It’s the ruins of a castle where you can almost hear the sounds of long-past battles. The remains of cottages which once housed people just like you and me, as they struggled to eke out an existence on a hostile island. The mist shrouding a standing stone, closing around you on a deserted hillside, rendering you truly alone. It’s the fancy that somehow, in this place, the veil between this living world and another world of whispers and memories is thinner than normal. 🔮 Do you ever get that? Do you ever experience ‘eerie’? 📸 Locations: 1. Castle Tioram, on Eilean Tioram in Loch Moidart. 2. The Storr, Isle of Skye 3. The remains of the village on Hirta, St Kilda archipelago #scottishislandsadventure #spookyscottishislands #isleofskye #castletioram #stkildascotland #spookyscotland #halloweenscares #scottishcastles | Halloween. Spooky season. Scottish islands. Spooky Scottish islands. Scottish Islands Adventure. |
We take coffee making seriously, to ensure you get the best coffee at an affordable price! A great cup of coffee shouldn’t be a luxury but something to be enjoyed regularly!! Enjoy one of our seasonal drinks, ranging from spiced pumpkin to mulled spices We have something for everyone! #coffee #bakery #islandlife #isleofmull #tobermory #scotlandhighlands #scottishhighlands #bakerlife #bakefromscratch #smallbusiness #shoplocal #scottishislandsadventure #scotland_insta #hiddenscotland #islandhopping #innerhebrides #matthewalgiecoffee #seasonal #pumpkinspice #autumnvibes
🎉 Exciting news alert! 🎉 💃🏻 You can now subscribe to the Scottish Islands Adventure monthly newsletter! 🪩 Sign up and receive exclusive access to the brand new SIA Monthly Island Guides that will ONLY be available via the newsletter. ✨ These in-depth island guides contain all the tips, information, and advice you need to plan a perfect Scottish Island Adventure of your very own. ✅ Tick something off your to-do list before you even knew you needed to do it, and make sure you subscribe today! [Link in bio] 📸 Tiree, at sunset. #scottishislandsadventure #tiree #sunsetphotography #newslettersignup #scottishislandsadventureguides #scotlandisnow #scotlandtravel | Scottish Islands Adventure. Scottish islands. Island Guides. Newsletter sign up. Product. |
👋🏻 Hello!! I’m Bethen, the face behind the scenes! 💃🏻 Welcome to Scottish Islands Adventure, where I bring you along with me as I explore everything the Scottish isles have to offer and provide insights, tips and advice to help make planning your own trips as smooth as possible. 🚀 There are 600+ of you following along now, which is amazing!! Thank you for joining me as I journey to the islands! Let me introduce myself: 🏴 I moved to Scotland in March 2022, having previously fallen in love with the country during trips in 2020 and 2021. I started exploring the islands in earnest at the end of 2022, and so far have visited 28 islands. ⛵️ I am currently learning to sail yachts in my spare time, which I love!! I’m also planning to complete my power boat course in 2024 so I can skipper small RIBs. By the end of 2024, I’ll have completed my Day Skipper and will be able to charter yachts if I wish!! 🍰 I’m a vegetarian who loves cake! I’m always on the lookout for awesome veggie options when I visit the islands, and never say no to a sweet treat! I try to share what I eat on my trips, and I share small businesses too, as I’m passionate about supporting them! 📸 Taken by my friend Sabina on the Isle of Bute. #scottishislandsadventure #isleofbute #portraitphotography #visitscotland #scottishislands | Scottish Islands Adventure. Scotland. Scottish islands. Outdoor adventures. |
Fairy pools #fairypools #fairypoolsisleofskye #isleofskye #officialisleofskye #skyeisland #islandliving #islandlifeskye #islands #innerhebrides #scotland #scotlandswild #scotlandexplore #hiddenscotland #scottishislands #scottishislandsadventure #adventure #explore #mountains #thecuillins #cuillins #cuillinridge #hills #river #magical
🪝 It’s actually quite difficult to get as up close and personal with the islands in the Forth as I’d like! ⚓️ Of the inner firth islands, only two are easily accessible - Inchcolm and Cramond. The others - Inchmickery, Inchgarvie and Inchkeith - are less easy to reach. 🚤 That’s why when I saw that @edinburghmarineacademy offer a 2 hour island and bridge’s tour, I immediately booked a ticket. In a RIB, it’s easier to get that little bit closer to the islands you can’t land on, and see them in a bit more detail. I got up close with both Inchmickery and Inchgarvie today (as well as Inchcolm), and learned a lot too! We had a great skipper today who was so knowledgable about the area and made the trip really interesting and enjoyable. 🛶 I’m still looking for more ways to explore the Firth of Forth and the islands. Kayak, yacht, RIB, other tour boats… If you have any tips, hit me up! Next island I’m aiming to get a bit closer to - Inchkeith… #firthofforth #forthrailbridge #scottishislandsadventure #inchgarvieisland #visitedinburgh #southqueensferry #boattour | Firth of Forth. Scottish islands. Uninhabited islands. Boat trip. |
⬇️ What’s coming next for Scottish Islands Adventure? ⬇️ ❄️ With autumn on its way and the slide into winter, as well as having other commitments, my trips to the Scottish islands will be dwindling until January. I have one more boat trip planned for this coming weekend to further explore the islands of the Firth of Forth, and then no island visits arranged until late January 2024. 👀 This doesn’t mean SIA will be resting on its laurels though! I’ve got BIG plans for the coming months, most of which I’ll be keeping under wraps until the time is right to share more detail. Watch this space - my lovely Instagram community will be the first people to hear about anything new coming in the pipeline!! 🪩 In the meantime, I have so much more content to share from my 2023 island trips - I’ve barely touched on the islands in the Firth of Clyde, and there’s heaps I want to post about from my most recent Hebridean adventure. So stay tuned and enjoy the upcoming posts, reels and stories! 🫶🏻 Lastly, it only leaves me to say THANK YOU to you, the lovely SIA Instagram community who like and comment and share my posts and send me lovely messages. I’m so glad you like my content and I hope you’ll be as excited as me when you see what’s coming next! 📸 Tiree, at sunset, taken when I visited back in August. #tiree #sunsetphotography #beachsunset #scottishislandsadventure #innerhebrides #your_hebrides | Scottish islands. Tiree. Scottish Islands Adventure. |
🌊 Capturing a moment; a freeze frame in time. 🫧 Memories from a trip that wasn’t always easy, but that held great beauty, many delights and the usual island wonders nevertheless. ✨ Think friendly locals, delicious food, stunning cakes, endless beaches, crystal clear waters, fabulous wildlife spotting and many, many cows… 🐮👀 💕 That’s the Scottish islands for you - they can throw difficulties your way one minute, and the next you turn around and there’s another new wonder appearing over the horizon that proves they’re some of the best places in the entire world. 🪄 Their capricious nature is what makes them… Magical. I wouldn’t have them any other way. #scottishislandsadventure #waveafterwave #visitscotland #eriskay #outerhebrides #beachlife | Scottish islands. Scottish beaches. Outer Hebrides. |
‼️ Read caption for Vatersay beach recs!! 🙈 I feel like this was one of those Instagram vs. Reality moments. ✨ Photo 1: This is the Insta-famous gate at Traigh a Bhaigh on Vatersay that has its own hashtag. There are many countless beautiful shots taken here, depicting white sand, cloudless blue skies, turquoise sparkling water… And although people often tag it as on Barra, it is definitely on Vatersay!! 🩵 Don’t get me wrong, while this is a beautiful part of the island, it was by no means my favourite beach, and for me, the gate was a little underwhelming. The weather didn’t play ball either and I ended up with dishwater grey skies, as you can see! 🫶🏻 I much preferred the following two beaches, both of which had fewer or no people on them: 🦀 Photo 2: Taigh Sanna to the north-east of the island. Small, but stunning! 🦞 Photo 3: Bagh A’Deas where you might find cows enjoying a beach stroll! #vatersaygate #vatersay #outerhebrides #your_hebrides #scottishislandsadventure #beachlife #visitscotland #scotlandisnow #scotlandscenery | Vatersay. Scotland. Beaches. Scottish islands. Scottish beaches.
🦞These lobster pots might look aesthetically pleasing but honestly?! They stank! Made for a nice photo though 🦀 #barra #scottishislandsadventure #visitscotland #scotlandisnow #scotlandtravel #scottishbeaches #beachlife #lobsterfishing