What are the four main Scottish island groups?
A lot of people are shocked when they discover that Scotland has over 900 offshore islands. Each of the islands are found in four main groups: Shetland, Orkney, the Inner Hebrides and the Outer Hebrides. Each island boasts a unique character, yet they are all equally as breathtaking.
What are the group of islands in Scotland called?
Hebrides
The Hebrides (/ˈhɛbrɪdiːz/; Scottish Gaelic: Innse Gall, pronounced [ˈĩːʃə ˈkaul̪ˠ]; Old Norse: Suðreyjar, “southern isles”) are an archipelago off the west coast of mainland Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. They are part of Scotland, as the Northern Isles also are.
How many Scotland islands are there?
790 islands
Scotland has over 790 islands, most of which are to be found in several distinct main groups. Each of these groups consist of many smaller and larger islands from which the largest inhabited islands, and St Kilda, are featured below.
What are the main islands of Scotland?
The island of Lewis and Harris is the largest island in Scotland in both area and population.
- Lewis and Harris. It is the most populous Scottish island.
- Mainland, Shetland.
- Mainland, Orkney.
- Skye.
- Isle of Bute.
- Arran.
- Islay.
- Mull.
What is the best Scottish island to visit?
We recommend visiting one or two islands and coming back next year to visit a few more!
- Arran. Our journey begins on the incredible island of Arran.
- Bute. Our second Scottish island is beautiful Bute.
- Islay & Jura.
- Colonsay.
- Mull.
- Rum & Canna.
- Skye & Raasay.
- North & South Uist.
What is Scotland’s second biggest island?
Shetland
Largest Scottish islands by population
| Rank | Island | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | ||
| 1 | Lewis and Harris | 21,031 |
| 2 | Mainland, Shetland | 18,765 |
| 3 | Mainland, Orkney | 17,162 |
What is Scotland’s biggest island?
Lewis and Harris
The largest island is Lewis and Harris which extends to 2,179 square kilometres, and there are a further 200 islands which are greater than 40 hectares in area. Of the remainder, several such as Staffa and the Flannan Isles are well known despite their small size.
Which is the best Scottish island to visit?
Scotland’s best islands
- Five top-rated Scottish islands.
- Orkney 88%
- Shetland 86%
- Harris, Outer Hebrides 85%
- Islay, Inner Hebrides 85%
- Mull, Inner Hebrides 85%
Is Skye still an island?
The Island of Skye is 50 miles long and the largest of the Inner Hebrides. The capital is Portree. Villages in the north of the Island include Dunvegan, Edinbane, Uig and Staffin. Notable villages in the south of Skye include Broadford, Armadale, Carbost, Elgol and Kyleakin.
What is the most westerly island in Scotland?
Location. Ardnamurchan Point lies at the western end of the Ardnamurchan peninsula in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. Ardnamurchan Lighthouse is located on the Point, just over 1 km north of Corrachadh Mòr, the most westerly point on the island of Great Britain, which is a few metres further west than the Point.
Which Scottish island is the most beautiful?
Considered one of the most picturesque and majestic islands in Scotland, Skye is world famous for its beautiful scenery and breathtaking landscapes. From the crystal clear waters of the famous ‘Fairy Pools’, to the peaks of the Cuillin Munros, Skye is an adventure enthusiast’s playground.
Which is the largest island group in Scotland?
Main islands Island Group Area ( ha) Height (m) Last inhabited Ardwall Isle Islands of Fleet 22 34 18th century? Barlocco Isle Islands of Fleet 10 10 Inhabitation unlikely Big Scare Solway Firth <1 21 Inhabitation very unlikely Boreray St Kilda 77 384 Iron Age?
What are the names of the South Shetland Islands?
The South Shetland Islands extend about 450 km (280 mi) from Smith Island and Low Island in the west-southwest to Elephant Island and Clarence Island in the east-northeast. Various volcanoes with activity in the Quaternary exist in the islands.
Which is the main island north of Scotland?
The Shetland Scottish Islands are a subarctic archipelago North of Scotland. Its main isle is called Mainland. Archeological sites, Cliffs, wildlife, fort, Mainland has it all.
How many islands are there in the Scottish Isles?
Some 94 Scottish islands are permanently inhabited, of which 89 are offshore islands. Between 2001 and 2011 Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702. The geology and geomorphology of the islands is varied. Some, such as Skye and Mull are mountainous, while others like Tiree and Sanday are relatively low lying.