Scotland has over 790 offshore islands, most of which are to be found in four main groups: Shetland, Orkney, and the Hebrides, sub-divided into the Inner Hebrides and Outer Hebrides.
What are the islands next to Scotland called?
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 islands are off the coast of Scotland?
ISLANDS
- Hebrides.
- Isle of Mull.
- Isle of Iona.
- Isle of Coll.
- Small Isles.
- Isle of Skye.
What are the 3 main groups of islands in Scotland?
Most of Scotland’s islands are found in 3 main areas, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands and the Hebrides. However, there are also clusters in the Firth of Clyde, Firth of Forth and within bodies of fresh water such as Loch Lomond.
What is the group of islands in Scotland called?
The Hebrides
The Hebrides (/ˈhɛbrɪdiːz/; Scottish Gaelic: Innse Gall, pronounced [ˈĩːʃə ˈkaul̪ˠ]; Old Norse: Suðreyjar, “southern isles”) are an archipelago off the west coast of the Scottish mainland. The islands fall into two main groups, based on their proximity to the mainland: the Inner and Outer Hebrides.
Which is a large island off the coast of Scotland?
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.
What are the Hebrides famous for?
The Hebrides are where much of Scottish Gaelic literature and Gaelic music has historically originated. Today, the economy of the islands is dependent on crofting, fishing, tourism, the oil industry, and renewable energy.
Do I need a car to visit Orkney Islands?
How to get around the Orkney Islands. I would 100% recommend hiring a car to travel around the Orkney Islands. Taxis are available but you really need your own wheels to see this beautiful island properly.
Do you need a car to visit Orkney?
Most people arrive in Orkney with their own vehicle and it can be hugely beneficial when it comes to ticking off all the sites on your island itinerary. Most of our roads are relatively quiet, although things are slightly busier in places like Kirkwall.
Which is 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 the name for a cluster of islands?
An archipelago is an area that contains a chain or group of islands scattered in lakes, rivers, or the ocean.
Do people live on the Isle of Skye?
Much of the population is spread in rural areas. Portree in the north of the Isle of Skye is the largest town with a population of over 2,000, other significant settlements include Broadford, Dunvegan and Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye, and Plockton, and Kyle of Lochalsh on the main land.
What are the islands called on the west of Scotland?
The Outer Hebrides or Western Isles, as they are alternatively known, are situated on the extreme North West of Scotland. The Hebrides are known as the “long island” as they stretch for over a 100 miles. The islands are steeped in history and culture, ranging back thousands of years.
What language is spoken in the Outer Hebrides?
Gaelic
Gaelic is the first language of the Outer Hebrides. Today the islands are the main stronghold of this lyrical language in Scotland, and one of the few places you’ll hear it spoken as you travel around – on the croft, in church, in a café or on the ferry.
Who owns Outer Hebrides?
Scotland
The Western Isles became part of the Norse kingdom of the Suðreyjar, which lasted for over 400 years, until sovereignty over the Outer Hebrides was transferred to Scotland by the Treaty of Perth in 1266.
What is the island between Scotland and Iceland?
Faroe Islands
Located half way between Scotland and Iceland in the Northeast Atlantic, the Faroe Islands are an archipelago of 18 mountainous islands, with a total land area of 1,399 square kilometres, a sea area of 274,000 square kilometres and a population of 50,000.
What is Scotland’s prettiest island?
Skye. No list of Scotland’s most beautiful islands would be complete without the Isle of Skye, surely the most famous and spectacular of them all.
How many islands make up Scotland?
3.1 General overview of Scotland’s islands. Scotland has over 790 offshore islands, with 93 of those inhabited.
What’s a good Scottish name for a girl?
Scottish baby girl names are imbued with strength, history, and tap into a liveliness of culture that is simply unforgettable.
- Cameron.
- Isla.
- Carson.
- Bryce.
- Elsie.
- Maisie.
- Makenzie.
- Davina.
Does anyone live in the Outer Hebrides?
The Outer Hebrides, also known as The Western Isles, is an island chain off the north west coast of Scotland. They are made up of more than 70 islands, of which only 15 are inhabited.
What is the best time of year to visit the Outer Hebrides?
The best time to go to the Hebrides is between April and October when the weather is most stable and mild, and almost all trips operate only in this window.