Scottish Islands

Unlike the other virtual journeys we'll be starting this one in Glasgow.  So if you are in London you'll need to hop on a virtual train or plane and get yourself North to join us.  Why Glasgow?  Most of the islands we'll be seeing can be reached from here by plane, or train (and boat).
Lets start with the airport.  See that big gleaming new terminal? Well its not that one.  We want the rather basic one next to it.  Which plane?  Well see that medium sized one?  Its the little one beside it - the Twin Otter that half a dozen of us are now queuing to board.  The pilot turns on his chair to give a safety briefing, then swivels back, flicks some switches and away we go.  We never quite make it above the clouds but from the radar screen we can see the headlands and islands pass below.  And then under an hour later we drop below the clouds to see a beautiful white beach.  We've reached Tiree.  Tap or click and take a full circuit of this beautiful island.
Tiree

Time for another flight - a slightly bigger plane this time, heading up to Sumburgh Head - the nearest part of Shetland.  Again we never quite make it above the clouds, and its a bit bumpy as we drop down through them.  A dark neck of land appears with a very short stretch of lights across it.  Miraculously the plane stops before falling off into the sea, but now there is a three hour wait for a bus.  Thankfully a kind local offers a lift to Lerwick, where we get to spend a couple of days exploring.

Lerwick painted in oil by Richard Paul
For Orkney we can either take another small plane direct to Kirkwall, or trundle all the way up to Thurso for the evening ferry to Stromness.  Either way there is plenty to explore when we get there, including this beach looking out onto Scapa Flow.  With a few more pictures I can tell you about the ancient standing stones and monuments, the Sunday ferry round the islands, and perhaps the hares of Hoy watching every move as we climb the hills.  But for now it will just be this pristine beach.
Waulkmill Beach

The flight back to Glasgow is fine to start, but the city is gripped by squalls, and our plane dances through them leaving our stomachs somewhere on the ceiling.  Its a relief when we drop out of the sky and onto the runway.  So for our next island, lets take a train to Ardrossan and a large ferry across to Arran.


We spot the chocolate shop straight away, and make a note to stock up on handmade treats on the way back.  There are many walks we can do, and a good bus service to take us around the island.  We could head to Lochranza for a tour of the distillery, or perhaps head across to Blackwaterfoot to investigate stone circles and caves used by early man.  Does that aperture look like a whisky still? or is it just me thinking of that tour we could have done?

Blackwaterfoot

Time for another flight, and the largest plane so far.  This one gets above the clouds and so its a smooth ride all the way to Stornoway.  A local provides a lift and we are soon in the centre of town (not that there is much centre).


A stroll round the castle grounds is interrupted by midges, so we retreat to the Woodland Centre for a salad with local hot smoked salmon (which tastes amazing).  What more can we do on 150 miles of islands?  Click or tap to read more...

Outer Hedbrides

So what happened to Skye? it is after all the biggest Scottish Isle.  Well with the bridge now connecting it to the mainland, the most practical way to reach it is overland rather than air or sea - and so I've included it in the Highlands journey.  So much for the romance of a wee bonny boat there then, but that is still an option for those who seek it out.


There are plenty more islands out there, and plenty of interesting tales I could tell about my journeys round them, but that's all for now.  Pootle back South to London, and click or tap you way on another virtual adventure...