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Hotels, Inns and B&B Accommodation by
Town and Village on the Scottish Islands

Hotels, Inns and B&B Accommodation on the Scottish Islands

There are four significant groups of Scottish Islands each with their own personality and all of which are popular tourist destinations! Then there is the fun of getting here, planning routes and stopovers, checking ferries or sorting flight times. For those who just want an easier time of it then there are several Tour Operators and Specialists who can plan your Island Hopping Trip for you.

The Hebrides

The Hebrides are two groups of islands that lie off the west coast of Scotland. They are popular tourist destinations and have a reputation for stunning views and superb bio-diversity.

The Outer Hebrides (also known as the Western Isles) are a chain of islands separated from the Scottish mainland and from the Inner Hebrides by the waters of the Minch, the Little Minch and the Sea of the Hebrides. There are some 15 inhabited islands and more than 50 substantial uninhabited islands in a chain that runs for approximately 130 miles.

From north to south the main islands are the Isle of Lewis and the Isle of Harris (actually one island called Lewis and Harris with Harris being the southern part), Taransay, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, Barra, Vatersay and Mingulay. The Outer Hedbrides are home to fantastic landscapes, stunning beaches, rare wildlife habitats, archaeological sites (including the Callanish Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis) and the famous Harris Tweed.

Popular Destinations on the Isle of Lewis:

• Hotels and Inns in Stornoway - Isle of Lewis
• Hotels and Inns in Tarbert - Isle of Harris

The Inner Hebrides are a more scattered group of islands that lie to the southeast of the Outer Hebrides, just off the west coast of Scotland. There are 35 inhabited islands and more than 40 substantial uninhabited islands. The Isle of Skye is the largest island of the group, accessible by road bridge it has a variety of landscapes and is popular with a wide range of visitors, including serious climbers and walkers and those not so. The Isles of Mull and Arran are particularly noted for their mountain scapes, beaches and superb Wildlife Habitats.

From north to south the main islands are the Isle of Skye (reachable by road from Mainland Scotland), Isle of Rum, Isle of Eigg, Coll, Tiree, Isle of Mull, Colonsay, Jura, Islay and the Isles of Arran and Bute.

• Hotels and Inns in Broadford - Isle of Skye
• Hotels and Inns in Dunvegan - Isle of Skye
• Hotels and Inns in Isleornsay - Isle of Skye
• Hotels and Inns in Portree - Isle of Skye
• Hotels and Inns in Staffin - Isle of Skye

• Hotels and Inns in Tobermory - Isle of Mull

• Hotels and Inns in Brodick - Isle of Arran
• Hotels and Inns in Lamlash - Isle of Arran

Orkney

Orkney comprises approximately 70 islands, of which 20 are inhabited. They lie some 10 miles north of the Caithness Coast in Northern Scotland. The largest island, known as the "Mainland" is the sixth largest Scottish island and the tenth-largest island in the British Isles.

The islands have been inhabited for at least 8,500 years and contain some of the oldest and best-preserved Neolithic sites in Europe. In addition there are remnants of numerous Pictish and Viking constructions. Four of the main Neolithic sites are included in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site.

In addition to the Mainland, most of the islands are in two groups, the North and South Isles. The key islands to the north of the Mainland are North Ronaldsay, Sanday. Westray, Papa Westray, Eday, Rousay, Egilsay, Gairsay, Stronsay and Shapinsay. While the major islands south of the Mainland are Hoy, Flotta and South Ronaldsay.

• Hotels and Inns in Kirkwall - Orkney Islands
• Hotels and Inns in Orphir - Orkney Islands

The Shetland Islands

The Shetland Islands are a group of about 100 islands that lie some 50 miles to the northeast of Orkney some 110 miles north of mainland Scotland and like the Orkneys the largest island is known simply as "the Mainland".

Only 16 islands are inhabited of which the Mainland dominates the southern part of the archipelago with the islands of Yell, Unst, and Fetlar to the north, Bressay, Whalsay and the Out Skerries to the east, East and West Burra, Muckle Roe, Papa Stour, Trondra and Vaila to the west. Some 17 miles to the west of the Mainland is the Island of Foula with Fair Isle some 34 miles south of the Mainland.

• Hotels and Inns in Lerwick - Shetland Isles
• Hotels and Inns in Tingwall - Shetland Isles

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Hotels, Inns and B&B Accommodation by
Town and Village on the Scottish Islands