19-07-2025
Scotland's eight ultimate island-hopping trips with hidden-gem beaches on-par with the Caribbean
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ISLE BE THERE Scotland's eight ultimate island-hopping trips with hidden-gem beaches on-par with the Caribbean
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ISLAND expert Steve Mathieson stood on the iconic Shetland beach of St Ninian's on Midsummer's Day and realised he had this incredible tourist attraction all to himself.
The Shetland Development Manager for VistScotland has lived on our most northerly outpost for the last 21 years, but even he was amazed that he was the only person at the scenic spot on that sunny day in June.
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Easdale Island is among the little-known trips
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The beautiful Isle of Canna
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Steve Mathieson is an isles expert
And that's why he firmly believes Scotland is more than a match for Greece and the Caribbean when it comes to Island hopping.
He said: 'If you've never heard of St Ninian's you will have most definitely seen pictures of it as it is one of Scotland's most iconic beaches.
'It's this incredible stretch of golden sand that connects St Ninian's Isle to the south mainland, which is actually called a tombolo.
'But there I was on Midsummer's Day, on the most popular beach in the Shetlands, all by myself.
'You just won't get that anywhere else - certainly not in the Caribbean or Greece.
'People talk about wellness and slow tourism, well nowhere does that better than the Scottish islands. These are the places you really can come to relax.'
VisitScotland has now compiled a top 10 of Scots isles - many of which are little known - which they insist have unbeatable landscapes and scenery.
Steve, 64, said: 'Island visits are becoming more popular particularly since Covid where people want to explore more remote areas at home.
'But our isles are incredibly diverse as you've got the west coast with the likes of Arran and Mull right up to Orkney and Shetland.
'They've all got their individual characteristics, with varied history and archaeology, as the Northern Isles have more of a Viking heritage while the West Coast has more of a Celtic background.'
Luskentyre Beach: Scotland's Gem Among World's Best
Steve maintains our isles can also offer tourism favourites like whale watching and water sports.
He said: 'Our wildlife is absolutely spectacular. Shetland is becoming very well known for orca sightings while we also have the densest population of otters in the whole of Europe.
'On the West Coast, you'll see golden eagles and white-tailed sea eagles and Scotland also has absolutely world-class seabird colonies.
'We're also becoming renowned for being a kayak destination, with kayakers able to explore caves and the inlets - on a beautiful calm day there's nothing better to do.'
And while our sunnier rivals' hot spots boast picture postcard beach scenes, Steve reckons Scotland's vastly different geology offers more variety.
He explains: 'Our islands are very varied from a geology point of view as Shetland is actually a part of the Appalachian mountain chain that goes right across from America to Norway.
'While we're also on the Great Glen Fault line which means that we get the occasional earth tremor.
'But the thing about our islands is that they all look very different.'
HOP TO IT
ADVENTUROUS visitors have traditionally skipped between the Greek isles of Mykonos, Santorini and Crete or jumped between the British Virgin Islands, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
But VisitScotland chiefs have compiled a top 10 list of island escapes that they claim can also rival their sunnier rivals for golden sands.
Chief Features Writer MATT BENDORIS checks out the top isles to hop between this summer.
1 - Gigha: Famous for its turquoise seas, white beaches, and vibrant gardens.
2 - The Slate Islands (Seil, Easdale & Luing): Easy to reach and full of heritage, wildlife, and local colour.
3 - Colonsay: Golden sands, scenic cycling, and delicious local food and drink.
4 - Jura: Wild and remote, home to stunning landscapes, rare wildlife, and legendary spirits.
5 - Eigg: Known for the dramatic Sgùrr of Eigg, Singing Sands, wildlife, and vibrant music scene.
6 - Lismore: 'The Great Garden' of Loch Linnhe, ideal for walkers, cyclists, and heritage explorers.
7 - Eriskay: Renowned for its white beaches, native Eriskay ponies, and links to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the film classic Whisky Galore.
8 - Canna: A peaceful haven for wildlife watching, wildflower meadows, and centuries of island history.
9 - Unst: The UK's northernmost island, celebrated for its Norse heritage, wildlife, and stargazing opportunities.
10 - Isle of May: A Firth of Forth gem, home to spectacular seabird colonies and rich natural history.
When it comes to offering visitors a warm welcome, Steve believes that's where islanders really come into their own.
He said: 'Scotland is probably known worldwide for giving tourists a really friendly welcome.
'But I think on the islands in particular, people love to show them off to visitors with all they have to offer.'
And when the mercury hits the late 20s with the sun splitting the sky, as it did last weekend, Steve believes that our golden beaches and turquoise seas really do top the lot.
He boasts: 'When it's hot and sunny, our islands not only rival other beaches around the world, they can outmatch them.
'That's because they have got the lot from beautiful scenery, great coastline, incredible wildlife, and more importantly, no crowds.'
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The Isle of May is great for wildlife-spotting
