Islands in Britain
Islands in Britain
Great Britain and the British Isles are a collection of islands. Over 6,000 of them in fact though sources vary from 6,289 [1] to 7,700 [2] islands in total.
Most are uninhabited. In fact, only 189 islands are large enough to be permanently populated.
Britain itself is the largest island in Europe and the 9th largest island in the world.
See a list of some of the most beautiful islands in Britain to visit.
The Northern Isles
The Northern Isles are made up of the main islands of the Orkney and Shetland archipelagos, located off the northeast coast of Scotland.
Orkney Islands
Where the dramatic coastline of northern Scotland ends, here the ocean begins. And embedded just offshore - like green jewels on a storm-tossed sea of blue - lie the bountiful islands of Orkney.
This small archipelago may cover less than 1000 square kilometers, but it has long played an instrumental role in the life and times of the region. Indeed, Orkney's unique diversity comes from its history of immigration, with successive waves of seafaring settlers attracted to its strategically sited shores.
Nature lovers from around the globe are drawn to Orkney because of the abundance of birds and marine fauna that inhabit the islands throughout the year.
Wildlife is everywhere on the archipelago - oystercatchers wading in wetland meadows, short-eared owls glaring at passers-by from roadside fence-posts, schools of whales, dolphins and porpoises patrolling coastal waters in summer, and hundreds upon thousands of breeding seabirds congregating on vertiginous cliff faces.
Shetland Islands
Situated closer to the Norwegian coast than the Scottish capital Edinburgh, the dramatically beautiful Shetland Islands were ruled by the Vikings for over 500 years, and many locals claim descent from Scandinavian raiders.
From language to archaeology, the archipelago's rich Nordic heritage makes a trip here as exotic as it is exciting.
The Vikings ruled Shetland for over five hundred years, from their arrival around 735 CE to the archipelago's handover to the Scots in 1468 CE.
Today their influence is found everywhere, from food and place names to language and local festivals. Shetland's comparative isolation in the North Atlantic has given islanders a strong sense of place and a belief in their own unique cultural identity and traditions.
Music, dance, story-telling, traditional crafts, festivals - all are strong and all play an important role in modern day Shetland life.
The Shetland Archipelago boasts 100 islands - just 15 of them inhabited - while nowhere is more than 5 kilometres from the sea.
With bountiful offshore waters warmed by the Gulf Stream, there are approximately 900 miles of coastline to explore, while the resident population of around 23,000 provide visitors with a genuinely warm welcome.
The Outer Hebrides
Sitting off the Atlantic coast of Scotland, the Outer Hebrides are rich in history and rich in nature. Boasting beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters, rugged moorland and freshwater lakes, there's no question that this unique island chain is a very special part of the world.
Formed a mere 3000 million years ago, the wildly contrasting landscapes of the Hebrides are frequently breathtaking. From the endless stretches of near-deserted sand that fringe much of the Isle of Lewis, down to the gorgeous Luskentyre Beach on the Isle of Harris, many of these idyllic environments are more evocative of the Caribbean than coastal Scotland.
The southernmost parts of the Outer Hebrides have an even more striking, almost lunar, appearance, with barren rock formations broken up by placid lochs (lakes) and heather-strewn peat bogs, with mist-shrouded mountains dropping down to the rolling waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Those that keep a camera handy will find an incredible photo opportunity around every corner.
Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye is now reached by the Skye Bridge from mainland Scotland at Kyle of Lochalsh where the channel between the two places is only a few hundred meters.
Skye is the largest and most northerly of the islands that make up the Inner Hebrides and the second largest island in Scotland after Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides.
The island is known for its beautiful scenery especially the rock pinnacles of The Storr, its diverse wildlife and its fine whisky.
For whisky enthusiasts, no visit to the Isle of Skye would be complete without a pilgrimage to Talisker. Dating back to 1830, Talisker is one of only two distilleries on the Isle of Skye. Its five copper stills boast a stunning location on the shores of Loch Harport in the village of Carbost, on the beautiful Minginish Peninsula.
Talisker is one of the world's most respected whiskies, and has been for a very long time. Robert Louis Stevenson regaled its virtues in 1880, and Talisker is one of James Bond's favorite nips. The malted barley used in production comes from Muir of Ord, while its sweet, distinctive flavour is infused with spicy, peaty smokiness.
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides after Skye to the north.
Like its larger neighbour, Mull is known for its whisky with a distillery in the picturesque, colourful port town of Tobermory.
An island of mist and mystery Mull has four castles to explore and an ancient stone circle. Wildlife in and around the island includes rare eagles and whales.
Iona
Iona, a sacred island and burial ground for kings is off Mull's western shore. A Benedictine abbey has stood here from the 13th century until the Scottish Reformation. After its destruction the ruins were restored in the early 20th century. 48 early Scottish kings were buried in its graveyard including Macbeth.
Mull is easily reached from the Scottish mainland from the equally enchanting Oban.
Isle of Man
Like its Scottish counterparts, The Hebrides, The Shetlands and the Orknies, the Isle of Man off the west coast of northern England has a distinctly Norse flavour.
A tax haven with the world's oldest parliament, the Tynwald, and its own language, Manx, a form of Gaelic, the island certainly goes its own way.
The famous TT motorbike races take place in May and June and are probably best avoided if you wish to seek out the island's rustic charms by walking its four long-distance paths.
Located in the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man can be reached by air to Ronaldsway Airport, south of Douglas, and also by ferry from Liverpool (year round) and from Belfast and Dublin (in the summer months).
Anglesey
Anglesey, off the coast of North Wales, is connected to the mainland via the historic Menai Bridges. It is the largest island in Wales. Holyhead on Holy Island on the west coast is the largest town and a base for walking the stunning coastline and surfing.
Beaumaris Castle in the pretty Georgian town of Beaumaris is the main tourist attraction. It was the last of the great castles constructed by Edward I in the late 13th century to consolidate his control of Wales.
Like the castles at Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech, Beaumaris Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built on flat land and therefore not constrained by any topographic features, the most striking thing about Beaumaris castle is its symmetry.
Constructed as a series of concentric layers, the central walls are 4-sided, surrounded by an eight-sided wall, though it appears almost 6-sided. Some of the moat has been filled in but much remains.
Another major attraction in Beaumaris is Puffin Island, an uninhabited island located off the nearby northeast coast of Anglesey.
A wildlife sanctuary, boat tours from Beaumaris offer fantastic views of not only the Puffins after which the island is named, but also Great Cormorants, Guillemots, Razorbills, Shags and Kittiwakes, as well as other nesting birds.
Seals can usually be seen and sometimes porpoises and even dolphins make an appearance.
The island is also home to Britain's longest place name Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwiiiiantysiligogogoch. Translated into English the name means "St. Marys Church in the hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool of Llantysilio of the red cave."
Scilly Islands
The Scilly Islands are a group of 140 small islands, 28 miles off the southern coast of Cornwall. Only five of these idyllic, away-from-it-all places are inhabited: St. Mary's (the largest), Tresco, Bryher (population less than 100 people), St. Martin's and St. Agnes.
Things to do on the islands include enjoying the fine beaches, walking and visiting several prehistoric sites.
Regular ferries connect the populated islands which can also be reached by plane from Newquay Cornwall (NQY) and Land's End airports or a choppy 2-hour, 45-minute ferry ride from Penzance (in the summer months only).
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is the largest island off the coast of England. It is separated from the county of Hampshire by the Solent.
The island's many attractions include The Needles rock formation, Carisbrooke Castle and the Tennyson Memorial. Famous residents include the poets Swinburne and Tennyson as well as Queen Victoria.
The Needles are a row of tall, pointy chalk cliffs that are located off the coast of the Isle of Wight. They are the Isle of Wight's most iconic and popular tourist attraction.
The cliff called Lot's Wife which gave the Needles their name, being the only needle-shaped rock in the row, collapsed in a storm in 1764, but the name has stuck ever since.
Historic Carisbrooke Castle is located in the village of Carisbrooke, near Newport, on the Isle of Wight. King Charles I was imprisoned at Carisbrooke Castle in the months leading up to his trial and subsequent execution in 1649.
A museum on the premises describes how he tried to escape from the castle in 1648, but was unable to get through the bars of his window. After his death, his two youngest children were confined in Carisbrooke Castle, and Princess Elizabeth died there.
At the top of Tennyson Down at 147 meters above sea level, stands a huge granite cross, the Tennyson Memorial, commemorating the life of the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson. Tennyson Down itself is a hill at the western end of the Isle of Wight near Totland. The poet Lord Tennyson lived nearby at Farringdon House for nearly 40 years.
Tennyson Down is part of a chalk ridge that ends with The Needles. The Down is owned and managed by the National Trust.
The Isle of Wight is connected to the mainland by ferries to Southampton, Lymington and Portsmouth and a hovercraft from Southsea near Portsmouth to Ryde.
The Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago off the coast of Normandy, France. The two largest islands, Jersey and Guernsey are Crown dependencies like the Isle of Man. They are not part of the United Kingdom and were not part of the EU even when Britain was a member.
The islands of Alderney, Herm and Sark are other inhabited islands in the group.
Jersey and Guernsey are both major offshore financial centres for banking and insurance, though tourism and agriculture also contribute to the islands' economy.
The Channel Islands are connected to mainland Britain by air from several airports around the country including Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol Airport, Exeter International Airport and Manchester Airport as well as a ferry from Weymouth.
Lindisfarne
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne aka Holy Island or Lindisfarne is a small, tidal island off the northeast coast of England in Northumberland. The island's population is less than 200 inhabitants.
A monastery was founded on the island by the Irish monk Saint Aidan who came from Iona in 634. The community of monks later included Saint Cuthbert, the patron saint of Northumberland. A Viking raid in 793 killed many of the monks and the later Danish occupation of Northumberland led to the priory being abandoned until rebuilt by the Normans.
The Tudor period Lindisfarne Castle dates from 1550 and lies on the highest point of the island. It is clearly visible from the mainland.
Later the peaceful, scenic charm of the island attracted such painters as Charles Rennie Mackintosh and William Turner.
Nowadays the island is a tourist attraction for many day-trippers and bird-watchers but it is possible to stay overnight to fully enjoy the peace and tranquility.
[1] 6,289 (sovereignty.org.uk)
[2] 7,700 (BBC)
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