The document discusses island hopping opportunities around Scotland without needing long-haul international flights. It summarizes several islands to visit in Orkney and Shetland, including Mainland, Unst, and Yell in Shetland which offer scenic landscapes, opportunities for wildlife viewing, and cultural experiences. It also mentions the islands of Hoy, Lamb Holm, and Westray in Orkney which provide dramatic coastal scenery, historic sites, and the chance to see puffins and other seabirds. Island hopping around Scotland allows exploration of a variety of islands with unique beauty and heritage.

1. 72 SCOTTISH WOMAN MAGAZINE
Who needs long-haul flights when you can island hop round
some of the world’s most scenic destinations – without leaving
Scotland’s shores By Rebecca Knight
CastAway
Mainland
The Shetland Mainland demands a couple of days to be
properly explored. Lying closer to Norway than mainland
Scotland, the island has a unique blend of Scandinavian and
Scottish culture. In a place where you will never find yourself
more than 5km from the sea, it’s the perfect opportunity to
tuck into a delicious fish supper. Try Frankie’s Fish & Chips
in Lerwick – the menu uses only locally sourced seafood,
including Shetland mussels. Among the streets of Lerwick,
you might also stumble upon one of the many music festivals
hosted throughout the year.
Tee off at the Whalsay Golf Club, where porpoises and
seals can be seen from the greens, or bump into the famous
Shetland ponies roaming freely over the sandy white beaches
and the heather clad hills. The Shetlands are not short on
wildlife. Make time to visit St
Ninian’s Isle, a large, sandy
causeway located in the rural
farming region. The contrast
between the luscious greenery
and sapphire sea will make
you rethink your definition
of beauty.
Shetland Unst
The most northerly inhabited island, Unst is a wildlife Eden.
A major breeding ground for a range of seabirds, it is home
to two national nature reserves, Hermaness and Keen of
Hamar. From Hermaness you can wander along the cliffs
between nesting gannets, fulmars and guillemots. In the
distance you’ll be able to see Scotland’s most northerly point,
the rock of Out Stack. You won’t find any sunbathing-suitable
beaches, but the velvety hills and craggy cliffs will awaken the
explorer in even the most stubborn beach addict.
Yell
Once you cross onto Yell, you’re fast running out of Scotland.
The desolate beauty of the island has a unique appeal, with
the majority of the island made up of uninhabited moorland,
nicknamed ‘da wilds o’ Yell’. The island gives you room to
breathe, free from digital chatter and crowds. Soak up a little
local folklore at the
Old Haa Museum
and heritage centre,
or just sit down for
a slice of cake at the
museum’s home bakes
café, with interiors
decorated in the style
of a traditional croft
house.
The Scottish islands, the original adventure ground for British
travellers, inspired one of the first travel guides, published in 1775
- Samuel Johnson’s A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland.
With air travel to warmer climates now the norm, island hopping in
Scotland has fallen out of favour slightly with 21st Century sun-
seekers. But with a deep history and rugged and sublime scenery,
Orkney and Shetland can still give any island on the planet a run for
its money. We cover some of the highlights
St Ninian’s Isle
Yell
Unst

2. Mainland
Fly out to the archipelago’s capital Kirkwell,
a bustling town bursting with originality.
Its high street is refreshingly free of big
brands, dotted with artisan bakeries,
locally crafted jewellery and contemporary
fashion boutiques. The medieval sandstone
building of St. Magnus Cathedral
dominates the skyline of the market town.
The history of these islands is unparalleled
– delve into the heart of Neolithic Orkney,
a UNESCO world heritage site, home to
remnants of Pictish and Viking settlements
that span the 7th to the 13th Century.
Hoy
The island takes its name from the old norse ‘haey’ meaning
‘high island’, and it’s not hard to see why. Hoy’s highest peak
Ward Hill stands at 1,570 ft, and is home to Britain’s tallest
vertical cliff face, St John’s Head, colouring its dramatic
coastline. The Old Man of Hoy, a towering seastack, remains
the star attraction of the island. Walk along the recently
restored path from the hamlet of Rackwick that traces the
breathtaking bay to the iconic sea stack.
Lamb Holm
This uninhabited island can be reached
via the Churchill Barriers, a man-made
causeway. Though small in size the island has
a unique history, represented by its distinctive
Italian chapel, built by Italian prisoners of
war during World War II. The chapel’s ornate
beauty is a testament to the collaboration and
respect between the prisoners of war brought
in to build the causeway and the island
authorities.
Westray
Affectionately called ‘the Queen O’ The Isles’, Westray
is the second largest of the North Isles. Stop off at
the Westray Heritage Centre in Pierowall to see
the Orkney Venus, the oldest representation of the
human form to be found in Scotland. Let your feet
meander their way to the Castle O’Burrian seastack,
where puffins can be spotted from May to August. If
you’re itching to fit in an extra island, take the world’s shortest
scheduled flight to Papa Westray, touching down in just two
minutes. Once there, visit the oldest house in northern Europe,
the Knap of Howar, predating the pyramids by 1,200 years.
Head to www.visitscotland.com for travel advice and more info
on Scottish island hopping.
Orkney
SCOTTISH WOMAN MAGAZINE 73
Hoy
Lamb Holm