The island is quieter, if that is possible. Summer visitors have returned to the mainland, and roads are empty. Despite the weather outside still being relatively calm and mild, this is the perfect time of year to experience the Scottish feeling of ‘Coorie’.

Coorie: The feeling of being at home, snug, sheltered or cosy.

Similar to Hygge, Coorie is a Scottish word that encapsulates the sentiment of comfort that can be found in traditional Scottish living.  Here on the island, we associate it with slow days, curled up on the couch with a book. It is the feeling of home, of connection with the Scottish landscape, of being able to totally relax with no outside pressures and of sitting by the window, after a day of surfing and hiking, and being able to look out at the white crested peaks of Atlantic waves.

In the summer, we were embracing the beach with bare toes and cool lemonade, and evenings were spent stoking the BBQ to cook our tea. Now we take blankets to keep off the chilled sea breeze. It is not yet winter, not as much need for a jumper, and sprawling out on the iridescent sand with a book is still a dreamy afternoon activity – But now, when we return home, it is to open fires and hot chocolate. Tea becomes more traditional, home cooked delights that fill your belly. Sunsets can be seen earlier, and as the fading light dips from the sky – it is finally time to truly appreciate the cosiness of the thick and secure blackhouse walls. 

The island through autumn months is fantastic for a quick getaway, a weekend or half term break in which normal life can be put aside for a little while.  You can still experience the golden sunsets, and the days are long enough to have tea sat by the ocean, but the weather is cooling. With it come wilder seas and bigger waves. This dramatic landscape provides a magical backdrop for a slowed pace of life, for days out in salt-scented air, and for a shorter break that will have you dreaming of returning.

WHAT’S ON

In October, Tiree hosts the Tiree Wave Classic windsurf competition, a highlight of the UK windsurf events calendar, and is the longest running professional windsurfing competition in the world.

A week of immersion in windsurfing culture for competitors and spectators alike, Professional and Amateur Windsurfers come from all over the United Kingdom to participate. There is the possibility to try a variety of sports, including surfing and paddle boarding, and a well-established event village for visitors to enjoy – alongside the incredible spectator spots on the beach to watch the windsurfers do what they do best. Throughout this week, the island comes alive with visitors. This is a week that promises a wild time with celebrations and fun for all visitors to Tiree.

Competitor or not, this is an exciting time to be on the island. The chance to watch top athletes perform in world class conditions cannot be missed, and the rich surf culture only adds to the buzzing atmosphere.

The cooler weather of Autumn provides athletes with optimal conditions to be competing in long distance races. In September, the island plays host to the Tiree Ultramarathon. This is a 35 mile run around the island, following a series of checkpoints and with some simple navigation to get between. The route takes runners around the outer edge of the island, clockwise. After everyone has finished, the evening invites competitors and spectators to a prize giving and ceilidh (Did we mention how loved music is on the island?).  The race is a very popular event in the Tiree calendar, and visitors come from all over the UK to compete.

If you are here, it would certainly be worth coupling up your race stay up with a few more days on the island. It is one thing running around it, but even more of a delight to go away with a little bit of Tiree experience too. After a day of rest  (35 miles? We’d need it after running that too!), the island will still be waiting for you in all its emerald and sapphire glory.

October also brings the school half term, and Halloween. When looking for holidays in this season, it is easy to chase sunshine. Not only does Tiree have that in buckets, we also have a wide range of activities and sports for families to get involved with – entertain the kids, and take them home recharged with a week or weekend of cold water fun.

CHANGING TIREE

As the island begins its journey into the colder winter months, we start to see some significant changes in birdlife flocks on the island – and to the natural habitats that make their homes. Tiree becomes a stop off, a much needed rest and feeding ground, for Artic species migrating south for the season, and is a truly wonderful place to observe migration habits.

The strong autumn gales can blow a vast array of seabirds across Tiree, including Leach’s Petrels and Sooty Shearwaters. With a quieter island, you will be free to birdwatch in complete peace – and visiting at this time of year could provide the opportunity to see some of the more rare breeds that rarely make their way to mainland shores.

Low water levels in the two Lochs we have on the island (Loch a' Phuill and Loch Bhasapol) means the species that usually inhabit these more-sheltered areas in Summer have moved on, and in turn been replaced with wading birds that prefer the sandy banks and edges. An optimal place to observe passage waders, Loch a’Phuill plays home to redshanks, greenshanks, ringed plovers and much more. Diving birds can also be spotted here, as can the occasional otter hunting for eels.

On Loch Bhasapol, a public hide is located and only a short walk from the road. This can be accessed through a kissing gate, signposted on the way to Kilmoluaig.

Autumn tends to draw fewer crowds, and so bird and nature watching can give you the opportunity to spot rarer species, as the still quiet that descends across the Isle of Tiree means less competition for visitors and less disturbances for the animals that use the island as their winter home.

September through to November provides a unique opportunity on the island to become more connected to the nature at its very heart.

Whether on the empty beaches, looking out at the wild weather from the warmth and safety of a blackhouse, or observing the ever-changing habitats and wildlife, Tiree is the place to cherish and nurture an often-forgotten bond with the world around us.