“The magic begins as soon as you board the ferry from Scotland’s rugged west coast and head for the Hebrides, a scattering of over 50 inhabited islands that take in the stirring mountainscapes of Sky and the green jewel of Iona, the whisky paradise of Islay, and the stern ancient stones of Lewis.” – Andy Simmington, Lonely Planet.

PASSION

We are more than just small isolated islands. We have a deeply rich, shared history of hardiness and a passion for Scottish landscapes, cultures and spirit. Whilst each island has its own individual nuances, from wildlife to architecture and coastline, we share an understanding of what makes this part of the world so special, and a strong desire to welcome all visitors to see it for themselves.

NEIGHBOURS

Our closest neighbours on Tiree are Coll, Mull, Iona and the Treshnish Isles. Every island in the Hebrides has its own culture, its own wildlife, different histories and different landscapes. No two are the same.

Where Tiree is flat and windswept, but bathes in the glow of westerly sunlight, islands like South Uist are home to rocky mountains and extensive cultivated machair systems. Over their vast and multicultural history, they have all been influenced differently by inhabitants, their location, and the weather that sweeps their shore.

The one thing that they all have in common is a deep connection to nature, to the ever-changing environment that has built their glittering sandy shores, and to the shimmering aquamarine seas that surround them. The word ‘breath-taking’ has never had more meaning than when referring to these pearls of Scottish beauty of the west coast.

If you’re visiting Tiree, it’s well worth booking a trip with Tiree Sea Tours and spending a few hours, or longer, in these wonderful neighbouring locations.

Isle of Coll

The ferry to Tiree stops at Coll on the way so adding it as a stop makes a lot of sense. Though the islands are close, they couldn’t be more different. Coll has beautiful white sandy beaches but it somehow feels even wilder than Tiree, with undulating rocky landscapes stretching for miles and its huge sand dunes.

Coll has just under 200 permanent residents but that doesn’t mean there is less to do! The main settlement of Arinagour, walking distance from the Pier, has a beautiful Main Street with cute fisherman cottages on the shore of Loch Eatharna. You fill find a coffee shop, a Post Office, a fuel pump, a grocery store, Community Centre, Coll Distillery and the lovely Coll Hotel for a very comfortable stay or just to have lunch or dinner. You can even book a lunch through Tiree Sea Tours for the day from Tiree.

To find out more about what to do, see, stay and what is on, we recommend following Explore Coll on Facebook or on Instagram.

Treshnish Isles

The little known Treshnish islands are a small archipelago within the Inner Hebrides. They are a designated place of Special Scientific Interest, and host a whole rainbow of wildlife that is difficult to find elsewhere in the UK, including Puffins, Storm Petrels and Grey Atlantic Seals.

Staffa and Lunga are two of the islands that make up the Treshnish Isles. Like many of our islands - the Treshnish Isles are a sanctuary for a vast array of seabirds. Think storybook like wonders to share with the family, an exhilarating experience of heading out across the sea in a RIB coupled with the intense calm of coming to a stop at the foot of one of these jaw-dropping islands. A bird watcher’s paradise, they’re also a unique way to see the rolling shapes that make our country such a wonder.

All of the Hebridean islands are well known for their jaw dropping beauty, their rugged landscape and crystal clear waters. More notable natural features, such as Fingal’s Cave on Staffa, have pulled visitors enamoured with the Scottish Landscape to the area for hundreds of years. Their remoteness, coupled with their far-westerly location and their vulnerability to the Atlantic Ocean makes them the prime location for peace, serenity and relaxation.

Skerryvore Lighthouse

This majestic lighthouse, the tallest in Scotland, sits roughly 11 miles south west of Tiree and you can visit it by boat on calmer days. It is located on a rocky reef, a treacherous area that can get pretty lively during rough weather. It was automated in 1994 and is no longer manned. Manning it back in the day must have been quite the adventure! You can find out more about its history here.

Added bonus: you’re very likely to see dolphins on the way!

 Isle of Mull

The ferry to Tiree passes through the Sound of Mull, giving stunning views of the island. If you’d like to take a closer look, frequent ferries go direct from Oban, or you can ask Tiree Sea Tours to take you to Tobermory for the day from Tiree.

Travel between the islands is relatively easy, either via the ferry, or with the boat tours that are run from the Isle of Tiree. Iona, Coll, Staffa, Lunga and Skerryvore (to see the Skerryvore Lighthouse, a remote lighthouse off the west coast of Tiree) all give visitors a chance to explore beyond Tiree, and to really experience the unique and dramatic landscapes that make the Hebrides such a beautiful part of the world.

If you are looking to do a little more island hopping, flights leave from Tiree to Coll, and the ferry company (CalMac) offer island hopping tickets – to let you take in more of what our series of Islands have to offer. During the summer months there is a weekly ferry service between Barra and Tiree. Barra is also one of the most exciting airports you could ever hope to land on, with what is now the only beach landing strip in Europe. As unbelievable as it sounds, and we know it can be hard to imagine, the landing strip on Barra really is on the beach. We truly believe that the Hebrides offer memorable experience after memorable experience, and this is one that will stay with you for life. 

THE WEST

The trip up the west coast of Scotland, before reaching the crossing to Tiree and other islands, and just beyond, can be just as rewarding as the holiday itself and it is worth making a few stops along the way.

The Trossachs National Park is on the way to Oban, only 20 minutes by car from Glasgow if you are coming from the south of the country, and many a breath-taking view can be found along the shores of Loch Lomond. We believe that any trip away should be a chance to rejuvenate, from the moment you step out of your door to the moment you return, and breathing in the fresh air of the hills and glens that make this park a national treasure are a fantastic way to do that.

Oban is also not far south of Glencoe, Fort William, Glen Etive and Bridge of Orchy.  The gems along the way from the north are too numerous to list. Castles, bothies, rivers, glens, lochs and mountains are all a must on a trip through Scotland, and whilst they may not have the sparkling waves of the Tiree coastline, their vast glens and rugged snow-capped mountains are worth more than a minute’s appreciation in their exquisite beauty. Scotland has a rich history of landscapes, wilderness, exploration, and oneness with the Earth. One of the things that makes this country so special, it gives visitors the opportunity to really connect with nature and their surroundings. On or off Tiree, this should be appreciated to the fullest.

We have strong links with the rest of Scotland, our shared heritage is something to celebrate, and so we think that any break that brings you to our shores is worth a stop on the way home to admire everything else this nation has to offer.