Skye, Arran, Orkney and Lewis named among '˜best UK islands'

A view of the Shandt Islands and Skye from the Isle of Lewis. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

Four remote destinations in Scotland have been named as the best islands in the UK in a new traveller's poll.

Skye was deemed to be the third best while the Isle of Arran was seventh, in the new poll based on reviews by users of travel website TripAdvisor.

Mainland Orkney was eighth and Lewis and Harris came in ninth.

Nine abandoned islands of Scotland

Lamlash, Arran, with Goat Fell in the distance. Picture: Donald MacLeod

Also making up the top three best islands in the UK and Channel Islands were Jersey and Isle of Wight.

Another list was compiled to name travellers’ views on the best islands to visit in Europe.

Many travellers told how they picked their favourites based on scenery, beaches and the amount of sunshine it receives.

Jersey was the only destination from the UK and Channel Islands to make it into the top 10.

The number one island in Europe was Santorini, Greece, followed by Majorca, Spain, and Madeira, Portugal.

A separate list for the whole world was topped by Maui, Hawaii, followed by Santorini and Jamaica. Next were Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean. 

 This year’s UK top 10 islands have been listed as:

1. Jersey

2. Isle of Wight

3. Skye

4. Anglesey

5. Isle of Man

6. Guernsey

7. Arran

8. Orkney

9. Lewis

10. St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly

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