The explorer’s guide to over 200 of the most beautiful and intriguing islands around Britain SCOTLAND
ENGLAND
WALES
FAROE ISLANDS
NORTHERN IRELAND
IRELAND
ISLE OF MAN
ISLES OF SCILY
CHANNEL ISLANDS
SKYE What Does Skye Taste Like?
Several thriving companies produce food on Skye, ensuring the island very much has a taste of its own. As you pass through Portree on the island’s main road, you can practically taste the produce as the smell wafts out of the old woollen mill. Established by a South African couple who fell in love with Skye on a tour of Scotland, the Isle of Skye Baking Company (www. isleofskyebakingco.co.uk) is a key place to get hold of many Scottish favourites – including Scottish tablet, oatcakes and shortbread. Head a little further north, to the port of Uig, and you’ll find something to wash it all down. The Isle of Skye Brewing Company (www. skyeale.com) has its origins in a pub meet-up between old schoolteacher friends who lamented the lack of a brewery on the island. That was in 1992, and five years later they won the CAMRA Champion Beer of Scotland. Many of their beers are named after the local Cuillin Mountains and their first brew – Red Cuillin – is so popular that it’s still produced to the original recipe.
LOCATION: 57.3063°N 6.2323°W GRID REFERENCE : NG452319 POPULATION: 10,008 SIZE: 1,655km² GETTING THERE: The A87 from Kyle of Lochalsh takes you over the Skye Bridge and onto the island. WHERE TO STAY: Cuillin Hills Hotel, Scorrybreac Road, Portree, IV51 9QU, T: 01478 612003, W: www.cuillinhillshotel-skye.co.uk. Greshornish House, Edinbane, Isle of Skye, IV51 9PN, T: 01478 582266, W: www.greshornishhouse.com. WHERE TO EAT: Red Skye Restaurant, Breakish, Isle of Skye, IV42 8PY, T: 01471 822666, W: www.redskye restaurant.co.uk. Red Roof Skye, Holmisdale, Glendale, Isle of Skye, IV55 8WS, T: 01470 511304, W: www.redroofskye.co.uk.
54 SCOTLAND / INNER HEBRIDES SKYE GROUP / SKYE 55
NORTHERN ENGLAND ISLANDS OF THE LAKE DISTRICT
BELLE ISLE
LOCATION: 54.3624°N 2.0338°W GRID REFERENCE : SD393496
Paddling Adventure The largest of all 18 islands on Windermere, Belle Isle is also the only one to have had permanent inhabitants. The isle is privately owned so you’re asked not to land on it. Hiring a canoe or kayak, though, allows you to paddle around the shoreline and get a good look at the historic Island House (see below) while having plenty of fun along the way. The well-kept island is also framed by one of the finest panoramas in the country, with stunning views greeting your every turn. Use of this lovely little island dates back to Roman times, when a governor at Ambleside chose to site a villa here. Roman designs were also the influence for the Pantheon-style three-storey Island House, built in 1774 and still standing today. When the house and the island were sold to the Curwen family in 1781, they renamed it Isabella, after their daughter. Descendants of the family continued to live on the island until the 1990s.
POPULATION : 0 SIZE: <1km² GETTING THERE: The best views of Belle Isle are from out on the water, either on one of the cruises that launch from Bowness-on-Windermere or by hiring a canoe or kayak (P: LA23 3JH, T: 015394 44451, W: www.windermerecanoekayak.com). WHERE TO STAY: Burnside Hotel & Spa, Lake Road, Bowness-onWindermere, LA23 3HH, T: 015394 42211, W: www.burnsidehotel.com. The Angel Inn, Helm Road, Bownesson-Windermere, LA23 3BU, T: 015394 44080, W: www.angelbowness.com.
Belle Isle cuts across England’s biggest stretch of inland water, Windermere.
ISLANDS OF THE LAKE DISTRICT / BELLE ISLE 169
CARRICK-A-REDE
NORT H E R N IR E L A N D
Bridge Over Troubled
Salmon Centre
DON ’T MISS • Venturing across the rope bridge to the former fishing hotspot Carrick
al is the beautiful Nation A good place to start e, separated from the Trust island Carrick-a-Red that would be at home mainland by a rope bridge stunning most the of Some in an Indiana Jones film. ible ic coast, home to incred islands lie off the Atlant ND 238 NORT HERN IRELA
hing g music scene and flouris clifftop views, a rousin to to Rathlin Island also, wildlife. Save time to travel tion and learn about popula bird ng boomi watch the be the Bruce was said to the place where Robert . spider visited by an influential
Water
a visit to nearby Giant’s usually combined with of the A visit to this island is trail. And unlike most rn Ireland coastal tourist there Causeway on the Northe is all about how you get trip to Carrick-a-Rede es the site islands in this book, a National Trust manag The do once you arrive. get to the island. to rather than what you brave to need bridge, which you’ll and its fabulous rope t the rocks at high tide, the waves that crash agains Some 30m (90ft) above makes you feel as though across the rickety bridge the 20m (66ft) long walk understand when you’re Jones movie. As you’ll to you’re starring in an Indiana the bridge is restricted on side, the number of people swaying from side to the last few years has increase in visitors during which eight at a time and a huge a timed ticket to enter, g system. You’ll need crossin the on re pressu put e. the National Trust websit you can book online at
a-Rede • The thriving bird population of Rathlin Island, home of a famous spider legend
▲ Carrick-a-Rede Rope
Bridge.
e translates In Gaelic, Carrick-a-Red and provided as the ‘rock in the road’ ing a natural obstacle to migrat to the river salmon looking to return It’s long been where they were born. fishermen a keen place for salmon records to earn their living, with roots go back showing the industry’s days, fishing to 1620. In those early based on boats by ted was suppor mid-18th the mainland. But in the island was century, passage to the bridge was first the when transformed y thrived industr built here. The fishing ed strong for as a result, and remain In the too. y much of the 20th centur ds hundre for 1960s it was common day here. of fish to be caught every its toll take to Sadly, pollution started returning and the number of salmon The last here declined dramatically. g in these fisherman stopped workin waters during 2002.
°N 6.3324°W
LOCAT ION: 55.2397 ENCE: IRISH GRID REFER NR246025
POPU LATION: 0 SIZE: <1km² to the island bridge, is via a National Trust rope Antrim, found in Ballintoy, County st.org. BT54 6LS, W: www.nationaltru
GETTING THERE: Access
uk.
n Arms, Ballycastle, Main Street, Ballintoy, 6LX, T: 028 Northern Ireland, BT54 llerton-arms. 2076 9613, W: www.fu rk Whitepa com. Glenmore House, n Ireland, Road, Ballycastle, Norther 3584, BT54 6LR, T: 028 2076 W: www.glenmore.biz.
WHERE TO STAY: The Fullerto
ND / CARR ICK-A -REDE NORT HERN IRELA
239
‘Islands have always had a mysterious allure – Peter has managed to capture the magical essence of our old favourites and lesser known gems.” ED STAFFORD A comprehensive and inspiring guide to 200 of Britain’s most beautiful and interesting islands, from Shetland to the Channels Islands. With beautiful colour photography, historical and cultural anecdotes, alongside information on must-see attractions, food specialities and more, this is the perfect book for planning your island getaway. Publishing 24th June 2021 UK Publicity: Brittani Davies • Email: brittani.davies@bloomsbury.com Paperback | £18.99 • ISBN 9781844865925 | 220 x 185mm