9 quirky British islands to explore

21.07.2023 - 07:48 / roughguides.com

Just a fraction of Britain’s more than 6000 islands are accessible – and even fewer are inhabited. If you’re dreaming of life, or just a holiday, on a remote coastal island you’ll know that islanders have a reputation for being rather quirky. Local traditions and customs are fiercely protected and every British island has a unique heritage.

From the slightly strange to the downright odd, here are the quirkiest islands in Britain that you’ll want to explore.

It’s just 25 miles long, with a population of 3000, and yet this Inner Southern Hebrides island already has eight distilleries (with more planned to come). The unique characteristics of the island’s peat lendsits whisky a special beloved smokiness and there’s a rich history in distilling and smuggling. The Isle of Islay is also the place to find the famous “singing sands beach” where, with the right conditions, the sand will ring out when it’s rubbed.

Whisky barrels on the Isle of Islay © Scott Jessiman Photo/Shutterstock

Possibly the quirkiest place in all the British Isles, the Isle of Man is a Crown dependency (but not technically part of Britain) and has a fascinating Celtic and Viking heritage that includes the oldest continuous parliament in the world. Laws come to pass on Tynwald Day when they are proclaimed in a traditional Midsummers Day open-air meeting. All things Isle of Man are called “Manx” – the curious tailless Manx cat originated here – and the Manx language is having a huge resurgence. This beautiful island in the Irish Sea also hosts the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world: The Isle of Man TT.

Isle of Man © tr3gin/Shutterstock

Proof that the term “mainland” is relative: this island off the northeast coast of Scotland is merely the largest of the seventy fragments of land that comprise Orkney. It’s a stupendous place to watch the Northern Lights, or you can explore Skara Brae, a Neolithic village that’s older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids. The winding streets of the old stone town of Stromness house an unlikely artsy crowd and make a great place to base yourself.

Skara Brae © Jule_Berlin/Shutterstock

This remote and rugged island off the west coast of Scotland is unique because of its beach airport, which is the only one in the world with regularly scheduled flights. Barra has a deserted village at Balnabodach, which is the result of the forced Clearances seen across the Outer Hebrides in the nineteenth century – the remains of typical Barra blackhouses can be seen clustered by the loch.

Barra airport © Dave Atherton/Shutterstock

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Connected to the Welsh mainland by two impressive bridges over the Menai Strait, windswept Anglesey claims the village with the longest name in Britain. Anglesey is also where you’ll