Lewis and Harris voted number one island in Europe

9/3/2014

Callanish standing stones on Lewis

Scotland has again been recognised for its outstanding scenery with an award for Lewis and Harris from TripAdvisor. They were voted number one of the ten best islands in Europe. Two other Scottish islands made it to the list- Orkney and Isle of Mull.

Top 10 islands in Europe

1 Lewis and Harris, Scotland, UK

2 Naxos, Greece

3 Island of Gozo, Malta

4 Mainland, Orkney, Scotland, UK

5 Milos, Greece

6 Cephalonia, Greece

7 Santorini, Greece

8 Island of Capri, Italy

9 Isle of Mull, Scotland, UK

10 Paros, Greece

Blackhouse village on Lewis

Lewis and Harris was also ranked the fifth best in the world. Here is the list:

Top 10 islands in the world

1 Ambergris Caye, Belize

2 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

3 Bora Bora, French Polynesia

4 Marco Island, Florida, US

5 Lewis and Harris, Scotland, UK

6 Naxos, Greece

7 Aitutaki, Cook Islands

8 Nosy Be, Madagascar

9 Easter Island, Chile

10 Ko Tao, Thailand

Luskentyre beach, Harris. Image from undiscoveredscotland.co.uk

Scotland also featured prominently in the UK’s best island list:

Top 10 islands in the UK

1 Lewis and Harris, Scotland

2 Mainland, Orkney, Scotland

3 Isle of Mull, Scotland

4 Jersey

5 Isle of Skye

6 Isle of Arran, Scotland

7 Isle of Man

8 Islay, Scotland

9 St Mary's, Isle of Scilly, England

10 Anglesey, Wales

It is wonderful to see Scottish islands feature on these lists. I have cycled on all of the islands that have made these top ten lists and can attest to their beauty and fine range of things to see and do.

I have written about my journey to Lewis to see the Callanish standing stones, pictured in the first image on this page. Although it was the stones that I was excited about seeing I ended up falling for the far north of the island at the Butt of Lewis with its lighthouse and crashing waves.

Butt of Lewis lighthouse

Read about my journey to the Isle of Lewis

Read about my journey to the Isle of Islay

Read about my mishap on the Isle of Harris

7 Comments

Alasdair MacCaluim

10/3/2014 09:37:20 am

The Scilly Iales are in Kernow/Cornwall and not England as stated above!

Richard link

11/3/2014 05:19:06 am

I've never been a big tripadvisor fan, and doubt I'd enjoy Lewis as much as some of the Greek islands in that list!

Colin Baird

11/3/2014 07:38:52 am

I am not the biggest TripAdvisor fan either, but it is nice to see Scotland mentioned. I have never been to Greece, but would love to one day. All these types of lists don't really take into account that visitors are looking for different things. Am sure that visitors to Greek islands expect sunshine and swimming in the sea, but this is unlikely on Lewis!

Alasdair

11/3/2014 05:47:31 am

The people who voted the Long Island number one have clearly never visited the Airdrie on Sea/ Stornoway!

11/3/2014 07:41:34 am

Poor Stornoway! I was not there long enough to form an opinion- one hour tops. But I don't think it would detain me for long and I would much rather get up to Port of Ness, the standing stones, brochs and black houses.

Alasdair link

11/3/2014 07:56:17 am

I agree. There's so much more to see than Stornoway.

11/3/2014 06:52:27 am

Lewis and Harris voted number one island in Europe

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