£83 Cheap Flights to Tiree Island

Scotland is blessed with hundreds of islands across the length of its western coast. Many are famed for their dramatic landscapes, distinct Gaelic culture, and Scotch whisky. While some islands such as Skye and Mull constantly rank among the most popular destinations, there are other less visited islands that are just as magical. Two such Inner Hebridean jewels that people fly out to visit are the small islands of Coll and Tiree.

Fly to Tiree Airport (TRE)

Coll is the more populous of the two islands, with a bustling population numbering just below two hundred. Coll also has the largest settlement of the two islands, the scenic village of Arinagour. Coll is also home to the main ferry terminal of the islands. However Tiree is home to an airport (TRE), making these beautiful and remote islands no more than a short trip from the mainland if you fly via Glasgow Airport.

Visit Coll and Tiree

Regardless of how you get there, these sister islands are two of Scotland’s idyllic and charming isles and remain a rewarding destination for anyone who visits. They are the most westerly of all the Inner Hebrides, and make up their own small archipelago. Away from the drama of larger islands like Skye and Mull, these two islands offer a much gentler slice of Hebridean life thanks to their white sandy beaches and fertile grassy plains known as “machair”.

See the Beaches of Tiree

The smaller and more westerly of the pair, Tiree is well known for its beautiful arcing beaches, white sand, and azure waters that would not look out of place in the Caribbean. The island is flat and often resembles a raised beach with a high point of only 141 metres. That being said, thanks to its location at the southern tip of island, Tiree's highest hill Ben Hynish offers a perfect vantage point to enjoy a view of the whole island.

Go Windsurfing on Tiree

Thanks to the island’s location on the Atlantic, its coastal climate receives the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, meaning Tiree boasts a distinctly warmer climate than most of the mainland. The island’s unsheltered position means that it also frequently receives high winds, and these conditions combine to make it one of the best locations in Europe for windsurfing. Tiree even hosts its own windsurfing festival each year.

Travel to Skerryvore Lighthouse

12 miles off the coast of the island is Skerryvore Lighthouse, which is the tallest of all lighthouses in Scotland. Completed in 1844, the 48 metre-high lighthouse is one of the finest examples of Victorian engineering in the country and can easily be seen from both Tiree and Mull.

Visit Breachacha Castle on Coll

Just across a small stretch of the Atlantic, past the small island of Gunna, is Tiree’s sister island Coll. The rockier of the two islands, Coll still has the charm and gentle beauty of Tiree and also features the two Breachacha Castles. One structure is the original 15th century Breachacha Castle, and the other building is its newer replacement, built in the 1750s.

With beautiful beaches, a unique lighthouse, and remarkable castles, these islands have plenty to offer intrepid explorers. To start planning your trip to the Inner Hebrides, just use the Expedia search tool to book affordable hotels and research flights.