In years past, I never really gave “visiting islands” a second thought when choosing a holiday destination. It wasn’t until a former friend told me that he had a goal of visiting an island every year. The irony that we were having this discussion on Singapore, an island where we both lived at the time, was not lost on me.

For me, I was just in love with island life – the culture, the food, the feel. Previously, that applied to more tropical islands, as I lived for a few years between Singapore and Thailand, visiting Thai, Indonesian, Malaysian, and Polynesian islands that I could.

In the years that followed, my love for island life extended itself to Scotland. While Scottish islands definitely have a different feel than the tropical islands I was used to, the vibe of Scottish island life still got me hooked! Having bought a place on the Scottish Isle of Islay in early 2021, the things that I love about island life still ring true. Something that Scottish islands have in excess than other island communities I’ve visited previously, the warm sense of hospitality toward visitors!

Just a little side note before I continue on to the Scottish Islands Passport. The US National Park Service also has a similar National Park Passport, which is a physical book you can take around to each National Park. Each National Park has a stamping station, where you can stamp the date of your visit, with a unique national park design. There are also supplementary info and sticker sheets you can buy to give more details on the National Park itself. Many moons ago, when my family exclusively vacationed in US National Parks, my mom and my sister each got a National Park Passport. Me? I was too cool for school and didn’t want one.

Do I have a world of regrets of not getting one? Of course I do.

Luckily for all those people who are too cool for school now, the Scottish Islands Passport is a digital app, so any regrets are easily rectified! But before I get too far along, allow me to introduce the Scottish Islands Passport

1. Scottish Islands Passport: an intro

The Scottish Islands Passport is a project funded by the Scottish Government, the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS), Shetland’s Transport Partnership (ZetTrans), and a number of rural development programs. Of the 800+ Scottish islands, 72 islands were selected for inclusion into the Scottish Islands Passport.

Why not include all 800+ Scottish Islands?

Well, the majority of Scottish islands are uninhabited. Of the 72 islands included in the Scottish Islands Passport, they all (first) inhabited. You can’t really get a passport stamped if there is no one there to stamp it! (Ok, in a digital world, you can, but still).

Not only was being populated a criteria, there were two other points for selection:

– easy access by regular public (or low-cost) transport;
– welcoming to visitors from all walks of life.

Scottish Islands Passport – Our Islands

So, being inhabited, easy access via public / low-cost transport, and welcoming of all visitors. Sounds like the kind of islands I would visit!

2. The Scottish Islands Passport App

The Scottish Islands Passport is a digital passport, as opposed to a physical one. Feel free to download the app from Google Play or Apple’s App Store.

There are a few main features of the app:

• Explore a geographic area – If you know you’re looking for Northern Isles (i.e. Shetland or Orkney), or islands in a different direction, you can explore the islands via a pinned map section;
• Discover your perfect island – input all the things you want to achieve for your island getaway and out pops out the islands which you may enoy! various inputs include: history/heritage, food and drink (me!!), outdoor activities, nature or arts/music. You can even include whether you are looking for family friendly activities or festival-type events. What you’ll get is a list of tentative ideas for Scottish islands holidays.
• When you’ve chosen the island, you can find a variety of ideas for your Scottish islands holidays. It will share what the island is famous for, some insider tips, references for accommodations and useful guides on how to get to the island.
• On the “Experiences” tab for each island, is a running list of local island businesses, things to see and do, places to eat and any local festivals the island may have!
• Create a photo journal of your favorite memories on your trip and share later!
• and then of course, the Passport.

Just a few screen shots to show you the interface. But if you didn’t notice above, who wants to go to the Barra and Vatersay Potato Competition during the potato festival?? COUNT ME IN!

3. How to collect passport stamps for Scottish islands

When you visit Scottish Islands, some locations will have a QR code for you to scan to add your passport. If you forget to scan the QR code, or if you want to record your previous scottish islands, there is the option to do that as well!

Each of the passport stamps are designed to represent an important part of the island’s culture. Look at how beautiful Orkney and Jura’s stamps are!

Under the tab of stamp story, you can read about what the stamp represesnts in both Gaelic and English.

You can view your full passport on the Passport tab on the bottom. Each of teh passports are arranged in section by island groups. For me, I’ve been to:

• 4 of 18 South Western Isles (Colonsay, Islay, Jura, Mull)
• 1 of 22 North Western Isles (Skye)
• 2 of 32 Northern Isles (Mainland Orkney and South Ronaldsay)

4. Parting Thoughts

Generally, I think the Scottish Islands Passport is a really fun idea! Personally for me, I’m always looking for new islands to explore. It can help those indecisive folks who can’t choose one island, or even those who are looking for a new festival to celebrate. Watch out Barra next August – I’m comin for the potato festival!

The Scottish Islands Passport app is free to download so why not give it a download and start planning your next island adventure! Download here from Google Play or Apple’s App Store.

If you’re looking for different ideas for Scottish island adventures, I’ve written about a few:

• the Isle of Islay – my home, and a dominant force in the scotch whisky world;
• Colonsay – nearby, with lots of walks and incredible seafood and gin;
• Orkney Islands – which I did as a wee day trip from John o’Groates, but should really be a holiday unto itself;
• go on a seafood adventure in Scotland, following my expertly curated list of best seafood spots;
• the Isle of Skye – home of stunning landscapes and where fairies tend to hide;
• a west coast and Treshnish Isles puffin adventure with famed Scottish photographer, Bryan Millar Walker.

Or, if you’d like to take a small-group tour to the islands, check out Rabbie’s – they are highly recommended! Some of their island offerings include:

• Outer Hebrides & Skye – 6 day tour, seeing Loch Ness, Callanish standing stones, Skye and Lewis and Harris (and more!) from 465£;
• Orkney Islands & NC500 – 5 day tour, seeing Orkney, Culloden, and driving along the North Coast 500, from 379£;
• Iona, Mull & the Isle of Skye – 5 day tour, with Fingal’s Cave, the Iona Abbey, and Glencoe among its main sites, from 415£;
• or my home – Islay and the Whisky Coast – a 4 day tour, from 335£

And check out my friend Kay’s blog, The Chaotic Scot. Scottish islands accessible by public transport are her thing! So far she’s visited 62 Scottish islands. Incredible!

Lastly, be sure you’re prepared for the weather. If you love Scotland, you’ll have to love its weather too.

In Scotland, there is no such thing as bad weather – only the wrong clothes.

Billy Connolly, Scottish legend

• From my experience, the best casual shoes for Scotland weather are AllBirds Rain Repellent series (UK), and honestly, I wear my AllBirds Mizzles everywhere in Scotland.
• For those AllBirds fans in the US, get a free pair of socks when you use my link – just add the socks to your cart, and it will be subtracted at checkout!

And with that little nugget of preparedness, I bid you adieu!

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

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