Every year millions of tourists flood into Greece to explore its islands. Greece is immensely popular with people from across the world thanks to its crystal clear seas, ancient ruins and charming villages.
However, it also has ever-soaring temperatures, and can become incredibly busy which can make a peaceful holiday turn into a bustling stress-filled nightmare. If massive crowds and scorching weather isn’t your thing, but you still want the natural beauty and rich culture that Greece has to offer, there is an option in the UK. Scotland’s Hebrides, an island-hopping paradise offers everything Greece does, but with refreshing Atlantic breezes instead of baking Mediterranean heat – and far fewer crowds.
Where Greece offers ancient ruins and blue seas, the Hebrides have mythical 5000-year-old standing stones and crystal-clear turquoise waters where the waves lap against wide, sandy beaches.
Santorini might have its famous white washed buildings, but the Hebrides has Tobermoroy – one of the most colourful villages in the world, where brightly coloured homes line the quaint harbour.
The wildlife alone is reason enough to visit this Scottish archipelago. Atlantic puffins nest on the soaring cliffs above the waves, dolphins skitter across the wake of your boat and majestic eagles soar overhead.
There are more than 100 islands in the Hebrides, and choosing which to visit can be tricky – luckily, they all offer something different and wonderful.
Islay, known as the ‘Queen of the Hebrides’ is a must-see. The island is famed for its distinctive peaty single malts, as well as being home to over 200 bird species.
From its shores, you can spot sharks and dolphins, and there’s also the legendary distilleries of Laphroaig and Ardbeg – perfect for warming up on a crisp autumn day.
For history buffs and culture enthusiasts, swing by the Isle of Lewis where you can visit the Gothic-style Lews Castle and see ‘Scotland’s Stonehenge’ – the 5,000-year-old Callanish Standing Stones.
If you can’t decide what you want to see, or it seems too hard to choose, Cruising Holidays is running a 10-night Scottish Isles expedition that takes you deep into this ’picture perfect’ archipelago.
The trip will take you to visit places most tourists never see. With a maximum of 220 passengers, this cruise is a more intimate way to see the islands.
The Scottish Isles expedition starts from £4,171 per person for 10 nights, including all meals and drinks, as well as experiences.