Scottish island among best in world says TripAdvisor

Tràigh Sheileboist on the Isle of Harris. Photograph by D. Gore

The Outer Hebrides islands of Lewis and Harris have been ranked in the top five best islands in the world according to travel website TripAdvisor.

The Scottish islands were the top islands in Europe, beating off stiff competition from Naxos, Greece and the Island of Gozo, Malta in TripAdvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Awards based on thousands of reviews travellers from around the world.

Scotland also dominated the list of top islands in Europe, with two others making the list of the top ten in the continent, Orkney and the Isle of Mull.

Ambergris Caye, Belize, won the title of best island in the world with its sandy beeches, tropical rainforests, limestone caves, waterfalls and coral reef, with many describing it as “paradise”.

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

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