Tiree is known as the Hawaii of the North, but if you're expecting to be greeted by dusky maidens in grass skirts when you come off the ferry you'll be disappointed.

Its resemblance to the rather more exotic to the Pacific island is that it boasts probably the best surfing conditions in Europe, combined with excellent beaches. It is the most populous of the group comprising Tiree, Coll and Colonsay, although with 800 inhabitants it's hardly a mass of heaving humanity.

Tiree is steeped in history, one of the advantages of the relatively low population density of Scottish islands is that there were never enough locals in the old days around to do the same sort of damage to the archaeological sites of the future as was done in more developed areas. As a result Tiree boasts a well preserved Iron Age tower called Dun Mhor Vaul. The towers, known as Brochs, were used as defensive forts by the Picts.



Tiree can be reached by either land and sea, by Calmac ferry from Oban, a four and a half hour voyage, or by Loganair flight from Glasgow from Monday to Saturday.

Coll is three and a half hours from Oban, and features excellent beaches and lochs. Like Tiree, it is also steeped in history, of special interest being Breacahadh Castle, a restored 15th century tower house near Totronald in the south west of the island.