Europe’s most underrated islands for 2024 have been revealed and one spectacular UK island has made the cut thanks to its gorgeous remote landscapes
A gorgeous UK island has been named one of the most underrated in Europe thanks to its remote beaches, lack of crowds and breathtaking landscapes.
Barra in the Outer Hebrides has been crowned one of the top 20 best islands in Europe, taking 17th spot in new rankings from Big 7 Travel. With its Caribbean-worthy beaches, it’s not difficult to see why Barra has been such a hit with the travel insiders.
One of the biggest draws is the island’s quirky airport. Flights can land on the beach at Cockle Strand – but only in between tides. In fact, at high tide the runway completely disappears beneath the waves. In fact, when the airport is closed, you can take a stroll on the beach which becomes a public space for the likes of surfers, walkers and dog owners.
Once visitors have landed (or arrived by ferry) there’s heaps to explore from gorgeous sheltered bays to a medieval castle just a five-minute boat trip from its shores.
Visit Scotland recommends: “Stroll along beautiful white sandy beaches, such as Tangasdale, or enjoy breathtaking scenery as you cycle or walk around this small, but incredibly beautiful island. For an amazing sea kayaking experience, take to the water on a guided tour with Clearwater Paddling from Castlebay and explore a world of beautiful islands and sheltered bays, or play a round or two at Barra Golf Club, the most westerly golf course in the UK.”
The Big 7 Travel team explained: “Scotland’s beguiling Outer Hebrides are beloved and visited by Scots, but despite their paradisical beauty, few tourists make it to the remote isles. Barra is beautifully desolate and wild, despite having an airport. In fact, Barra has the only commercial beach landing strip in the world.
“The flight to Barra, with its swirls of turquoise blue and shimmering white sands, is not dissimilar to flying over the Whitsundays in Australia. The island is nicknamed Barra-dise, and after a few days exploring the wind-bent grassy moors, pedalling along idyllic paths, and taking walks along empty beaches, you’ll see why.”
Barra wasn’t the only UK location to impress in the top 20 – the Isle of Rum in the Inner Hebrides also featured, taking the ninth spot in the rankings. Tucked away near the popular Isle of Skye, it proved a hit for its “incredible wildlife, remote wilderness, blustery white-sand beaches, and knee-buckling peaks”, with visitors being urged to leave time on the itinerary to take on the famous Cuillin Ridge walk – although be warned that it’s not one for the faint-hearted! You won’t find big crowds here either; around 30 people live in the island’s main village, Kinloch.
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