It’s is one of the smallest populated islands in the country and takes just under an hour to walk around.
Scotland, above all other regions of the UK, provides the finest chances to genuinely escape from it all.
Boasting endless stretches of breathtaking scenery dotted with just a handful of small communities, the Highlands and islands serve as magnificent retreats from the stresses of contemporary living and offer complete relaxation.
If this sounds like paradise, one destination might tick all your boxes. Spanning merely 25 hectares, Easdale, situated in Argyll and Bute, ranks among the nation’s tiniest inhabited islands.
Forming part of the Slate Islands within the Inner Hebrides, roughly 17 miles south-west of Oban, Easdale houses fewer than 60 residents and can be explored on foot in less than an hour.
And this is a good thing, really, as walking is the sole method of getting about since no roads exist on the island.
A brief five-minute ferry journey connects it to Ellenabeich village on neighbouring Seil island, which links to the mainland via the renowned Bridge Over The Atlantic.
The island’s unique character has enchanted tourists, with one declaring it “doesn’t seem real”. According to The Chaotic Scot travel blog, Easdale is “as cute and quirky as they come”.
Easdale and surrounding islands once formed the hub of Scotland’s slate trade, explaining the archipelago’s name, and one abandoned quarry now serves as a natural swimming spot.
Without motor vehicles, supplies are moved in vibrant wheelbarrows between the charming whitewashed homes, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
And though it lacks a shop, the island does have a pub. The Puffer Bar and Restaurant has earned glowing reviews on TripAdvisor, with one visitor dubbing it a “wee gem”.
The island’s highest point may only be 38 metres, but the vistas over the Firth of Lorn are breathtaking.
The village hall regularly hosts bands, and Easdale is famous for its annual World Stone Skimming Championships every September.
Tourists can also explore the Easdale Folk Museum. Despite its remote setting, reaching Easdale isn’t a challenge – it’s less than a three-hour drive from Glasgow.
