Eight of Europe’s tiniest islands, inhabited by few but worth a day trip
- The Scottish isle of Barra is known for its beaches, but only the bravest of souls venture into the frigid water without a wetsuit
- Gavdos, in Greece, marks Europe’s southernmost point and is popular with those in search of a quieter life
Koltur probably has the smallest permanent population of any island in Europe. The windswept Faroe island is home to Bjørn and Lukka Patursson and their flock of sheep. There may be islands with fewer than two inhabitants but that solitary soul is likely to be a lighthouse keeper. Here are eight more specks on the map that, for a variety of quirky reasons, feature on tourist bucket lists.
Not many runways disappear at high tide, but then not many planes land on a beach. Three flights a day connect Glasgow with Barra, in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. There is also a ferry from the mainland town of Oban, which takes a patience-testing (and stomach-churning) five hours.
The windswept island, 22km (14 miles) in circumference, is renowned for its Caribbean-like beaches, although only a fool would spend any time in the water without a wetsuit.
Perched on a rocky islet, Kisimul Castle was the stronghold of Clan MacNeil from the 11th century until 2000, when it came under the auspices of government heritage agency Historic Scotland, on a 1,000-year lease with an annual token rent of £1 and a bottle of whisky.
With beaches in short supply, Malta is a “swim off the rocks” kind of place. This makes the Blue Lagoon on the neighbouring island of Comino even more special. Frosty white sands and luminous translucent Mediterranean seas draw swimmers and sightseers by the boatload.