Scotland has over 790 islands of varying sizes and populations, from Lewis and Harris (actually one island, despite the name) with its population of over 21,000 people, to tiny uninhabited rocks.
It can take alot of time and money to reach many of the more remote islands - with itineraries having to be carefully planned sometimes months in advance.
But there are plenty that are pretty easy to reach by hopping on a boat, spending a few hours exploring, and then heading back to the mainland.
If you are looking for an easy introduction to the Scottish islands, here are 10 to start with.
5. Arran
Often described as 'Scotland in Miniature', Arran is easily reachable from the mainland - with regular ferries from Troon (one hour 20 minutes) and Ardrossan (55 minutes), both on the Ayrshire coast. If you're not driving it's easiest to go from Troon, which is connected by regular train services to Glasgow. Once there you can explore the town of Brodick, visitBrodick Castle and climb the stunning Goat Fell. | Canva/Getty Images
6. Holy Isle
Once you've made it to Arran it's easy to tick off the Holy Isle - which is just a 15 minute boat trip from Lamlash. It takes a couple of hours to walk around and has a history as a sacred site, dating back to the hermit cave of 6th century monk St Molaise. | Canva/Getty Images
7. Mull
Famous for the colourful pastel houses of Tobermory, the Isle of Mull is served by a regular 45 minute ferry from the coastal resort town of Oban (itself well worth a visit). It's a haven for wildlife, offering the best chance to see some iconic Scottish animals, including golden eagle, common seal, otter, red squirrel, red deer and sea eagle. | Canva/Getty Images
8. Orkney
It may seem impossibly far away on maps, but if you're driving the North Coast 500 it's just a small diversion to set to Orkney - regular ferries take just 90 minutes to get from Scrabster to Stromness. Once there you can explore the town before taking convenient buses to see the Ring of Brodgar, the Standing Stones of Stenness and Skara Brae Prehistoric Village. It's a great car-free day trip. | Canva/Getty Images