As you fly into Tiree's little airport, there's one thing that strikes you: it's not very big! In fact, our tiny little island is just 30¼ square miles of pure Hebridean sand, earth and sea. With a population of around 650 – not including the sheep – it's not very populated either.

You'd be forgiven for thinking there's not a lot here. That, unlike the other Hebridean islands, the Isle of Tiree is little more than a small…

I'm always up for an adventure – to push my limits. Whether it be backpacking around Asia or roaming the frosty reaches of Iceland, I'll always keep an open mind. You don't know it till you've tried it, is my philosophy. But I've got to admit I thought the exact same thoughts you are right now when someone first suggested it: the Isle of Tiree … in the Hebrides … in winter … are you mad?…

Located at the westernmost edge of the Inner Hebrides, little Tiree has been overlooked by generations of ramblers, adventurers, and surfers seeking mountains and magic in Skye, the Highlands, or even Mull. That's not hard to see why: at only 12 miles long and three miles wide, if you blink, you'll miss it. But this tiny slither of green is more…

When you live on Tiree, you live on the beach. It's where you walk when you want to think. It's where you go surfing or run or find a moment alone. In fact, almost all my greatest moments on Tiree happened on the beach. With the Isle of Tiree covering 30¼ square miles of land, you're never more than a mile or two from a spectacular expanse of white sands and rolling waves…

I've always thought outsiders see the world in a different light. The familiar scenes to locals are suddenly given a fresh perspective – you see the world anew. Perhaps I didn't mean outsiders, but Outlanders. "It was a beautiful, bright autumn day, with air like cider and a sky so blue you could drown in it," wrote the American author of the Outlander series, Diana Gabaldon, about a Scottish autumnal sky. Had she been to Tiree, I thought. She'd hadn't read my mind…

I've always felt the greatest discoveries in life change how you see the world. They're found in the adventure you return from forever different. The French novelist Marcel Proust put it best: "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." When you discover Tiree, you get both. Breath-taking landscapes you won't find anywhere else, and…

Part of the charm of visiting a new place is where you stay. It could be a quaint B&B in the Cotswolds, a fancy hotel in the heart of Vienna, or a mountain chalet in a skiers' paradise. Your accommodation frames your holiday. Finding a place to stay with fantastic service and lovely hosts can make or break your trip. We know; we've been there! A terrible breakfast or lumpy bed can be a recipe for disaster.

Isn't spring the best time of year? The days slowly get longer, and the long nights retreat to reveal the wildflowers and new shoots. I thought I'd seen the best spring could offer – then I discovered Tiree. I've observed in many places that the deeper the winter, the wilder and woollier the weather, the greater it rebounds. It's not just called spring; it lives it – literally.

Whether you're on Tiree, Rum, Skye, or Mull, there are not a lot of towns and cities carpeting the landscape. Indeed, it's precisely why people come to our little island at the edge of the Inner Hebrides: to get away from it all. You'll find secluded beaches without another soul in sight. And, in the winter months, when the days and nights become a little wilder and woollier, you can admire the whole landscape in blissful solitude.

I've been fortunate enough to adventure all around the world. It's a common thing for us Brits. We look across the seas for exotic locations in which to spend our holidays. We go to Spain, France, Italy, to the white sands of Greece, or if we're feeling particularly adventurous to Turkey, Egypt and Asia beyond. Going north in Summer always seemed a bit – well… wrong.

The tiny and beautifully remote Isle of Tiree is one of the most western islands of the Inner Hebrides. But you may be thinking, why a holiday on the Isle of Tiree? 

Let's start with Location. The Isle of Tiree is located in the Gulf Stream. Because of this one simple fact, we have a very different climate from mainland Scotland and, in fact, the rest of the UK. Much warmer winters and more bearable summers topped off with beautiful white-sand…

I've been fortunate enough to adventure all around the world. To look across the seas for exotic locations in which to spend my holidays. Some of us go to Spain, France, Italy, to the white sands of Greece, or if we're feeling particularly adventurous to Turkey, Egypt and Asia beyond. Going north in Summer always seemed a bit – well… wrong. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The beautiful Scottish island of Tiree is often referred to as the ‘Hawaii of the north”. It is the most westerly island in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides and requires around a 4-hour ferry ride from Oban. Not only does Tiree have miles of shimmering white sand, but thanks to the gulf stream, Tiree experiences more hours of annual sunlight than any other location in Great Britain. This means the water surrounding Tiree is warm and full of exciting sea life which we got to experience first-hand on our ferry journey. Read our guest blog written by Tartan Trailblazers.

Many of the places of interest on the Isle of Tiree have their own link to its rich and varied history. They have become a part of this islands rugged landscape, embedded in the culture as much as the inhabitants are. By visiting these places of interest, we believe you get a brief glimpse of Tiree’s immense and diverse past. The island plays host to many immersive and impressive places, from its beaches to the monuments erected for the islands first doctor, and this list highlights just a few of the places of interest we believe you should visit when you’re next on the Isle of Tiree.

The history of the Isle of Tiree is one that celebrates and relishes in immigration. Other than the Picts, thought to be descendants of Scotland’s first inhabitants, every population that has occupied the island has come far and wide to settle here. Whether for land battles, or for its nutrients-rich soil, the history of Tiree has shaped the island that we love and cherish today. Remnants of building relics can still be found along our coastlines, and the infamous black houses that make up our villages are a tried and trusted design that are centuries in the making.

To answer your question, Why Should I Visit the Isle of Tiree, we think you should visit for the beautiful and wonderful characteristics that make this island unique. Hidden amongst the larger Hebridean islands, Tiree is just as bewitching and often much quieter than its more infamous neighbours. The blue seas sparkle as soon as the sun peeks over the horizon, and the memories made on this speck of paradise are ones that will stay with you for life.

Staycationing opens the doors to a myriad of cherishable opportunities all available on the British Isles. From windsurfing to hiking, lazy days at the beach to pony trekking, there are a vast array of ways to make the most of your holiday. There is something to do for everyone. We’ve compiled a list of our top 10 favourites for you to try, whatever the time of year or weather

There is something to be said for sitting down with a map, plotting a route and deciding to take a few days off on the way to stay somewhere else. The west coast of Scotland, heading to Oban and then on to Tiree, is an ideal opportunity to experience slow travel. I’d highly recommend it, as restrictions begin to ease. You’ll be able to follow the mountain ridge-lines, breathtaking passes and coastal roads before spending a much needed break on the Isle of Tiree.

Now usually I’m more an international travel kind of girl, in the last couple of years I’ve cycled around the coast of Taiwan, hiked ancient Lycia and eaten enough Thai street food to feed a small village but after reading about the ‘great British staycation’ and the reasons for its growing popularity I've been thinking about how I haven’t really seen much of the UK and started asking myself if I’d been missing out.

It’s July, and we have all been in lockdown now for over 3 months. With a tentative touch, Scotland is beginning to open its doors to tourism and leisure once more – Whilst taking precautionary measures, we can now all begin to plan our getaways amongst the beautiful lochs, glens and bays that this country has to offer. Whether you love to be amongst soaring mountains, to be surrounded by the peace of island life, or the hustle and bustle of city breaks, Scotland has something for every perfect summer holiday. Here are 10 amazing locations for a Scottish Staycation.