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Internal flights around Scotland
Although Scotland seems at first too small a country to make air travel around it worthwhile, there are plenty of journeys that really do justify it. Trips that normally take several hours by car can be cut down drastically, and if that doesn't swing you, how about the amazing views or landing on a shell sand beach instead of a runway? There are plenty of small airports besides the main destinations of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Here's a selection of the best internal air routes in Scotland.
The flight to Barra is a journey unlike any other, with the aforementioned beach landing making it feel like a step back in time as your foot sinks into the cockle shell sand on Tràigh Mhòr. The journey in the De Havilland Twin Otter, which only holds 12 passengers, offers spectacular aerial views and flights are planned around the tides. Just hope there aren't any seals or dolphins stranded on the beach to cause delays!
Still in the Outer Hebrides, Stornoway, the capital of the Isle of Lewis, benefits from good air links. The town itself is fairly busy, but if you fancy getting away from it all, then the lochs and vast white sandy beaches of Lewis and Harris are within easy reach.
Elsewhere on the West Coast, there are lots of air links worth investigating.
Campbeltown airport has the longest runway in Europe, and is only forty minutes from Glasgow in the air, compared to the 3 to 4 hour car journey. The town is a popular holiday town, and is one of the sunniest places on Scotland's western coast.
Islay is accessible by air and is a must for whisky fans as it's thought to be the birthplace of whisky in Scotland (it currently has 6 working distilleries). The island is renowned for its tranquility but if you're feeling sporty or just need a break from the whisky there's also the chance to play golf, spot wildlife or go fishing.
Further North, the island of Tiree is worth a visit, as it regularly records the highest annual levels of sunshine in the UK and has plenty of stunning scenery to admire.
Inverness is the primary airport serving the north of Scotland, and oversees both domestic and some international flights. It's a great base for exploring the Highlands, as is nearby Wick airport.
If you want to get even further away from it all, how about flying to Orkney? Sumburgh is the main hub for flights to the mainland and the extensive inter-island service. If you're fed up of long haul flights, the Westray to Papa Westray route in Orkney is for you - the shortest scheduled air service in the world with a flying time of less than two minutes.
A lot of people are put off domestic Scottish flights simply because of the cost. However it is often worth checking out reward schemes such as Air Miles as you can usually pick up flights for relatively few reward points.
Flying within Scotland offers the opportunity for some great day or weekend trips, as well as the chance to see some amazing scenery and reaching parts of Scotland usually much harder to access, but they also serve as a lifeline to local communities. All told, any such flight will be a journey to remember.
Airlines running Scottish domestic flight include Logan Air and Highland Airways.
Airport information is available from Highlands and Islands Airports
This article was originally "printed" in the July 2003 issue of Uniquely Unspoilt, a free monthly e-magazine for those with an interest in rural Scotland.
Cottages relevant to this article
The following holiday cottages are situated within easy reach of the airports mentioned above:
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