Fascinating islands

Just under 7000 people call Mersea Island home. There’s plenty of space for visitors to explore the unique coastal spot, known for its colourful beach huts and super-fresh seafood. East Mersea is the place to head if you fancy walking in nature and exploring rural beaches, while West Mersea is where you’ll find a busier beach backed by a small fishing town. This is where you want to be if a plate of Colchester oysters and a glass of Mersea Island Vineyard white appeals. The only way on and off the island is via The Strood causeway, which sometimes floods at high tide, so plan your travel around low tide times.

Because it’s accessible only by sea or by air (easier than it sounds, there are four mainland ports with ferries), Catalina feels much further away than it really is. Maybe that’s because once you arrive you are on ‘island time’, with no cars (rent a taxi, bike or golf cart) and plenty of leisure activities.

This small island, between the archipelago’s two main islands of Malta and Gozo, is well-known for its clear blue seas. The famous Blue Lagoon is always teeming with boats and swimmers. However, there are several other smaller bays around Comino where you can swim in the same clear and clean blue seas, that are less crowded. Also an excellent location for a hike during the cooler months.

Four kilometres from the mainland of Portrane, this 250-hectare island is a natural breeding ground for all sorts of wildlife including grey seals, fallow deer, puffins, gulls and geese. Quite incredibly, you’ll also find a small number of exotic red-necked wallabies here.

The idyllic island of Långholmen near Södermalm, with a view over Riddarfjärden, is a popular spot for picnics and swimming in summertime. On hot days, the beach can get quite crowded, but it’s great for families with kids. If you prefer to dive off cliffs you will find that there too, as well as a jetty.

The Isle of May is a wonderful nature reserve in the Firth of Forth that’s ideal for spotting sea birds such as puffins and mamals such as Atlantic grey seals. The best way to get over there is to book a boat trip with Anstruther Pleasure Cruises. The trips last around 4,5 to 5 hours giving you at least 2,5 hours on the island to enjoy the walks and scenery. The island is owned and maintained by Scottish Natural Heritage. They have rangers stationed there to give you important information about the island and its biodiversity. May and June are the best times to see breeding seabirds, and best booking later on in the day to see puffins, as they are usually out fishing during the day.

If you need a break from Istanbul’s hustle and bustle, the nine-island archipelago known as the Princes’ Islands or simply Adalar (islands) in Turkish, awaits you. A day trip to one of these islands (visiting on weekdays and in May or September is recommended) includes experiencing one of the best free attractions in the city: a ferry ride on the classic ferries of Istanbul. The three biggest islands of the archipelago are definitely worth visiting; Büyükada, Heybeliada and Burgazada. 

An otherworldly island in a remote part of Northumberland, Lindisfarne has a big history. It is a spiritual place of pilgrimage, the home of saints and the centre of Christianity in Anglo Saxon times, ransacked by Vikings in the 8th century. Like St Michael’s Mount, it’s a tidal island, cut off from mainland England at high tide. But, if you can make it across the causeway, there’s a little more life to be found on the other side, where there is a small but permanent population. As well as a castle clinging to the coastline and an ancient priory, you’ll find cafes, a coffee roasters, pubs, a gin distillery and even places to stay the night on the surreal little island.