Dramatic, beautiful, other-worldly, surreal, remote, epic – welcome to the islands of the British Isles.
There are over 6,000 of them altogether and so picturing them all would be a tall order – but here we bring you some of the most breathtaking.
It’s almost guaranteed that you will stare in disbelief at some of these images – the one of the Isle of Skye waterfall that cascades off cliffs into the sea is a contender, as is the photo of Bull Rock, which has a natural tunnel running right the way through it.
You’ll just gaze longingly at others – and probably start Googling accommodation options.
If you do, then that’s our job done, because here we want to give you fodder for a reviving getaway.
And at the very least, the chance to lose yourself in some serious isle-candy…
A stunning aerial image of Channel Island Sark taken by Phillip Capper as he flew over it on a flight from London to Spain. He posted it to Flicker, writing: ‘I had a family holiday here in 1952 and this was the first time I’d seen the island since.’ Photo published here courtesy of Creative Commons licensing
Three-mile-long Lundy Island – which is owned by the National Trust – lies ten miles out in the Bristol Channel. There are no roads, but there is a pub, the Marisco Tavern
An aerial shot of Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour. There is evidence that this 500-acre islet was home to settlers as far back as 5 BC. It has been voted the best nature reserve in the UK
This image shows the 16th-century Lindisfarne Castle, which sits on the two-square-mile tidal island of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne in Northumberland, within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and connected to the mainland by a three-mile-long causeway. Irish monks settled the island in AD 635 and it became an important centre of Christianity. Some scenes in Polanski’s Macbeth were filmed here
Tidal Burgh Island in Devon is home to a pub, the 14th-century Pilchard Inn, and Burgh Island Hotel. Past guests include Agatha Christie, Winston Churchill, The Beatles, aviator Amy Johnson and Noel Coward. It’s possible to walk to the island from Bigbury-on-Sea, but have a tidal timetable handy
The eight-mile-long, four-mile-wide Scottish island of Barra has one of the most scenic airstrips in the world – a tidal beach
There’s no mistaking Scotland’s Isle of Eigg, which is dominated by a colossal 1289ft-high ridge formed from volcanic rock called An Sgurr (pictured). It’s vertical on three sides, but the spine is hikeable from one end and the views are breathtaking. Photograph courtesy of Creative Commons licensing
A mesmerising drone shot of ruined 13th-century Castle Tioram (pronounced ‘Cheerum’), which sits on the rocky tidal island Eilean Tioram (aka Dry Island) in Loch Moidart in Scotland
Alderney, one of the Channel Islands, was the site of four German concentration camps during the Second World War. It measures just three-and-a-half miles by one-and-a-half, Wombles creator Elisabeth Beresford lived there and the airport provides waiting passengers with unfinished knitting to help pass the time
Ballast Island in Porthmadog, North Wales, started life as a dumping ground for ballast from incoming ships in the 19th century. It eventually grew into a tiny island. A one point a house was built on it for the operator of a crane used to shift the materials around
A dramatic sea stack on the four-square-mile Scottish island of Papa Westray, which is said to be one of Bill Bryson’s favourite UK spots
The ruins of Oliver Cromwell’s barracks on the Irish island of Inishbofin. Inishbofin.com says: ‘The Cromwellian regime built the well-preserved star-shaped fort in about 1656. In the years following construction the barracks was used to house captured Catholic clergy from all over the country after the English Statute of 1655 declared them guilty of high treason. Here they awaited transportation to the West Indies and other remote places’
A walking trail on beautiful Cape Clear Island, which lies eight miles off the coast of West Cork. It is the most southerly inhabited piece of land in Ireland and unspoilt charm is the name of the game here
Tory Island (officially Toraigh) in Ulster is just three miles long and 0.6 miles wide. During World War I the British super-dreadnought HMS Audacious was sunk off the coast, an event witnessed by passengers on the Titanic. The island is treeless, but there is no shortage of mythological sites
The dramatic cliffs of Arranmore island off the coast of County Donegal, Ireland. It’s home to just under 500 people and a number of sheep
The islet of Fastnet Rock is Ireland’s most southerly point. There’s been a lighthouse there since 1854. The granite lighthouse in this picture was built in 1904, the current light – which has a range of 28 nautical miles – fitted in 1969 and it’s been automated since 1989
The most notable feature of 305ft-high Bull Rock, which lies west of Dursey Island in County Cork, is the incredible natural tunnel that cuts entirely through from one side to the other. It’s all very Pirates of the Caribbean. Save for the solar-powered lighthouse on top
Inchydoney, off West Cork, is blessed with beautiful beaches (one has a Blue Flag) and an acclaimed hotel
Stunning Inisheer (Inis Oirr) is one of the three rocky Aran Islands in Galway Bay and home to around 260 people. It measures just 3.1 square miles. There is evidence that the island was settled as far back as 1500 BC
The privately owned Saltee Islands – a pair of islands three miles off the coast of Kilmore Quay, County Wexford, Ireland. Neolithic man settled on them – now they’re important bird sanctuaries. Gannets, gulls, puffins and Manx shearwaters can be found on them, along with around 120 grey seals
Here you’re gazing at beguiling Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland’s sole inhabited offshore island, which lies close to the Causeway Coastal Route and is home to around 100 people
Behold Ireland’s one and only cable car and the only cable car in Europe that crosses open seawater. It began services in 1969 and links the mainland with four-mile-long Dursey Island, which lies off the south-west coast of Ireland. It costs 10 euros for an adult return
Off the west coast of County Mayo, Ireland, lies rugged Clare Island. It sits at the entrance to Clew Bay and is the largest of the bay’s 365 islands. On one side is a very cute harbour (pictured), on the other the 1,515ft-high Knockmore mountain
This amazing picture captures the epic 215ft-high sea stack known as Bishop’s Island, which lies off the coast of County Clare, Ireland. Somewhat remarkably, it was settled by monks in the 6th century – the remains of a drystone church are visible – and landsmen grazed sheep on it in the 19th century, it’s thought by hoisting them up the cliffs by rope
Beautiful Valentia Island, one of Ireland’s most westerly points, is heaven for cyclists and walkers – and fishing enthusiasts. The waters here are home to conger eel, red sea bream and the lesser spotted dogfish. This image shows a view from the island
Here we’re back in the Aran Islands, this time at Inishmore, the largest island in the archipelago. This spectacular aerial photo shows the Dun Aengus hill fort, which dates back to 500 BC and stands on the edge of 300ft-high cliffs
The lighthouse on craggy Skellig Michael dates back to 1870 and is one of the main sea lights of the south-west coast of Ireland. The island, which lies just over seven miles from the South Kerry mainland, is now globally famous, having been used as a filming location for Luke Skywalker scenes in The Force Awakens
The characterful Snaefell Mountain Railway on the Isle of Man, which has been running for over 120 years
Great Blasket in County Kerry is four miles long, half a mile wide and is the most westerly point in Europe
This stunning picture of the Isles of Scilly was taken by Christina Scheunemann, who posted it to her Flickr page
A stunning shot of a truly other-worldly slice of Isle of Skye coastline, where the Mealt Waterfall cascades 200 feet off Kilt Rock (so named because it resembles the pleats of a kilt) into the Sound of Raasay below
Skomer island in Pembrokeshire, home to a cornucopia of wildlife including voles, rabbits, buzzards, peregrine falcons, owls and puffins
Spike Island, in Cork Harbour, covers 103 acres and has hosted a 7th-century monastery and the star-shaped 18th century Fort Mitchel. The latter was re-purposed as a prison, becoming the largest convict depot in the world in Victorian times, according to www.spikeislandcork.ie. It was named ‘Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction’ in the World Travel Awards in 2017
Fin-tastic: Achill Island, off County Mayo, has five Blue Flag beaches and basking sharks often cruise the coastal waters
This ethereal image shows South Stack Lighthouse on Holy Island, Anglesey. The island has a large number of prehistoric sites and affords visitors epic views of Snowdonia
A cobbled causeway links the Cornish mainland with St Michael’s Mount, home to a 13th-century abbey, which is run by the National Trust. Walking to the island is, says Lonely Planet, ‘a magical experience’
An incredible picture of Port Erin Bay on the Isle of Man taken by Stuart Boakesy from an easyJet A320 coming into land at the island’s airport near Castletown. He posted the image to his Flickr account
George Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four while staying in a farmhouse on brooding Jura in Scotland. This image shows the towering Paps of Jura mountains wrapped in cloud
This gem of a beach – Kiloran Bay – is on the Scottish island of Colonsay, which lies between Mull and Islay. Population? Around 100, plus wild goats and rabbits
An amazing aerial shot of Fair Isle, which lies halfway between Shetland and Orkney. It’s just three miles long and one-and-a-half miles wide. Over 300 species of migrating birds stop off here for a rest
Great Bernera island in Scotland is, as this picture shows, a rugged spot. Though it does have a sandy beach
The Isle of Lewis and Harris is, says Visitscotland.com, ‘a great place to start your unforgettable Hebridean adventure’. It adds: ‘Discover a dramatic island landscape, Gaelic culture and historic traditions and attractions’. There’s also this lovely beach. This picture of it is courtesy of Instagram account Frenchtraveldiary
We’ve got Mike McBey to thank for this epic picture of the Isle of Wight, taken in 2008 while flying south from London. He posted the image to his Flickr account and it appears here courtesy of Creative Commons licensing
When the lockdown eases, you might like to mull over a visit to the Isle of Mull. We can recommend the sandy beaches and Torosay and Duart castles
Isle of Arran, home to golden eagles, several fine golf courses, and some epic geology, such as Cir Mhor and the Saddle, pictured
This is Port Mor on the low-lying Scottish island of Muck, the most diminutive of the Small Isles – population, around 30
For more on the islands of the British Isles visit www.tourismireland.com and www.visitbritain.org.