The Outer Hebrides was up against still competition, but it managed to bag first place as the most popular island destination in Europe and the fifth most popular in the world.
Lewis and Harris was voted number one by travellers who reported back on the travel website TripAdvisor.
Lewis and Harris, in the Outer Hebrides, is Scotland's largest island. Lewis forms the northern part of the island, and Harris the southern part, although both are often referred to as if they are separate islands.
The write up said a visit there is “like stepping into the pages of a Scottish fairy tale” and described historic standing stones dating back millions of years along with sandy beaches.
The island is peppered with peaks and lochs. The Northern Lights are often visible and boats carry visitors to the volcanic islands of St Kilda.
In the European league, Lewis and Harris was followed immediately by the warmer islands of Naxos in Greece and Gozo in Malta. But Scotland’s star was not limited to first place – Orkey and Mull were also in the European top 10.
In the global sweepstakes, Ambergris Caye in Belize was number one. The largest of the Belize islands, it has tropical rainforests, hundreds of limestone caves, and what it claims is the largest coral reef system in the world.
The world’s top 10 were all tropical with the exception of Lewis and Harris.
TripAdvisor's Top 10 European islands
- 1. Lewis and Harris, Scotland
- 2. Naxos, Greece
- 3. Island of Gozo, Malta
- 4. Orkney Islands, Scotland
- 5. Milos, Greece
- 6. Cephalonia, Greece
- 7. Santorini, Greece
- 8. Island of Capri, Italy
- 9. Isle of Mull, Scotland
- 10. Paros, Greece
