Summer Isles

The Summer Isles are an archipelago off the coast of Ross and Cromarty in the northwest Highlands of Scotland. The largest island, Tanera Mòr, is occasionally inhabited. Since 2014 the Summer Isles have been owned by the financier Ian Wace, who intends to build a holiday resort, but to date nothing's come of this.

Islands

• 1 Tanera Mòr
• 2 Tanera Beag
• 3 Isle Ristol is tidal, walk across from Old Dorney.
• 4 Eilean Mullagrach
• 5 Horse Island
• 6 Eilean Dubh
• 7 Bottle Island
• 8 Priest Island
• 9 Isle Martin: see Ullapool for this outlier.

Get in

In summer, non-landing boat trips are operated by Shearwater Cruises from Ullapool and Summer Isles Sea Tours from Badentarbet pier in Achiltibuie.

Landing would require the owner's permission.

Get around

Boats tour several of the islands. Tanera Mòr has walking trails.

See

Wildlife includes dolphins, porpoises, seals and thousands of sea-birds.

Do

Tanera Mòr guardian

Line fishing is permitted in the surrounding seas.

Buy

Because it was so remote, Tanera Mòr estate was authorised to run a private postal service. It issued its own stamps, which became collectors' items, but you needed to add a conventional UK stamp for the item to be delivered on the mainland. This lapsed with the change of ownership and it's not known if it will resume. Lundy in southwest England and Caldey Island off Tenby in Wales in bygone years had a similar service.

Eat and drink

Bring all you need, the cafe is no longer open.

Sleep

Summer Isles post office

There are five cottages on Tanera Mòr for holiday rental, but these were not available in 2024.

Connect

As of August 2024, the islands have no mobile signal from any carrier.

Go next

• Achiltibuie is near Inverpolly Nature Reserve and has mountains to hike up.
• Ullapool is the area transport hub, with buses to Inverness and ferries to Stornoway on Lewis.
• North Coast 500 is a motoring itinerary, with Achiltibuie a side-loop.