Turn fiction into reality on an island break
Follow in the footsteps of writers and artists for a magical escape in Scotland, suggests Sarah Devine
The fictional Scottish island of Struay is home to the much-loved character Katie Morag and with its row of whitewashed cottages by the jetty, it is clear to see where the inspiration comes from.
The small Hebridean island of Coll has a yearround population of just 220 and fans of the books written and illustrated by Mairi Hedderwick will also recognise the houses at the village of Arinagour and the sandy beach at Feall on the east coast.
Katie Morag, the adventure books’ heroine lives upstairs at the only shop on Struay and the two islands share a profound remoteness.
So remote in fact that the nearest street lights to Coll are 20 miles away, making the island an ideal spot for those seeking peace and quiet under an inky-black, starry sky.
It is also a hidden gem for wildlife lovers and, like the Katie Morag characters, visitors can observe rare seabirds and large puffin colonies.
The best time of the year for this is in May when the three-day Coll Bird Festival takes place. The setting for Hedderwick’s charming stories is not the only Scottish island to have inspired writers – just four miles east is Mull, the second largest of the Inner Hebrides behind Skye.
On its east coast is the charming town of Tobermory, with its waterfront of colourful houses that look on to stunning coastal views over the Sound of Mull.
The town was inspiration for the BBC television series Balamory, where each character wore colours reflecting their house.
Since the children’s programme first aired in 2002, there has been a rise in visitors seeking the real story at Balamory.
While most sites from the programme remain private, visitors can stay at character Josie Jump’s house, which is a small hotel.
One of the most famous scenes used is Isle of Mull Railway at nearby Craignure and while it is no longer in use, the station can be visited.
Craignure is the main ferry port on Mull and is overlooked by Duart Castle, a restored 13th-century castle and dungeons, making up for Archie’s Castle being filmed near North Berwick.
The island is also the home of The Tobermory Cat, by writer and illustrator Debi Gliori. The ginger cat sings with the otters, dances on the fish van and has adventures with the cats of Loch Ba and Staffa.
Loch Ba, on Mull’s east coast, is an ideal base for exploring mountains and for fishing, while Staffa, a nearby uninhabited island, is home to the ancient Fingal’s Cave.
Of course, it is not just the West Coast that has some of Scotland’s most inspirational islands.
The Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth features in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Catriona and is to where his character David Balfour is confined after being kidnapped.
It is the East Coast of Scotland’s most famous island and the loud chorus of bird song, diving gannets and guillemots, historic caves and 116-year-old lighthouse have inspired many poets and artists through the years.
In fact, right around Scotland’s coastline, inspiration can be found in the history, stunning scenery and wildlife of its many magical islands.