Canna

Canna, with its smaller neighbour Sanday, is the most westerly of the Small Isles. Known as ‘the garden of the Hebrides’, Canna boasts beautiful green meadows and 248 native flowering plants. White sandy beaches and spectacular scenery await the visitor within easy walking distance from Canna's sheltered harbour. With over 20,000 breeding seabirds on Canna's cliffs, there are also plenty opportunities to spot kittiwakes, razorbills and puffins.

9,000 years of occupation have left a rich legacy which can be discovered through the guided history tours conducted by the National Trust Ranger. Whilst the Old Laundry presents objects from the more recent past, the outstanding collections in Canna House are a must for anyone interested in Hebridean history and folkore.

Plans are afoot to develop Canna's amenities, and in the meantime, the Canna community shop offers teas and coffees on a self service basis all year round as well as local produce and crafts made on the island, especially the knitting yarn in marvellous shades produced from the wool of Canna sheep.

Canna, with its smaller neighbour Sanday, is the most westerly of the Small Isles.

Eigg

Best known for its community buy-out in 1997 and award winning Green electricity grid inaugurated in 2008, Eigg is the most wooded of all the Small Isles. Bird song, bluebell and wild garlic flowering in its woodland are some of Eigg's wildlife delights which the local ranger will help you explore on his weekly Wednesday walks.

A visit to Eigg would not be complete without climbing An Sgurr, the largest single piece of rock in the British Isles, or scuffing your way through the famous Singing Sands beach with its stunning views of the Rum Cuillins, about an hour's walk from the pier on the other side of the island.

Crofting shaped that part of the island and you can discover more about Eigg crofting life in the 20th century at Croft 6, the island's Museum of Crofting life, situated in Cleadale, Eiggs crofting's heartland.

Eigg's long and troubled history is still written in the landscape, from the atmospheric Grulin Clearance ruins nestling under the shadow of the Sgurr, and the Eigg Massacre Cave to the site of Donnan's martyrdom, a 7th century saint, which was recently identified as situated in the Kildonnan Graveyard.

Today however, Eigg's Earth Connections Centre offers a chance to discover a more gentle and a greener way of life with a variety of courses and renewable energy information. It is situated in the former island owners' Lodge built in the 1920's, and is surrounded by exotic garden species. Nearby is the Community Hall where a Farmer's Market is held every Monday throughout the summer months and offers delicious food and island-made products.

Muck

Coming to Muck is to instantly relax in the slower pace of island life. It is difficult to go further than the little stone built cafe, where outside seating entices you to sit and enjoy the view over the harbout whilst having a wholesome lunch or a scrumptious afternoon tea. But there is more to the isle of Muck than tea and cake!

First of all, the old Clearance ruins of A'Chill at the head of the harbour are well worth a look. It is said that when the islanders were cleared from their little hamlets to Port Mor, there was so many pipers in the new township what you could have had a celidh every night of the week in a different house. Early Christian crosses can be found there amongst the ruins, dating back to the 7th century when a small church stood there. Further around the coast, Dun Bhan is in easy reach, the site of an even older site, a fort dating back to the Iron Age.

The mile long road will take you to the white sandy beach of Gallanach where stunning views of Rum await you. Walking along, you will also discover the whole extant of the Sgurr ridge on Eigg as that vista will acccompany you much of that journey. You will also see the sheep, cattle, pigs and Highland horses that are being bred on this island farm which as the sea as its boundaries. You might also hear the eleusive corncrake, whose presence is due to the careful management of the land.

For the more adventurous, descending into Camus Mor to look at its geology and the numerous dykes that are so distinctive of the Muck landscape is a must.

For lovers of traditional sporting activities, Gallanach Lodge now offers small pheasant and ducks shoots over the winter months. But Muck is also the perfect place to learn new country crafts, so look out for its advertised courses. You might come away with a beautiful willow basket or a Jacob sheep rug!

Rum

On Rum, everything is larger and bigger. For the adventurous, there is no limit to the walking on Rum, taking in the stunning mountain and coastal scenery, spectacular wildlife including eagles, shearwaters, red deer and the hardy Rum ponies.

Rum’s unique geology tells an amazing story, with the core of an ancient volcano forming the ‘Rum cuillins’ you see today. In addition, Rum is an important natural heritage site, designated as a National Nature Reserve in 1957, now managed by Scottish Natural Heritage. The site of the longest mammal study in the world, Rum's deer population has now been made famous by the BBC's Autumn watch and every year, the Deer Research project is inviting people to come and observe the island deers at their Kilmory hide.

It is nevertheless easy to sample Rum's amazing scenery and natural history in the few hours between ferry stops. The Rum Community Ranger offers guided walks around the village of Kinloch as well as a wide range of activities throughout the summer months. There is also the lovely coastal walk to the Otter Hide through woodlands where atmospheric crofting ruins still stand. And of course, a visit to Rum would not be complete without a tour of the excentric Kinloch Castle and its hidden treasures. Make sure you still have time for a bite to eat in the Village Hall teashop before departure and a browse in the island wee craftshop for locally made souvenirs.

The Isle of Rum is truly a special place for nature, bird life and wildlife conservation, yet its cultural heritage is also outstanding, with 17 nationally important ancient monument sites. Amongst these are the medieval deer traps high up in the hills which were used by the Lords of the Isles, the deserted crofting townships of Kilmory and Harris and the cave at Bagh na Uamha where a 7th century hermit, Beccan the Solitary, lived a life of contemplation for over 40 years.

At the shop, you can also meet the folks that make up the growing Rum community. The Rum Community Trust is now resposible for land and assets in and around Kinloch Village which were transferred from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to Community Trust ownership in 2009 and 2010. This is giving the community and individuals control over their own destinies and creating unique, exciting opportunities on the island.