FOCUS ON Inner Hebrides

Explore the beauty of Scotland's west coast wonders as we take a tour around the wild Hebridean waters and islands

- MORAG LINDSAY

Surf's Up - In Every Direction

Tiree is an island paradise with a place and a watersport for every weather... plus lots of space

YOU don't get the nickname "Hawaii of the North" without some seriously appealing attributes. Tiree is blessed with some of the highest levels of sunshine in the UK, a mild Gulf Stream climate, clear turquoise waters and sparkling white sands.

Throw in impressive waves rolling off the Atlantic, plus welcoming locals and a laid-back vibe, and it's easy to see why this most westerly of the Inner Hebridean islands has become Scotland's coolest little surfing capital.

While other surfing locations can be overcrowded we're looking at you, Cornwall - or so remote and unpredictable that they're best left to the purists, Tiree provides a near-perfect package for beginners and experienced surfers alike.

The island is relatively small and flat, boasting 74 kilometres (46 miles) of coastline fringed with stunning bays and beaches which catch the North Atlantic swell from all directions.

It means it's always a good day for surfing somewhere - if not at your closest beach, then at another nearby.

This flexibility and accessibility is what makes Tiree so appealing, says lona Larg, who runs the Blackhouse Watersports surf school with her husband Marti and kids Ben (18), Robyn (16) and Lily (13).

"We get a lot of swell here and there are so many lovely beaches, all pointing different ways," says lona. "If the conditions aren't right at Balevullin, where we have our beach hut, we can drive to somewhere else in a matter of minutes.