Scotland's Yard Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lewis and Harris

Although it sounds like two islands, Lewis and Harris is, in fact, just one. The northern part is Lewis and the southern part is Harris; they are joined by a narrow stretch of land between two lochs. Lewis and Harris is part of the Outer Hebrides and is separated from the Scottish mainland by waters of the Minch and the Little Minch.

The island's major industry is production of handmade Harris tweed. The production of this tweed is so important to the island's economy that a statute called the Harris Tweed Act was passed by the UK parliament in 1993 to regulate its production and impose minimum standards.

The Clan MacLeod of Lewis is supposedly descended from Leod, the younger son of Olaf the Black, King of Mann from 1229 to 1237. The name "Macleod" means "son of Leod".

Answer: Skye

Skye has been inhabited since the Mesolithic Period and has spent much of the last millennium under control of the Highland Clans Macleod and Donald. It is known for the diversity of its wildlife and its significant Atlantic salmon fishing economy.

The Skye Bridge was opened in 1995 and was controversial for the first decade of its life because of the large tolls charged. These were removed in 2004 and the island is now able to run a regular bus service to both Inverness and Glasgow.

Founded in the 13th century, Dunvegan Castle is the ancestral seat of the MacLeod of MacLeod, chief of the Clan MacLeod. It is built on top of a hill and looks out onto Loch Dunvegan.

Answer: Bute

Although Bute is not one of Scotland's largest islands by area, its population is much higher than that of many other larger islands. The island is well known for its raised beaches and its wildlife. Scalpsie Bay, in particular, is a popular tourist destination as it has a colony of seals who breed and rest there each year.

Mount Stuart House is an impressive neo-Gothic mansion found on the island, and it is a popular tourist spot during the summer.

The island is perhaps best known as the home of Rothesay Castle, a ruined 13th century castle thought to have been built by Alan fitz Walter, High Steward of Scotland, or his son. During the Scottish Wars of Independence in the 14th century, Rothesay was held by the English but later famously taken by Robert the Bruce.

Answer: Mainland, Orkney

Home to seventy five percent of Orkney's population, Mainland is a densely populated and fertile farming island.

The island is particularly famous for the Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae, which was discovered on the western side of the island in 1850 following a storm in the Bay of Skaill. The settlement dates from round 500 BC and provides a fascinating insight into the lives of Neolithic farmers and settlers as it seems that the inhabitants fled suddenly one day (for an, as yet, unknown reason), leaving their homes and possessions relatively intact.

Answer: Arran

Arran is sometimes referred to as "Scotland in miniature" as its varied geological landscape means that it boasts both lowlands and highlands in its 432 square kilometre area. Although it has been inhabited since Neolithic times, Arran is now most famous for its walking and hiking trails across varied landscapes.

It is said that Robert the Bruce (a 14th century warrior king of Scotland) took shelter on Arran in a cave now known as the "king's Cave".

Brodick Castle was once the seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, and a picture of the castle has appeared on the back of Scottish £20 notes since 1987. The castle played an important role in a number of wars between England and Scotland over the last millennium.

The "Aran" style of knitting is often mistakenly attributed to Arran, but it is in fact derived from the Irish Aran Islands.

Answer: Mull

The fourth largest Scottish island, Mull is a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts. It has over 200 native species of bird and a large population of wild otters.

The largest settlement, Tobermory, has a layout based on designs by Thomas Telford, a Scottish engineer who is perhaps more famous for creating the Ironbridge in Telford, UK which is a symbol of the UK's industrial revolution. Tobermory is particularly famous for both its single malt whiskey and its use as a settling for the popular children's television show "Balamory".

Lochbuie, once known as "the Garden of Mull", is home to a stone circle which is thought to be a prehistoric tomb.

Duart Castle has a long and rich history, but it is perhaps most famous as constituting the dowry paid by the First Lord of the Isles when his daughter married the chief of the Clan Maclean in the 16th century.

Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped" is partially set on Mull. David Balfour, a central character, becomes stranded on the islette of Erraid, and travels across Mull before securing his passage home.

Answer: Islay

Although it is only the fifth largest Scottish island, Islay is well known the world over due to its eight active whiskey distilleries and its place as the "centre of whiskey tourism". It is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides and its exposure to the strong currents and winds of the North Atlantic has allowed it to become a pioneering hub for renewable energy, such as wave power.

In 1918, the US troop ship the SS Tuscania was torpedoed off the coast of Islay, losing 1,600 lives. The vessel now lies shipwrecked close to the coast. Later that year, the British troop shop, the HMS Otranto, was wrecked following a collision with another ship, resulting in the loss of over 400 lives. There is a monument on the coast of Islay at The Oa, commemorating these losses.

Answer: Barra

Barra is a sparsely populated island, with an uninhabitable wild centre. This is in stark contrast to the fertile lands and white sandy beaches at the north of the island and on its adjoining island of Vatersay.

The island's main village is Castlebay, which is so called as Kisimul Castle sits high above it. In 1427, King James I of Scotland sought to limit the violence ongoing between certain Clans and summoned them all to Inverness, where he executed many, and seized the remaining lands. The Clan MacNeill was awarded Kisimul Castle and held it for around 400 years, until they abandoned and sold upon their emigration to Canada.

Answer: South Uist

South Uist is the second largest island of the Outer Hebrides. The bedrock of the island is formed from a metamorphic rock from the Earth's ancient deep crust called "Lewisian Gneiss". It was brought to the surface by tectonic movement and these are the oldest known rocks in the British Isles.

Flora MacDonald is one of the island's most famous inhabitants. Born on South Uist, she is known for her support of the British government during the 1745 Rising and the aid she afforded to Bonnie Prince Charlie as he fled after the Battle of Culloden. When the prince took refuge on the island of Benbecula (another Scottish island in the Outer Hebrides), Flora disguised him as a maid and secured him safe passage to Skye at great risk to herself.

In the mid-1950s, Britain and America developed a guided nuclear missile named the "Corporal Missile" which was tested on South Uist in 1957. The Royal Air Force still retains a base on the island called "Deep Sea Range".

Answer: Coll

Coll is only around 13 miles along and, in 2013, the recorded population was just 195. However, it is a popular tourist destination due to its sandy beaches and well-known sand dues which are popular filming locations. The island has a significant wildlife presence, and a large part of the western side forms a wildlife reserve. The rare colonies of wild corncrakes (small, crowned birds that live on grasslands) are protected fiercely on Coll.

It is possible that the island's name derives from "colossus", as it is possible that there was a humanoid standing stone on the island at one time, though this remains unknown.

The name "Breachacha Castle" can refer to either of two structures on Coll. One is a 15th century tower castle which was a stronghold of the Clan MacLean, and the other is an 18th century house which was built to house upper class visitors. As at 2019, only the older castle is habitable, having been refurbished, and the newer castle is in need of repair.