The shores of the Greek islands are a popular destination for European holidaymakers, but the Mediterranean beaches are rarely compared to the coast of the Scottish Highlands.
Known more for its stunning rural scenery and sharp cliffs instead of a sunny climate, the Scottish Highlands are certainly considered a scenic gem in Britain.
However, the little-known Greek island of Andros has drawn comparisons to the Highlands thanks to the island’s beautiful waterfalls, forests and stone-paved trails.
Travel experts at iEscape wrote in a blog post: “Probably our favourite secret island in Greece, Andros is like the Scottish Highlands plonked down in the south Aegean. Like the Highlands, Andros is endowed with waterfalls, forests and stone-paved trails, but is equally packed with whitewashed villages and over 70 sun-drenched beaches.”
In addition to its woodlands of willow, walnut and olive trees, Andros is also home to over 70 sandy beaches, with the island described in the post as a “wild heaven”.
The northernmost island of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, Andros has a long maritime history and maintains a bustling fishing industry today.
Despite its size, Andros hosts several museums, libraries and galleries, perhaps most notably the Museum of Contemporary Art which showcases major modern artists.
The narrow cobblestone streets around the main village are lined with traditional Greek tavernas, cafes, local shops and alfresco dining restaurants.
Perhaps the most famous among the dozens of beaches, Tis Grias To Pidima, or ‘Old Lady’s Leap’, features a unique tower-like rock structure which legend says represents a woman who leapt from a nearby cliff and was transformed into the distinctive stone.
Andros, much like most of the smaller Greek islands, does not have its own airport, meaning travellers must first fly into either Athens or Santorini.
From the Greek capital, visitors can make the short journey to Rafina port, where a direct ferry to Andros takes just under two hours.
From Santorini, the journey is only 40 minutes, although the ferries are less regular than from Rafina.
Once settled in Andros, holidaymakers can enjoy the peace of this tranquil location or hop between other nearby islands such as Mykonos by local ferry.