By TRAVELMAIL REPORTER

Picture perfect: The Isle of Skye is considered one of Europe's top Island destinations


Scotland’s Isle of Skye has been named as one of the top island destinations in Europe according to a new poll of the continent's top island getaways.

The 'Misty Isle' beat Sicily and Croatia's Hvar island to come eighth in the Top 10 European Islands category of US-based Conde Nast Traveller's Readers' Choice Awards.

Three Scottish golf hotels, The Old Course Hotel in St Andrews, the Turnberry Resort and the Gleneagles hotel, were also named in the Top 20 European Resorts category.

Ardanaiseig Hotel by Loch Awe was named as the third best leisure hotel in the UK, the highest rating for a Scottish hotel. The hotel also made it into the World's Overall Travel Top 100 list.

More than 25,000 people voted in the Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards. The winners will feature in the November issue of the magazine.

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: "The results of this survey are fantastic news for Scotland, especially as they are voted for by visitors themselves.

"Skye plays a prominent role in our Meet the Scots campaign, a European marketing drive which is expected to generate £85 million for the Scottish economy.

"Having such high-quality locations and businesses in Scotland is crucial to the success of our marketing of the country. Those campaigns, in turn, are vital to communities across Scotland, with just some of our key marketing campaigns generating £400 million last year."


Visitors from across the world are drawn to the Scottish Isle for the spectacular sunsets


Tourism Minister Jim Mather added: "This is extremely welcome acclaim which recognises Scotland's standing as a world-class destination

"I am delighted to congratulate the picturesque, evocative and timeless Isle of Skye and all those across Scottish tourism who have been highlighted as being among the best of the international travel community."


source: dailymail