Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The British Isles archipelago comprises over 6,000 islands, but five dominate in size. Areas are approximate land area.
| Rank | Island | Area (km²) | Area (sq mi) | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Britain | 209,331 | 80,823 | Contains England, Scotland, Wales; 9th largest island globally |
| 2 | Ireland | 84,421 | 32,595 | Republic of Ireland (70,273 km²) + Northern Ireland (14,148 km²) |
| 3 | Lewis and Harris | 2,179 | 841 | Single island, two names (Lewis north, Harris south); Outer Hebrides, Scotland |
| 4 | Skye (Isle of Skye) | 1,656 | 639 | Inner Hebrides; famous for Cuillin mountains, fairy pools, Dunvegan Castle |
| 5 | Mull (Isle of Mull) | 1,295 | 500 | Inner Hebrides; Tobermory harbor, Ben More summit, Iona ferry link |
All five are on the Eurasian Plate. Great Britain and Ireland are continental shelf islands; the Hebridean islands (Lewis/Harris, Skye, Mull) are volcanic/metamorphic remnants of the Caledonian orogeny, shaped by Pleistocene glaciation.