I toured 3 tiny Scottish islands in 3 days. The experience was magical, but I made 5 mistakes which I'll avoid next time.

We kicked off our journey with a one-hour flight from Glasgow to Barra, a remote island located in the Outer Hebrides. We spent two days exploring the beautiful beaches and countryside before flying back to Glasgow.

After that, we visited Seil and Easdale in the Inner Hebrides, which are known for their contribution to Scotland's slate mining history, according to the Slate Islands Heritage Trust.

We drove from Glasgow to Seil, which is connected to the mainland by Clachan Bridge. The bridge is around 200 years old and is often referred to as the "Bridge over the Atlantic," the organization states on its website.

We didn't spend very long on Seil as our main goal was to visit Easdale Island, which can be reached via a three-minute ferry from Seil. The island has no cars, no grocery stores, and a population of 60 people. We spent an evening meeting the locals and enjoying the tranquil scenery before heading back to Glasgow the following day.

From our home in Glasgow, Barra is accessible via ferry from Oban, which takes just under five hours, or by plane which takes just over one hour from Glasgow Airport.

We originally booked the ferry since the ferry port in Oban is close to Seil.

But when the week of our trip came around, we noticed there had been cancellations to some of the ferries because of weather conditions. When I asked the ferry operator about whether our trip would still go ahead, they told me that it was impossible to tell because the weather had been so unpredictable lately. They added that they wouldn't be able to let us know for sure until the day of the trip.

I previously didn't consider that the ferry could be canceled at such short notice. We didn't want to risk not being able to go on the trip, so we got a refund from the ferry operator and booked a flight instead.

It ended up being the best decision, as Barra has the only airport in the world where planes land directly on the beach. Next time, I'll save myself time and stress and refrain from booking a ferry if flying is an option.

We spent two nights at the Isle of Barra Beach Hotel on Tangasdale Beach on the west of the island. On the first night, there were three other couples, but they all checked out the next day — leaving my partner and me as the only guests.

A hotel employee informed us that were the final guests before the hotel closed for the winter. She added that some of the restaurants in the area were also due to close a couple of days after our trip because soon there wouldn't be many tourists.

She said the best time to visit is May, as there is a higher chance of sunlight and less chance of rain.

It didn't massively affect our stay — in fact, we enjoyed having the place to ourselves. But it served as a reminder to do your research on timing, especially when it comes to visiting remote communities. I personally had no idea that the local businesses closed for the winter, and this knowledge will help me when planning future island trips.

Some islands, like Easdale, are car-free and incredibly small. My partner and I were able to walk around the entire island in 20 minutes.

But navigating Barra by foot took a lot longer, as it is five miles wide by eight miles long, according to the Scottish Highland Trails.

It took just under 50 minutes to walk from our hotel to Castlebay, the main village on the island where most of the restaurants and attractions are located. We mostly passed farms and houses during the walk. Plenty of cars passed by, but we didn't notice any other walkers on the single-track road leading to the village.

My partner and I would definitely consider renting a car on our next trip so we can see more of the island. But if you don't drive and want to visit, you can still see plenty.

We got a taxi back to the hotel a couple of times because it had become too dark outside or we were too tired to walk. Luckily for us, we had a lovely taxi driver, who we became on a first-name basis with. She allowed us to share rides with other tourists, which made the fares less expensive, and on one of the trips she didn't charge us simply because she was "going in that direction."

The only reason we visited Seil was because it is where the ferry to Easdale was located.

The island, which has a population of around 551 people, appeared mostly residential as we passed batches of cream cottages on our way to the pier.

But the island has a fascinating history, and I wish I had extended the trip in order to learn about it. The Scottish Slate Islands Heritage Centre is located on Seil, close to the Easdale ferry departure point, according to Visit Scotland.

As slate islands, Seil and Easdale are responsible for providing the roofing to many important buildings across the country, including Ardmaddy Castle, Cawdor Castle in Invernesshire, and Glasgow Cathedral, according to Visit Scotland.

My partner and I took a three-minute ferry to Easdale, which cost £2.20, or around $2.77, per person for a single trip. The island has no cars, no grocery stores, and one pub and cafe where most of the local residents gathered when we visited on a Sunday evening.

After visiting the pub, we walked around the island and took in the stunning sea views. It was beautiful, but I wish I had considered the fact that I'd be spending most of the time outdoors when planning my wardrobe.

It was pouring rain and incredibly windy. I wore jeans, a sweater, a waterproof jacket, and pink boots. The jacket was great and the boots were sturdy and water-resistant. Nonetheless, I would have also benefited from waterproof pants or a hat to keep my ears warm and my hair intact.