I'm a city girl who went island-hopping for the first time. Here are 4 things I loved and 2 things I hated about island life.

My partner and I traveled to the islands of Barra, Seil, and Easdale for a weekend break in September.

We made our way from our home in Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, to Barra via plane. The remote island in Scotland's Outer Hebrides is known for its stunning beaches, including the airport's runway which is located on a beach.

After two days on Barra, we traveled by car to Seil and Easdale, two slate islands in the Inner Hebrides which are known for their rich history and tiny population. Easdale, for example, is one of Scotland's smallest islands with 60 residents. We spent an evening chatting with locals and enjoying the fantastic scenery before driving back to Glasgow the following day.

The trip taught me a lot about island living. And just like Scotland's cities, each island was unique in its own way.

Easdale is a tiny, car-free island that's accessible via a small ferry from its neighboring island, Seil, which is connected to the mainland by a bridge.

Before visiting, I spoke to residents who praised the island for its low crime rate, small community feel, and beautiful natural scenery.

Florence and the Machine filmed the music video for "Queen of Peace," on Easdale in 2015, as the Press and Journal reported in 2016. The island's rolling hills that look onto the sea can be seen in the video, and it's this view I also enjoyed during our trip.

Barra was even more beautiful than Easdale in my opinion, thanks to its white sandy beaches which could be mistaken for the Caribbean. According to the Daily Mail, the locals playfully refer to the island as "Barrabados," because of its similarities to Barbados.

Barra's landscape was unlike anywhere else I'd ever visited in Scotland. I'd love to return in May (when the weather in Scotland is typically the warmest) to experience the beaches under the summer sun.

One thing I loved about the islands we visited was the small community feel, as most locals seemed to know each other.

This was especially apparent in Easdale. We arrived on the island on a Sunday evening after the World Stone Skimming Championships, which is held annually on Easdale and welcomes competitors from around the world.

The Puffer, the island's only pub and restaurant, was filled to the brim with locals, who welcomed my partner and me warmly. This wasn't surprising to me, as I had previously been told that all of the islanders are accepting of newcomers and make an effort to assist those who move to the island from the mainland.

Barra can be reached via a ferry from the mainland, which takes just under five hours, or via a Loganair flight from Glasgow, which takes just over an hour.

My partner and I opted for the flight, and the journey to the island turned out to be a highlight of the weekend. We were blown away by the views of the turquoise sea as we landed on the beach. The round-trip cost £164, or around $199, per person.

The journey to Seil and Easdale was also memorable. Seil can be accessed by car as it is connected to the mainland by the Clachan Bridge, which is around 200 years old and is often referred to as the "Bridge over the Atlantic," according to the Slate Islands Heritage Trust.

Meanwhile, Easdale can be reached via a three-minute ferry from Seil. The open ferry had only 10 seats and it was raining and cold. But even though the weather was unfavorable, we enjoyed the views of the surrounding sea, vibrant green hills, and the cluster of white cottages on the island. Our round-trip ferry cost £2.20, or around $2.70, per person.

However, it's worth noting that public transportation to the islands is often disrupted due to poor weather conditions. We were originally meant to travel to Barra via ferry, but we booked a flight at the last minute because there had been a string of ferry cancellations earlier in the week.

On Easdale, one resident said he enjoys the fact that the ferries to the island don't operate 24/7. He said he enjoys the atmosphere at the end of the night after the last ferry had departed, knowing that "nobody is coming onto the island and nobody is going for the night."

I would not feel the same sense of peace if I were to live on an island with no way to leave without public transportation. At home in Glasgow, I live a 15-minute walk to the grocery store, a 10-minute drive to the closest hospital, and a 20-minute drive to where my family lives.

If there's ever an emergency or an urgent need to travel at a moment's notice, I know I would be able to. But if I were to stay on an island for longer than a couple of days, this sense of freedom is something I'd have to partly give up.

Our trip took place in mid-September, right before Barra's offseason, which lasts until May.

During our stay at the Isle of Barra Beach Hotel, we were the last guests to stay before the hotel closed for the offseason. Additionally, some of the island's restaurants are due to close in the winter when the tourists leave, a local informed us.

I realized it could be difficult to live on an island year-round, particularly during the winter months when there are fewer people around and fewer activities to partake in. Meanwhile, on Easdale, most of the activities are outdoor-based, such as walking or swimming, which could lead to a feeling of restlessness during the winter when it's too cold for such activities.