Residents from Tayside were among those stranded on a Portuguese island after severe weather caused all flights to be cancelled.
A red weather warning was put in place in Madeira earlier this week due to torrential rain and high winds from the Storm Oscar.
Flights were cancelled at Madeira Airport, with travellers left stuck on the island in the Atlantic Ocean, to the west of Morocco.
The UK Foreign Office issued a warning to holidaymakers heading to the likes of Madeira and the Canary Islands to check with their travel provider.
Among those trying to get home was Margaret Devlin, from Inchture, who arrived on Madeira on May 22 and had been due to fly out on Monday.
Speaking on Tuesday, the retired teacher, who worked at Hillside Primary School in Dundee, said: “It’s frustrating and I just want to get home but it’s no one’s fault and we just have to accept it.
“I was meant to be taking my little granddaughter to her transition from nursery to school today.
“That’s a shame I won’t manage that.”
Lesly Dorward from Dundee was due to land in Maderia on Monday night but was diverted to Fuerteventura in the Canaries.
She told The Courier on Tuesday: “We are sill here with flight at 6.50pm but the hotel have been told to hold our rooms as we may not go.
“Jet2 have been excellent.”
Lorraine Thomson’s parents from Dundee were also due to fly home on Monday night.
She said: “I have been in touch with my mum and dad and they are being well looked after by Jet2, who have been absolutely brilliant at keeping them informed and putting them up in a nearby hotel.
“Hopefully they will be getting their flight back.”
Also stuck was Lindsey Hamilton, a reporter for The Courier, who had been trying to return from Funchal on the island since Monday.
Streets of Madeira ‘deserted’
She said: “The rain started in earnest Monday afternoon – absolutely torrential with high winds.
“No one knew what was going to happen but the Madeiran authorities were putting out warnings to locals and tourists alike.
“Businesses and restaurants were closed and the streets were deserted.
“It was a really scary drive to the airport from my hotel in Funchal with consistent rain, very strong winds and very poor visibility.”
She says there was “confusion” at the airport on Monday night – with one flight attempting to land six times before being diverted.
Lindsey – who finally arrived back in Scotland in the early hours of Wednesday – added: “I have never known weather like it.
“It was really scary for a while on Monday night and knowing local people were so concerned was also worrying for tourists.
“It has been a frightening experience.
“Apparently roads have been washed away in the hills surrounding Funchal but special defences built after 2010 have really helped.”
Conversation