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Southern Hebrides of Scotland

A Guide to the Southern Inner Hebridean Isles of Argyll

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Visit to the Isle of Colonsay

June 1, 2011 by ron

Kiloran Bay colonsayI’ve visited Colonsay for the first time in early May this year with my family when I made a day trip from the Isle of Islay. We arrived around 11 am at Scalasaig with the Hebridean Isles ferry from Calmac. This ferry sails from Kennacraig to Oban via Port Askaig and Colonsay on Wednesday’s only. For visitors of Islay a unique opportunity to visit a neighbouring islands and for others perhaps a change to do a one day “mini cruise” from Kennacraig to Oban and back. Such a mini cruise is great on a clear day when you have beautiful views over many of the islands in the Southern Hebrides such as Islay, Jura, Colonsay, Mull, the Slate Islands, Scarba and Kerrera.

Back to Colonsay now. Scalasaig is a wee village, although it is the largest settlement on the island, spread over quite a large area and has, besides a hotel, brewery, and a beautiful church an excellent shop annex post office annex petrol station. The reason why I mention this shop is that when you’re out and about for a day on Colonsay you might want to stock up first because this is in fact the only shop on the island. If you’re a day tripper from Islay you’ll have about six hours to discover the island before you have to return to Scalasaig for the return ferry.

If you’re a first time visitor of Colonsay and arrive at Scalasaig either with a car of bike you’re probably doing the circular road which starts and ends in Scalasaig. The best known attractions on Colonsay are Kiloran Bay in the north-west of the island, Colonsay House and Gardens in the centre of the island, the House of Lochar bookshop in the west not far from the golf course/landing strip and Oronsay with it’s priory in the south. The island is also an excellent place to to discover by foot

Of course there are other means of visiting Colonsay besides a day trip to the island from Islay. The island has direct ferry and air services with Oban. Colonsay has some excellent facilities such as b&b’s, guesthouses, a hotel and a good selection of self catering cottages which makes the island a perfect destination for a longer stay. For more information you can visit the Colonsay page on this site, browse the Colonsay Picture Gallery or visit the community website

Filed Under: Argyll, Colonsay, Ferry, island, islay, Oronsay, Travel Report Tagged With: calmac, Colonsay, island, Oronsay

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