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The Island
of Colonsay, lies at the entrance to the Firth of Lorne, South
of the Ross of Mull and North of Islay and Jura. Visitors to Colonsay and
its immediate neighbour, Oransay, enjoy the quiet sandy beaches
and the wonderful wildlife. Unlike most of the other inner
Hebrides islands, Colonsay does not have a daily link with the
mainland for cars. There are just over 100 inhabitants of this
wonderful isle with the main population centre being Scalasaig
on the east coast. This is where the car ferry from Oban comes
and goes as well as the ferries to the islands of Islay and
Jura. There are very limited facilities for tourists on the
island and so it is best to arrive planned with accommodation
already booked.
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There are
huge colonies of seabirds who roost on the western cliffs of the
island and the waters are full of seals, dolphins and whales.
There are also feral goats on the island as with many of the
west coast areas of Scotland. Colonsay like other Inner
Hebridean Islands benefits from some quite extraordinary
weather. Rarely very cold in the winter and often very dry in
the summer. This is due to the Branch of the Gulf Stream that
warmly washes our western coast line. |
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The island
has a good reputation of friendliness to all visitors at any
time of year and combined with the unique position and relative
remoteness of Colonsay it is becoming a must visit place for
visitors to the west coast and Argyll. The Community development
trust is also engaged in a huge range of work aimed at a
sustainable approach to the regeneration of the island.
The
Corncrake is rarely seen on Scottish Islands but can be heard on
many. Colonsay is no exception and many twitchers come to the
island in the hope of not only hearing this elusive bird but
also of getting a glimpse. There are also colonies of wading
birds and of course the Chough which is rare in Scotland and is
a member of the crow family.
The island
of Oransay, also a great haven for many species of birds is
connected to Colonsay by a strand which covers at high water.
Oransay has interesting priory ruins
Island of
Colonsay and Oransay, Firth of Lorn Argyll Scotland |
