Holiday Highlights of Colonsay

2010 .... Vacancies late April, early May !

Now that the recession is over and everything is all right again, we can relax. Come to Colonsay in early springtime - the summer ferry service starts on Friday 26 March (ferry at 17.00 hrs. ex Oban). If you are here for the school holidays, please note that there will be a service at Church of Scotland on Palm Sunday, and at the Baptist Church on Easter Day. These are family orientated and all are welcome.

Easter will be quite busy this year - but afterwards there is often a slight lull. This is always a bit of a surprise, because it is a period of great activity and delight in the natural world - the flowers are really coming into their own from mid-April, the cuckoo arrives and so does the corncrake and we have the particular and very special (but ephemeral) carpet of yellow-tinted white flowers on the blackthorn brake opposite the quarry (near the Black Gate). Seemingly our climate does not encourage the setting of fruit, so this very large stand of blackthorn has developed by suckering, presumably from an original hedge. Because of our sea-breezes, the flowers are at the best for less than one day - on or about 24th April (last year it was early, 17th April; Swallows and Peacock Butterfly were seen as well).

There will be circumnavigations on offer again by Sea-fari high-speed Rigid Inflatable Boat, there will be clay-pigeon shooting, a golf tournament, and even a rather testing guided walk on Saturdays, through Colonsay's Central massif. So, why not escape from pre-election fever and enjoy a break in the isles - all known self-catering accommodation vacancies can be checked by this link. And of course there is a range of other accommodation, hotel, guesthouse, B&B and Backpackers' Lodge.

*****

The joys of summer in Colonsay are well-known, with lazy days of wandering along the shoreline and investigating rockpools, to be contrasted with energetic tramping across the hills - or perhaps the challenge of fly-fishing or a round of golf. Our bird-cliffs teem with activity, the largest breeding colony in the southern Hebrides, the flora is outstanding and there are myriad lesser delights ranging from lichens to fungi, ephemera to cetaceans. The social life is matchless too - cheery nights at the bar, great dining, frequent ceilidhs, and a range of activities from art exhibitions through to sporting events. Clay-pigeon shooting, golf competitions, a regatta, Sports Day... an ever-popular challenge is to make a circuit of The McPhies.

The RSPB are hoping to run guided walks almost every day for ornithologists of all abilities, and Kevin Byrne leads regular (fairly energetic) expeditions on Saturdays to explore the nooks and crannies of the Central massif.

There are now 25 self-catering properties in Colonsay which will be found on this site - full details appear on our availability page; in addition there is an excellent hotel and there are three guesthouses. All of this is very fortunate, because it is widely believed that Colonsay will be a very popular destination in 2010.

ACCESS

The full summer service of ferries operates 26 March to 23 October 2010, and then the winter service resumes. All details.

Our air-service is also in summer plumage, taking full advantage of the long hours of sunshine. This service permits ready access for short breaks, with flights twice daily on both Tuesday and Thursday and one-way flights on Saturday and Sunday. Exact details are given elsewhere - the cost from Oban (Connel) is usually little more than £65 return (book ahead for best deal), and the 25 minute flight is absolutely magnificent. There are only 10 seats, including the pilot, so you are guaranteed a window seat. Please note that you can book online and by telephone - here in Colonsay visitors can book online at the bookshop or via any friendly PC.

Check availability for self-catering, or for guesthouse accommodation.

See what Bargain Breaks are on offer.