From misty mountains to rocky beaches, this remote island has it all. And let’s not forget about the spirits – Jura Single Malt Whisky has distilled on the island off and on since 1810. In the last few years, a few more spirits joined the whisky on Jura – Lussa Gin, foraged with island botanicals, and Deer Island Rum, a small batch Scottish spiced rum. So come on down and experience the whimsy and wonder of Jura for yourself – I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

The way most people arrive to Jura is via Islay. There is a regular running 6-minute ferry between Port Askaig (Islay) and Feolin (Jura). That’s totally fine but, what if you’re not already on Islay? Trudging off to another island in order to get to Jura is actually not the fastest way to get to Jura!

The fastest way to Jura and the cheapest way to get to Jura is via the Jura Passenger Ferry, which runs seasonal ferries between Tayvallich and Craighouse, Jura’s village. I’ve broken down all of the logistical steps below to get you from Glasgow to Jura, and included a section at the bottom for some ideas during your time on Jura. Feel free to use the table to contents to jump around as you contemplate the different options for your trip to Jura!

1. Introducing the Jura Passenger Ferry

The Jura Passenger Ferry is a lifeline to those living on Jura, as it is the most direct connection with the mainland. As someone who lives on an island, those lifelines to the mainland are absolutely critical! As with many things in rural Scotland, the Jura Passenger Ferry is subsidized by Transport Scotland and the Argyll and Bute Council, but the funding isn’t without its stresses or its strings attached.

So, let’s all support the Jura Community by supporting the Jura Passenger Ferry!

In 2023, the Jura Passenger Ferry runs from March 29 to September 2023,
costing 25 GBP one way. Generally, there are no sailings on Tuesdays.

From the ferry schedule, most days have 2 round trip sailings between Jura and Tayvallich. On Saturday and Sunday, there is 1 sailing in each direction – Saturdays in the mornings, Sundays in the evenings. That means, you can easily do a weekend in Jura!

Here is the Tayvallich Jura ferry timetable for 2023:

2. How to get to Jura from Glasgow

Many people from Jura use the passenger ferry as their lifeline to the mainland, so they regularly take this journey between Glasgow and Jura! It may appear a little daunting with 2 buses and a ferry, but I’m here to give you the step by step breakdown and the confidence on how doable and easy it is!

Step 1: Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station to Lochgilphead

Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station

This first step is similar to getting to Islay from Glasgow, where you’ll catch CityLink Bus 926 (the Campbeltown bus) to Lochgilphead Lochnell Street. For those who are struggling to pronounce Lochgilphead in their heads, break it down into these sections: lock-gilp-head, and then it becomes much easier.

From Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station, the bus takes 2 hours 34 minutes and cost 18.40 GBP. I’ve always bought my tickets online in advance, because planning ahead is fun.

• 06:10 to 08:44 Lochgilphead (Lochnell Street, shore side)
• 14:00 to 16:41

Bus 926 has multiple departures from Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station, but 06:10 and 14:00 buses are the most efficient, having the least transfer time between buses and ferries!

Step 2: Lochgilphead to Tayvallich

For the next leg, you’ll take Bus 425 operated by West Coast Motors, from the same stop at Lochgilphead Lochnell Street (shore side) to Tayvallich Post Office. Bus 425 does not operate on Sundays.

The bus costs 3.50 GBP for a 24 hour local pass / 6.75 GBP for return, which you can pay for on the bus with a contactless card.

From April 17, 2023,

• Monday to Friday: 09:05 to 09:32 Tayvallich Post Office: perfect for the morning ferry.
  • 17:10 to 17:54: perfect for the evening ferry.
• Saturday: 08:50 to 09:32 Tayvallich Post Office
• Bus 425 still does not run on Sunday

Step 3: Ferry from Tayvallich to Jura

Now that you’ve diligently made it to Tayvallich, you’re ready to cross over to Jura! The journey between Tayvallich and Jura takes only 50 minutes, and with comfy seats, a heated interior, and toilets on board, what more could you ask for?

Quick Facts / FAQ about the Jura Passenger Ferry

• Tickets for the Jura Passenger Ferry are 25 GBP per passenger, each way.
  • Additional 2.50 GBP fee will be charged per bicycle.
• The ferry is a 14.3 meter Catamaran, with comfortable seating.
• The interior is heated, so don’t worry about the sudden cold or rainy day!
• There are toilets on board.
• There is disability access all around the boat.
• Outside has a fully covered roof, to provide some protection from the elements, while wildlife watching or enjoying the scenery on your journey.
• Children under 5 and dogs travel free.
• Max luggage allowance is 20 kg (44 lbs) per person. Please contact them if your luggage exceeds that.
• Passengers with back or neck problems are advised not to travel this route.
• For those who know about Corryvreckan, the third largest whirlpool in the world located off the coast of Jura, you will not pass by it during your crossing to Jura. Just managing expectations!

Connect with Jura Passenger Ferry by phone at +44 (0) 7768 450000 or online at:

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3. How to do a day trip to Jura from Glasgow, with cost breakdown

To use the Jura Passenger Ferry for a day trip to Jura from Glasgow, you have two options:

• (1) take the bus to/from Glasgow
• (2) drive to Tayvallich.

Due to the weekend ferry schedule, where there is only 1 sailing each way, you can only do a weekday day trip from Glasgow to Jura. If Saturday and Sunday are the only days you have, stay the weekend in Jura. You won’t regret it!

A day trip to Jura from Glasgow using only public transportation is totally doable! (for a weekday)

(1) Take the Bus to/from Glasgow to Jura

Use Step 1 and 2 above, starting from Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station at 06:10 am. You’ll arrive in Jura by 11 am, and depart on the 16:30 pm ferry, arriving back to Tayvallich at 17:20 pm. And then you’ll take the journey in reverse:

• Bus 425 from Tayvallich Post Office to Lochgilphead Lochnell Street (inland side) 17:57 to 18:25
  • Remember how you arrived at this bus stop in the morning on the shore side? You depart going back to Glasgow, on the inland side. Trust me, this advice makes sense.
• Bus 926 from Lochgilphead Lochnell Street (inland side) to Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station – 18:39 to 21:16

Total cost for a day trip to Jura on public transportation: 94 GBP round trip, per person. With that, you’ll get 5 solid hours on Jura, and some time on the way back to Glasgow to reminisce about Jura.

(2) Driving Option from Glasgow to Jura

• To drive from Glasgow to Tayvallich, takes about 2.5 hours, 100 miles;
• You’ll need to depart Glasgow around 7 am, in order to make your 10 am sailing from Tayvallich. I’m adding in a little extra time to be stuck at the ole Rest and be Thankful and so you can arrive to the Tayvallich ferry port 10 minutes before departure.
• Use the car park ACROSS from the Tayvallich Village Hall, at the far end of the village. This is a 5-7 minute walk from the ferry port.

You’ll arrive to Jura by 11 am, and depart on the 16:30 pm ferry. You’ll be back in Glasgow by 20:00 pm. This option will cost 50 GBP round trip, per person plus gas/petrol, but you’ll be able to travel to Jura in less than 4 hours from Glasgow. That’s not too bad!

(3) Luxurious Sea Plane for a Day Trip to Jura from Loch Lomond

In technicality, there is a third option of a day trip to Jura from mainland Scotland. If you’re pressed for time, and really want to do a day trip to Jura, there is one final option, the newest option – the lush option. Consider going via a sea plane from Loch Lomond! Multiple return flights per week between April to October and costs 199 GBP per person for the return trip. You’ll only get 2-2.5 hours on Jura, but with that, you’ll be able to explore the village, Craighouse, in its entirety, and check off a new island from your list!

To find more information about booking, visit Loch Lomond Seaplanes.

4. Traveling to Jura via Islay

Although it may not be the fastest way to get to Jura from mainland Scotland, many people arrive via the short ferry crossing from Port Askaig, Islay. One reason you may insist on going this route is if you want to bring your car to Jura. The Port Askaig route way to get your car on Jura, but that requires you to add an additional step first – going through Islay (and their ferry) first. But luckily, the ferry from Islay to Jura only takes 7 minutes and runs multiple times a day.

There is no direct car ferry to Jura from mainland Scotland.

• Drive from Glasgow to Kennacraig (mainland west coast) – 2.5 hours;
• Calmac Ferry from Kennacraig to Port Askaig (Islay) – 2 to 2.5 hours – 1 car, 1 person: 43.95 GBP (one-way);
• Ferry from Port Askaig (Islay) to Feolin (Jura) – 7 minutes – 1 car, 1 person, 8.40 GBP (one-way).

If you’re driving to Jura, book your Kennacraig to Islay ferry as soon as possible!
Car spots sell out easily.

The Islay to Jura ferry is a “turn up and go” service, which means you’ll pay for your tickets on the ferry itself. The ferry attendants do that super efficiently during the 7 minute journey! There’s no need to book your tickets in advance, so turn up and go!

5. Things to do on Jura

Now that you’ve successfully arrived on Jura, let’s talk about the fun things to do during your time there. Although Jura is a large island, it is sparsely populated with the main village of Craighouse being the center of activity. There’s plenty to see and do in Craighouse, so here are just a few options – of course with a little emphasis on food and drink! Who would I be otherwise?

Before I begin, I should include a little note for those of you who have never experienced rural Scotland before. Don’t be concerned if places don’t have an address, don’t be concerned if you don’t have specific directions. On Jura, there is one village, one road. That’s not an exaggeration.

The first time I visited Jura, my B&B host told me not to miss a stop in the community shop while there. I grabbed out my phone to pin a location on Google Maps, asking her for the name of the shop, the address, or its location. She and her husband giggled – there is only one shop in the village. You won’t miss it.

For the best introduction to Jura, consider going on a tour with Discover Jura. The tour goes on both land and sea, to highlight all the bests of Jura. You’ll enjoy tours of Jura Distillery and Lussa Gin, spot some seals or otters on your boat ride around the bay, have a deliciously prepared lunch at the Jura Hotel, and a snack stop at Tea on the Beach.

If you’d like to experience Jura on a guided walk with a local, Jura Guided offers a number of day walks across Jura! They range from 2 hours in and around Craighouse to a full day out to the remote bothies in deep in Jura’s wilderness.

If you feel like roaming around the village (Craighouse) on your own:

• take in the the main landmarks, the Jura Hotel and the Jura Distillery at the center of everything. Of course, they’re definitely worth stops – the food at the Jura Hotel is incredible (that’s where the pub is too). And the whisky – oh the whisky! I absolutely love Jura whisky, so why not take a tour?
  • Take note whisky fans – Jura Distillery is not open on Saturday and Sunday.
• stop for some souveniers at the Pier Garage – where you’ll find:
  • Whisky Island Gallery and Shop, gallery of award winning photographer, Konrad Borkowski,
  • Deer Island Rum, a delicious Scottish spiced rum and technically, Jura’s newest distillery. Personal favorite? Their limited run, cold brew coffee rum made in collaboration with Argyll Coffee Roasters!
  • Camella Crafts – handmade crafts using local or recycled materials. Stags feature a lot on their gifts, since Jura is the “island of deer” after all!
• In the other direction, heading north on the road, you’ll come across the Community Shop (“the shop”) which also doubles as the Post Office and the Jura community hall next door.
  • Be sure to grab a Laughing Stag Pale Ale from Jura Brewery at the shop, and taste Jura’s only locally brewed beer. If you visit Jura’s community events like the Jura Fell Races or the Jura Music Festival, you’ll see the TrALEr pop up bar make an appearance and supplying you with all the beverages.
  • Phillipa, Jura Brewery’s master microbrewer, is also the island’s only Occupational Therapist, Massage therapist, and yoga teacher (with occasional group yoga on the beach)!! Get in touch with her to find out more!

• The community hall is where a lot of things happen on Jura, from games nights to movie nights to community fairs. So check around, maybe there’s something there you want to check out!
• Don’t forget the views out to Small Isles Bay from the village!

• Just opposite the shop and the hall, is Antlers. Your local chippy, diner, ice cream shop, and all of the above! Open 7 days a week, and besides the hotel, the only place in Jura serving hot foods. Evening menu includes Jura venison burgers, Isle of Mull mussels, just to name a few!
• At some point if you keep walking, you’ll come across a bright pink shed. Now, one of the delightful things about rural Scotland are their honesty boxes. I love a good honesty box! The Island Bakehouse pink shed (honesty box) is getting a special shoutout for being a delicious baked-goods honesty box. Things I love from Island Bakehouse: fresh sourdough bread, omg their cookies, beef and Jura ale pies, sausage rolls, and (season depending) hot cross buns! Sorry, now I’m salivating. Am I saying take the ferry to Jura just for baked goods? If you’re like me and will travel for food… maybe?!

With it’s one road, a great option is to explore Jura by bike! The island is only 27 miles long x 6 miles wide and full of hills and turns and secret bays. Nicol Mackinnon, who operates the Jura Passenger Ferry (and is likely your skipper on the way over) also runs the bike hire on Jura, so contact him to make arrangements, and let him know you’re coming over on the passenger ferry!

Consider staying longer in Jura to explore the great outdoors on one of the many walks and hikes the island has to offer.

6. Parting Thoughts

Jura is definitely well worth the visit for a quaint, small island experience. I hadn’t properly visited in too long and my research for this post took me back last weekend for its community open day. It was lovely to chat with the locals about their passion for their home and their excitement at sharing it with tourists once the season starts.

The inherent struggles the community faced in securing funding for the passenger ferry this year highlights challenges rural communities continue to face despite wanting to make the island more accessible for those who want to visit. But basically, the more people use the passenger ferry, the easier it will be to get funding in future years! So, pack your bags and head to Tayvallich for your ride to Jura!

I also know that some people find visiting remote islands to be logistically challenging, so I hope that this post has removed any barriers to visiting! In reality, for those who live on islands, these ferry to bus to bus to train connections are second nature to us, as silly as that sounds. Luckily, the ferry and bus service timings reflect locals needing well-timed connections into Glasgow, so you should be in good hands!

If you’re ever concerned about making the next bus to bus (or ferry) connection, a good idea is to always speak to the driver! The bus drivers are in touch with the ferry just in case there are any delays – the power of a small, tight knit community means that little considerations (i.e., holding the bus or the ferry a few minutes for a passenger to make the connection) is normal!

Although I didn’t mention it in the post, there is an additional option if you’re coming from London – consider taking the night train on the way back down from Glasgow to London. You’ll arrive back in Glasgow with about an hour and a half to spare before the night train departs, after 23:00. Settle into your cabin or in the comfort seats and arrive in London Euston around 7 am. Feel free to check out my full review and cost breakdown!

And before I close, a big thank you to Gemma – Jura resident and the owner of Spirited Soaps in Bowmore (Islay)! If it weren’t for our random chats at the soap shop, I would have never known there was a passenger ferry to Jura from the mainland or the brand new sea plan from Loch Lomond! Be sure to stop by the soap shop to say hello and to grab a boozy soap!

Until the next adventure, stay healthy and safe!

Information for this post:

Jura Passenger Ferry & Jura Bike Hire:
Nicol Mackinnon
☎️: +44 (0) 7768 450000

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CityLink Bus – Bus 926 from Glasgow to Lochgilphead Lochnell Street. This needs to be booked in advance!

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West Coast Motors – Bus 425 from Lochgilphead Lochnell Street to Tayvallich Post Office. Pay on the bus! Check live bus arrival times too.

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Loch Lomond Sea Planes – if you’re super short on time, arrive to Jura by plane for a few hours on the island, before heading back to Loch Lomond.

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Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) Ferries – in case you’re coming with your car via Islay, book your Islay ferry as soon as possible. Car spots sell out quickly! Note that there are two ports on Islay: Port Askaig (closest to Jura) and Port Ellen. The ferry terminal at Port Askaig Islay has lanes for both the ferry to Jura and to the mainland. Be sure you’re in the right lane!

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Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

1. Arriving and Getting Around Colonsay

Colonsay is an island in the Inner Hebrides, located off of the western coast of mainland Scotland. It is directly north of Islay and south of Mull. Being an island, Colonsay is only accessible by ferry or by airplane.

1.1 Arrival in Colonsay by Ferry

• Islay to Colonsay by ferry – Ferry service on Wednesday and Saturdays on the Summer Timetable (March/April to October), and takes 70 minutes from Port Askaig. Upcoming winter timetables not yet published, but likely have reduced sailings.
  • The ferry departs Port Askaig (Islay) at 12:15, arrives Colonsay at 13:25. If you’re only doing a day trip, you’ll get a full 6 hours on Colonsay.
  • The return ferry departs Colonsay at 19:35 and returns to Port Askaig at 20:45.
  • Fare for vehicle: 34.30 GBP (return)
  • Adult fare: 6.90 GBP (return).
  • For me, since I brought a car, that was a combined total of 41.20 GBP / $59 USD return trip.
  • If you’re going from Islay to Colonsay, you’ll get a view of the three northern distilleries on Islay on your way out – Caol Ila, Ardnahoe and Bunnahabhein, as well as the Paps of Jura!
• Oban to Colonsay by ferry (mainland Scotland) – Daily ferry service (Summer timetable) and takes appropriately 2+ hours. Winter sailings are reduced to 4x a week.
  • Ferry departure and arrival times vary depending on the day of the week.
  • Fare for vehicle: 79.80 GBP (return)
  • Adult fare: 15.60 GBP (return)

Although Colonsay only 10 miles long by 2 miles wide, a car is not necessary. Many people say the best way to explore the island is by bike. But for me, I brought my car due to my limited time on Colonsay.

1.2 Arrive in Colonsay by Air

Hebridean Air currently services Colonsay, from Oban. Flights are on Thursdays, and regardless of summer or winter, Hebridean Air operates 2 flights per day.

• Depending on which flight you take that day, fares are either 32.50 GBP or 67 GBP each way. Return trips therefore range between 65 GBP to 130 GBP. Bookings can be done online.

1.3 Getting around Colonsay

As far as my research could tell me, taxis and rental cars are not available on Colonsay, which is part of the reason I suggested you bring a car onto the ferry with you. However, walking holidays are quite popular on Colonsay, as are biking holidays.

1.3.1 By bike or paddle board

Bikes are available to rent from Colonsay Bikes and Boards. Bike rental for adults are 15 GBP per day, or 70 GBP per week. Bikes will be delivered to your accommodation or anywhere on the island (i.e. ferry terminal). There is a delivery charge of 5 GBP. The bike rental includes a helmet for safety and an island map! Just so you have a slight indication of size, it takes 1-2 hours to bike around the whole island, with a few big hills.

While I do recommend a car on your Colonsay trip, be sure you’re comfortable driving on single track roads. You often share the road with sheep, cattle, cyclists, and pedestrians. While there are plenty of passing places, many tourists use these as stopping places – avoid doing this! Passing places are there for a reason.

Also, due to the high number of wildife and animals on Colonsay, don’t honk your horn! You’ll freak out the animals.

1.4.1 See the best things in Colonsay by foot

There are plenty of great walks to go on when in Colonsay. Unfortunately, I just didn’t have the time. However, there are several walks between 2 – 5 miles long that can be enjoyed. I mean, given that the entire island is 10 miles by 2 miles wide, you could walk everywhere if you wanted. While driving through the island, I definitely saw several people walking from place to place. With single track roads and a small island, its hard to miss the walkers!

So now that you can get around, here are the best things to do in Colonsay. Although I wasn’t able to do everything on the list below, I will next time!

2. The Best things to do in Colonsay

2.1 Enjoy a gorgeous beach at Kiloran Bay

Many people don’t realize that the Hebrides has some of the most stunning beaches in the world. Fine sandy beaches, with turquoise and blue waters. Many people liken them to beaches in the Caribbean, but geologically, the Hebridean beaches are older. So really, Caribbean beaches are actually like Hebridean beaches. Remember that next time you’re in Jamaica or the Bahamas. Ok, possibly the only dfference is the sunshine and warmth. The day I visited was sunny and .. not warm enough for a swim. But, it would have been perfect for a beach day with a picnic, enjoying the view.

Located in the northern part of Colonsay, surprise! It’s gorgeous.

2.2 Colonsay Gin tasting at Wild Thyme Distillery

Neighboring Islay has its whisky, and Colonsay has its gin. With two gin distilleries on the island, I chose to visit Wild Thyme Distillery, located in the middle of the island. Wild Thyme Distillery was started by Eileen and Finlay, who left life in Oxfordshire and moved to Colonsay. They distill a variety of spirits, primarily London Dry gin, as well as a vodka, a bramble (or blackberry for us Americans) liquer, and Cait Sith (an Old Tom style gin). For 10£, I took a tour of the wee distillery and tasted all of their gins on offer.

Like many small batch distilleries, Eileen and Finlay do everything themselves – from the distillation, to the bottling, and labeling. As tradition goes for gin distillers, their copper pot still has a name – she’s called Jinty.

Bottles of Colonsay Gin are so stunning, adorned with art nouveau-styled artwork of Alva, a mythical Celtic brownie (or spirit). Long ago, Alva’s Viking long boat crashed onto the rocky shores of Colonsay. She stumbled ashore and sought shelter at Tigh Na Uruisg (Wild Thyme Distillery HQ), where she still remains and helps in the magical transformation of botanicals into gin.

My thoughts on the tastings:

• Colonsay Gin – 47% ABV – two different ways – one with an orange garnish (to bring out the citrusy flavors), and one with a jalapeno pepper. The absolute wild thing to me, is that I actually liked it better with the pepper! I never would have guessed. It had such a spicy, fresh kick. I absolutely loved it.
• Cait Sith (pronounced Caught Shee) – 40% ABV – an old Tom-style gin. For those who don’t know, that means its sweeter than your London Dry gin. This one had a rich vanilla flavor and was delightfully sweet.
• Bramble Liquer – fruity and sweet, and much lighter at 20% ABV. Delicious!!

Overall, it was a really fun visit to a small batch gin distillery. Eileen gave a great tour, and I loved hearing about their passion for gin. I came back with a couple bottles of my favorite gins, as well as the gorgeous “gin”saw puzzle and a few coloring books for those stressful days.

For those absolute gin fans, the Gin Lovers Retreat at Wild Thyme Distillery is for you! A weekend of gin and home cooked meals on the island of Colonsay. Offered Friday to Sunday! I cannot wait to book a gin retreat sometime!

Wild Thyme Distillery
email: info@wildthymespirits.com
phone: +44 1951 200082
Website: https://www.wildthymespirits.com/

2.3 Eat a phenomenal meal at the Colonsay Pantry

If you had one meal on Colonsay, make sure it’s at the Colonsay Pantry! Located next to the ferry terminal in Scalasaig, it’s the perfect spots to grab a bite before setting sail. My ferry back to Islay left at 7:35 pm, which meant that I had time for dinner. And, Wednesday and Saturdays are seafood night at the Pantry! So for those coming for a day trip from Islay – get ready for seafood night! Email them in advance and book your seafood platter. Otherwise, you may not get it!

Awarded the Scotsman Food and Drink’s Hidden Gem in 2019, the Pantry is one of those great meals that I will always remember. The seafood platter, which cost a cool 35£ for 1 person, was remarkably fresh and so incredible, and is included on my list of Best Seafood in Scotland!

Contents of my gorgeous seafood platter:

• salad
• shrimp
• oysters
• hot smoked salmon
• smoked mussels
• scallops
• crab
• steamed mussels (not pictured)
• battered cod bites (also not pictured)

Let me just say, I was hungry and I scarfed this down in a matter of minutes! Is it too much food for one person? Um, I’d say it is the perfect portion for one person!

The Colonsay Pantry also have different themed nights. In addition to Wednesday & Saturday Seafood Nights, Monday & Friday is Steak Night. The Pantry is closed on Tuesdays, so plan in advance or be in a world of regret!

The Colonsay Pantry
Email: mail@thecolonsaypantry.co.uk – book your dinners (especially seafood night) in advance! and, when the weather is wet!
Phone: +44 1951 200325
Website: https://www.thecolonsaypantry.co.uk/

2.4 Walk to Oronsay

Tidal islands are not something I’m familiar with, being an American from a landlocked state. For those who know, tidal islands are islands created with the ebb and flow of the tides. That means, there are times where you can walk to the island (if the tide is low), and others where you cannot (because the tide has risen and now there’s water in between your two locations). Oronsay is one of those islands, located about 2 miles off the coast of Colonsay, connected by “the Big Strand beach.”

According to the Colonsay website,

You will find that the best time to cross is in the two days following a New Moon or a Full Moon; low-water will be in the early afternoon and you may be able to take 4 or 5 hours over the round trip

Isle of Colonsay website

Besides lots of birdwatching on Oronsay, the main site on the island is the Oronsay Priory, a monastery which has been in existence since at least 1353. The Oronsay Priory, which was likely founded by John of Islay, Lord of the Isles, continued as a monastery until the Scottish Reformation around 1560. While ruins of the priory still stands, a 4-meter (12 feet) tall high cross, likely dated to 1510, is still intact and in relatively good condition given its age. If you’ve read my Islay post, another example of a high cross (from 8th century AD) is the Kildalton Cross.

If you’re coming on a day trip, visiting Oronsay is possible, but it may be one of the few things you get to do. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to walk to Oronsay, being the wrong time of the month. But, I did make it down to the Big Strand for a walk along the beach.

2.5 Visit small businesses in Scalasaig

I didn’t get to spend too much time in Scalasaig, but if I did, here are some of the businesses I would definitely check out:

• Sea Pink Gallery – Colonsay and sea-themed gifts and household goods. Something to look out for – Sea Pink Gallery sells Pot Still Yarns, in collaboration with their friends at Colonsay Gin. (What does gin have to do with wool yarn?) The yarns are dyed with the “spent botanicals, the distilling ‘tails’ and the bramble husks left after pressing” to natural, botanic-dyed wool yarn!
• Colonsay Bookshop – bookstore stocking Hebridean history and culture;
• The Old Waiting Room Gallery – an arts and crafts shop selling handmade goods from the island;
• Wild Island Distillery – distillery producing Wild Island Gin. I haven’t tried this but I will!
• Colonsay Hotel – stay at the only hotel on the island or grab a bite to eat in their gastro pub! (located just outside of Scalasaig).

3. Things for a longer stay in Colonsay

If you have the chance to stay on Colonsay for longer, here are some other things for you to do.

• The Colonsay House Gardens and Tea Room are known throughout Scotland for its rhododendron garden. Although day trippers from Islay won’t be able to visit – this season, they’re only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Entry costs 3 GBP ($4.25 USD). I did have a poke around, and although I could see no rhododendron from the outside, there were beautiful fields of bluebells and wild garlic all around.
• Go golfing (18 holes) at Machrins – Share the golf course with people, cows, and sheep alike, and golf like they did in the old days!
• Watch some wildlife! I know I’ve shown you sheep across the island, but Colonsay is actually home to a large variety of seabirds. Grab your binoculars and go bird watching!
• Visit during some of their incredible festivals:
  • Ceol Cholasa, Colonsay’s Music Festival – September
  • Autumn Food and Drink Festival – October
  • Colonsay Book Festival – April

Check the latest Colonsay Times for the latest opening dates and times. Not all businesses are open every day!

4. Places to stay on Colonsay

If you’re planning to stay longer than a day trip, there are a few options for accommodation on the island.

• Colonsay Hotel – the only hotel on the island, located outside of Scalasaig;
• The Gin Lovers Retreat at Wild Thyme Distillery – full board, including gin tastings and cocktails;
• self catering accommodations;
• wild camping;
• your own campervan / motorhome.

Please note that if you are wild camping or taking your campervan, overnight parking permits are required. For more detailed information, the Visit Colonsay site has all the available options.

5. Parting thoughts on my day trip to Colonsay

I think you can see how much I enjoyed my day trip to Colonsay. For a small island, with a little over 100 inhabitants, it really packs a punch. Although a day trip from Islay was short, I felt like I accomplished a lot during that time! Still makes me want to go back for more though. I’ve highlighted some of the best things to do in Colonsay, including things I wasn’t able to do, just in case I’ve inspired you to visit and stay longer!

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Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

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