Isle of Colonsay Getting there & around

Getting there & around

From April to October CalMac operates a car ferry from Oban to Colonsay (passenger/car £12/57, 2¼ hours, one daily except Saturday); from November to March the ferry runs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday only.

From April to October, on Wednesday only, the ferry from Kennacraig on the Kintyre peninsula to Islay’s Port Askaig continues to Colonsay. A day trip from Kennacraig or Port Askaig to Colonsay allows you six hours on the island; a day return fare from Port Askaig to Colonsay is £7.55/40 per passenger/car.

From Easter to September, Lorn Ferry Service (01951-200320; www.colonsay.org.uk/4jayne.html) runs a pedestrian- and bicycle-only ferry from Colonsay to Loch Tarbert on Jura, Port Askaig on Islay and Uisken on Mull (all routes £15). Prior booking is essential. (At the time of research this service was suspended, but may start up again.)

A 90-minute bus tour (200320) of the island costs £7.50, available Monday and Friday, departing at 10.30am from the ferry pier. Booking is essential.

From January 2008 Highland Airways (www.highlandairways.co.uk) will operate flights twice daily, three days a week, from Connel Airfield (near Oban) to the islands of Colonsay, Coll and Tiree. The return fare to any of the islands will be around £65.