Welcome toColonsay
An unspoilt island with 22 peaks, a micro-brewery, and diverse marine life.
More about Colonsay
Ideal for:
Nature & wildlife
Outdoor adventure
Walking
Golf
A beautiful, remote island with 22 MacPhies
Known as the jewel of the Hebrides, Colonsay is another tiny island, bursting with reasons to visit. It's a two-hour ferry ride from Oban, which like many of our routes, can be your sole destination, or part of a longer Island Hopping tour with our multiple journey ticket option,- where you build an itinerary, taking you from one island to another at your own pace. For instance, team Colonsay with Islay to make a superb cycling trip - enjoying the incredible local food and drink as you travel. Colonsay also plays host to several well attended and long running festivals - beginning with its Festival of Spring, to its Book Festival, Music Festival, Ceòl Cholasa - to its Food and Drink Festival, there's a plethora of reasons to visit. However, be sure to book well in advance, particularly during these events.
Prior to your journey, familiarise yourself with VisitScotland's #RespectProtectEnjoy guidance and check the arrangements individual islands and locations have for managing the safety of their visitors and communities. For Argyll and Bute, please read through the area's 'Be a great Visitor' guidance.
Take care on our coast: slips and falls can happen in all locations, not just high cliffs. Check out these RNLI Safety Tips #RespectTheWater
Why not try the Taste of Place Trails .
For more on Colonsay visit Wild About Argyll , Colonsay's and Colonsay Community Development websites.
How to get here
The CalMac ferry from Oban to Colonsay takes 2 hours 30 minutes. You can also sail from Islay, which takes 70 minutes and can be reached from Kennacraig. You can book travel online, and when you do, you'll immediately receive an eTicket direct to your inbox - ready to board.
Looking for the best form of travel to and from our ports? Our Public Transport Journey Planner can help you plot your journey from anywhere in the UK, using a wide range of public transport options e.g. ferry, train and bus.
We have also listed some travel information below that you may find useful:
Getting to Oban
By car
Oban is a 2 hours 30 minutes drive from Glasgow, 3 hours from Edinburgh, 4 hours from Aberdeen, and 2 hours 45 minutes from Inverness. If you are travelling with an electric vehicle, charging points are available at Argyll College in Oban. Colonsay also has a number of high speed and rapid charging points including at the CalMac Terminal in Scalasaig.
Postcode for sat nav
Oban Port: PA34 4DB
By train
If you're coming from the east coast, Edinburgh, or the South, you'll need to travel through Glasgow. There's a regular direct train to Oban from Glasgow Queen Street Station, and it takes just over 3 hours.
By bus
The bus route to Oban from Glasgow takes just under 3 hours, traffic permitting. The bus from Inverness to Oban takes 3 hours 30 minutes, with a change at Fort William.
Getting to Kennacraig
By car
The route from Kennacraig to Oban is about 55 miles on the A83 and A816. On a good day it'll take about 1 hour 30 minutes. If you are travelling with an electric vehicle, 3 rapid charging points are available in the car marshalling area approximately 15 meters from the Kennacraig Terminal building.
Postcode for sat nav
Kennacraig: PA29 6YF
Helpful tips for driving on Colonsay
Video transcript - How to drive on single track roads
Travelling without a car
By bus
The 926 bus runs between Kennacraig and Glasgow, and takes roughly 3 hours 10 minutes. There are no buses on the Isle of Colonsay.
By foot
The Isle of Colonsay is around 10 miles long and 2 miles wide. There are numerous walks throughout the island that allow visitors to explore some of the islands diverse flora and fauna, and archaeological sites which are of international significance. The coastline offers an array of magnificent beaches with the most notable being the breath taking Kiloran Beach where you may even see Golden Eagles over the cliffs at the edge of the bay. Guided walks are also available on the island. The Isle of Colonsay website has more information about walks on the island.
By bike
The Island of Colonsay is part of the Inner Hebrides and has around 15 miles worth of roads, so cycling around the island shouldn't take too long, but there are some challenging climbs on this loop road. There are some fantastic beaches on the west coast and why not stop of at Colonsay House for some refreshments, and why not explore the woods at Kiloran House, or even the caves at Kiloran Bay. For more information on things to do on Colonsay, visit the Island of Colonsay website.
Note: If you're bringing your bike, please add your bike(s) to your booking, - this means that you have more certainty about space. This ticket will remain free of charge.
Plan your journey at CycleStreets