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In this episode of Scottish Island Adventures, hosts Coinneach Macleod, the Hebridean Baker and singer-songwriter Natalie Galloway take us to the beautiful Isle of Colonsay.
Colonsay - an island in the Inner Hebrides north of Islay and south of Mull, accessible by ferry from both Oban and Islay. Colonsay is connected to a smaller island, Oronsay, on its southern end by a tidal causeway and is a rugged island where the low-lying dune grassland known as Machair produces an array of native wildflowers such as heather and wild thyme - a haven for birds and insects.
At the very top of Colonsay lies Balmahard Farm, the home of Colonsay Wool Growers. The farm has been in the same family for generations and currently boasts over 400 locally reared wool sheep of varying Hebridean crossbreeds. The sheered wool is dyed naturally with native flora such as bog myrtle, nettle and moss to produce yarns, knitting kits, and limited-edition knitwear.
Colonsay Gin began in 2016 when husband and wife duo Finlay and Eileen Geekie traded the busy life of Oxfordshire for a fresh start on Colonsay. Inspired by Celtic folklore and a love of true juniper gin, they launched Colonsay Gin. Today, their gin is a nod to the wild beauty of the island and the business contributes to the island’s sustainability and future development - drawing in visitors for tours and tasting.
Colonsay and Oronsay have a long history of traditional honey use and beekeeping. The continued practice of native beekeeping in small, isolated pockets helps to protect and sustain the dwindling Black Bee population under threat from imported non-native honeybees, and the changing climate. The other result of the practice happens to be fragrant honey that contains all the notes of the diverse island flora providing pollen for the bees.
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