Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Isle of Coll
Roughly thirteen miles long and three miles wide, the fish-shaped rocky island of
COLL
,
with a population of around a hundred, lies less than seven miles off the coast of Mull.
For the most part, this remote island is low lying, treeless and exceptionally windy, with
white sandy beaches and the highest sunshine records in Scotland. he majority of
visitors to Coll (and Tiree) stay for a week in self-catering accommodation, though
there are hotels and B&Bs on the islands, which should be booked in advance - as
should the ferries.
6
Arinagour
he ferry docks at Coll's only real village,
ARINAGOUR,
whose whitewashed cottages
line the western shore of Loch Eatharna, a popular safe anchorage for boats. Half the
island's population lives in the village, and it's here you'll find the island's hotel and
pub, post o
ce, churches and a couple of shops. he island's petrol pump is also in
Arinagour, and is run on a volunteer basis - effectively it's open when the ferry arrives.
The Breachacha castles
On the southwest coast there are two edifices, both confusingly known as
Breachacha
Castle
, and both built by the MacLeans. he older, at the head of Loch Breachacha, is a
fifteenth-century tower house with an additional curtain wall, now used by Project
Trust overseas aid volunteers as a training centre. he less attractive “new castle”, to the
northwest, is made up of a central block built around 1750 and two side pavilions
added a century later, now converted into holiday cottages. It was here that Dr Johnson
and Boswell stayed in 1773 after a storm forced them to take refuge en route to Mull.
Much of the surrounding area is now owned by the RSPB, in the hope of protecting
the island's corncrakes.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
ISLE OF COLL
By ferry
Throughout the summer, the CalMac ferry from
Oban calls daily at Coll (2hr 40min) and Tiree (3hr 40min).
Destinations
Barra (Thurs 1 daily; 4hr); Oban (daily except
Wed & Fri; 2hr 40min).
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Coll Hotel
Arinagour
T
01879 230334,
W
collhotel
.com.
Small, family-run hotel providing decent
accommodation in six rooms, four of which overlook the
bay. The hotel also offers bike hire, and can do pick-ups/
drop-offs to/from the ferry. Wild
camping
is also possible
on the hill behind the hotel, but you should conta
ct the
hotel first; it's free though a donation is appreciated.
£100
Garden House
Down a track on the left before the
turn-off for the castle
T
01879 230374.
There's very
basic camping at this working farm in the shelter of what
was formerly a walled gar
den,
with showers, toilets and a
camper's room.
April-Oct.
£14
/pitch
lsland Café
T
01879 230262,
W
firstportofcoll.com.
In
the old harbour stores overlooking the bay, offering hot
meals all day, though Sundays are most popular when they
rustle up a superb two-course late lunch, comprising a
roast and a dessert (until 6pm; £12.50); reservations are
advised for this.
Daily 11am-7.30pm.
Tigh-na-Mara
Arinagour Bay
T
01879 230354,
W
tighnamara.info.
The “House by the Sea” is a modern
guesthouse near the pier, with a selection of shared bathroom
and en-suite rooms, the latter being around £10 more
expensive. Such is its location that there's a good ch
ance
you'll
see some great wildlife while eating your breakfast.
£70
Isle of Tiree
TIREE
,
as its Gaelic name
tir-iodh
(land of corn) suggests, was once known as the
breadbasket of the Inner Hebrides, thanks to its acres of rich machair. Nowadays
crofting and tourism are the main sources of income for the resident population of
around 750. One of the most distinctive features of Tiree is its architecture, in
