Isle of Colonsay holiday cottages
Colonsay: A tiny island with huge appeal
A hidden gem of an island in the Inner Hebrides in Scotland, the Isle of Colonsay is located south of Mull and just north of Islay, with spectacular views of its close neighbour Jura.
Just eight miles long and three miles wide, Colonsay’s beautiful and varied landscape, dotted with mysterious standing stones, hill top forts and ruined chapels also boasts some of the best sandy beaches in the Hebrides, making it the perfect place to explore on holiday.
Why go on holiday to the Isle of Colonsay?
Colonsay offers visitors the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of mainland living, in exchange for incredible beaches, stunning scenery and an all-encompassing sense of peace and quiet.
Suited to young and old alike, kids love spending hours exploring sea creatures in the many rock pools, collecting shells or building sandcastles on the beaches.
Colonsay is famous for its rare birds, including golden eagles as well as its wild goats. And keen-eyed visitors can also see grey seals and otters as well as the occasional dolphin and whale.
Escape from it all on Colonsay
Colonsay has a resident population of about 135 people! And with it nearest neighbours about 20 miles away, it is one of the most remote communities in Britain.
You are unlikely to find a television in your Colonsay cottage and there’s a good chance your mobile phone won’t work (although the Colonsay Hotel has free Wi-Fi).
This is not a holiday destination for those wanting to keep in regular contact with the office: it’s truly an escape from the modern stresses of life. And one thing you can be sure of is that you will return home very much more relaxed than when you arrived!
Things to do on the Isle of Colonsay
Colonsay has a rich cultural heritage and each years hosts its own folk festival as well as a book festival. It also celebrates a three week ‘Festival of Spring’ in May each year, with activities such as foraging and cooking; stone carving; textile printing; baking and Gaelic folklore.
The more active can choose from ornithological walks; farming and conservation walks; historical and archaeological walks as well as plant identification walks. Cycling is also very popular. And there’s even one of the earliest ever created 18 hole golf courses in Scotland on Colonsay (with special local rules to cover rabbit holes and thieving crows!)
Food and drink on Colonsay
The island offers a shop, café, bakery and bookshop as well as excellent local produce, including sublime oysters, freshly prepared at the Colonsay Hotel.
It’s also the smallest island in the world with its own brewery, employing two people – equivalent to ten per cent of the island’s workforce! Here you can try Pig’s Paradise Blonde, 80/ or their IPA.
How to get to the Isle of Colonsay
Colonsay can be reached by ferry from Oban, which visits the island five times a week (three in the winter). You can also get there during the summer from Kennacraig, via Islay. Alternatively, you can fly to Colonsay from Oban.
The best holiday cottages on Colonsay
Given its size, it will come as no surprise to learn that there are very few holiday cottages on Colonsay. Luckily, Holiday Cottage Compare has the vast majority, with eighteen beautiful properties to choose from, sleeping between 2 and 12 people, many of which also extend a warm welcome to your pets.
Choose from an apartment in Colonsay House itself or opt for a more romantic, remote cottage with sea views and a log burner to snuggle up to with a glass of wine.
We want to make sure that you book the best holiday let for you, so that your holiday on Colonsay is the best that it can be. At Holiday Cottage Compare, you can browse holiday cottages close to Scalasaig. We give you so much variety and choice that it’s easy to find exactly what you are looking for. Take a closer look at our stunning collection of self-catering holiday cottages and apartments on Colonsay below.
Booking a holiday cottage on the Isle of Colonsay
A selection of the vacation rentals on Colonsay are displayed below. To find the best one for you, use our filter options to the left, to narrow down what’s available until you find your favourite.
At any point, please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about booking a holiday cottage on Colonsay – we’re happy to help with all questions about the cottages and to give you advice before you go ahead and book.