Winter Colonsay Times available here...

Shopping & Services

Shopping on Colonsay

For a small island, Colonsay offers a good range of shopping outlets, as well as essential services. 

The Island Shop

Spring/Summer Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 09.00–17.30; Sat 09.00–15.00

The shop caters for all your grocery needs from fresh fruit & vegetables, beautiful local beef, salmon, and eggs, to gourmet ready meals and artisan pies.  We also stock a selection of local island ales and spirits from across Argyll including Colonsay Gin. Fresh fish ordered by mid-week can be collected on a Saturday morning. 

For those visiting the island why not place an order using our online click & deliver service in advance and we will deliver to your holiday cottage in time for your arrival. Tel: 07469 918558

The Island Shop

The Bookshop

Open every day (except Sunday) from 3pm until 5.00pm.

Located prominently in Scalasaig, the bookshop specialises in Scottish publications but also has a supply of good holiday reading and children’s books with a distinctly Highland flavour.

Tel: 01951 200232 or 01951 200320

Bookshop web-page

The Old Waiting Room Gallery

The Old Waiting Room Gallery – down at the harbour & open most days: Mon 10-2 & 5-7, Tues 10-2, Wed 10-2 & 6-7.30, Thu Closed, Fri 10-2 & 5-7, Sat 10-2 & 6-7.45, Sun 5-7.

Stocking a great array of art, craft & gifts, including work by local and visiting artists. Giftware and original artwork, handmade jewellery, ceramics, woodwork and much more. The Gallery is also home to the Tourist Information Point.

The Old Waiting Room Gallery

Wild Island Distillery

Open most afternoons.

Just up from the pier you will find the Wild Island Distillery. It is home to Gold Medal winning Wild Island Botanic Gin and a number of island distilled seasonal specials. 


Wild Island Distillery

Colonsay Smokery

The latest venture to grace our shores and boost the island's reputation as a foodie heaven, the Colonsay Smokery is located behind the Hotel in Scalasaig Steading and is open Tues-Sat between 10.30am and 12.30pm for sales and tours of the smokery (if we're not in active production!)

Colonsay Smokery

Wild Thyme Spirits Distillery & Shop

Home of multi-award winning Colonsay Gin located in Upper Kilchattan along from the Primary School where all our products are available to sample and purchase. 

OPEN Mon – Sat 12.00-17.00

Tours are also available.


Wild Thyme Spirits Distillery

Colonsay Bike and Board Hire

Mountain bikes, paddleboards and wetsuits for hire. The best way to see the island, by land and by sea. Please see our website for prices, or contact Jen on 07970673942.

 

Colonsay Bikes and Boards

Getting Married or having a Celebration

You can arrange to be married in Colonsay. The celebration can take place in any location on the island, and you can arrange for the Registrar to conduct the ceremony, or a Minister of Religion or have a Humanist wedding.  Catering can be provided by The Colonsay hotel, The Pantry or Colonsay House Gardens.  Full wedding packages can be provided by The Colonsay hotel.  Contact the Registrar on 01951 200263 or write to The Registrar, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll PA61 7YW.

Services on Colonsay

The Village Hall and Community Garden

Colonsay has an excellent and modern Village Hall, with all facilities to cater for 100 guests or even more.  The adjoining Community Garden is a great additional bonus, and by happy coincidence the office of the Registrar adjoins the Village Hall.  For more details Registrar: 01951 200263 Hall Manager: 01951 200157

Doctor

Tel: 01951 200328. There is a doctor and a district nurse on the island. The surgery hours are 9am to 10am and 5pm to 6pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The surgery is closed the other days except for emergencies.

The doctor is on call 24 hours, seven days a week. In the event of a medical emergency, an air ambulance will lift the patient to the appropriate hospital in Glasgow. The service is very quick and efficient.

Ferry service - Calmac

There is a daily ferry service to and from Colonsay from April to October. Calmac bookings can be made at Calmac or by telephone: 01631 566688.

The Colonsay pier can be reached on tel 01951 200308. 

Air service

Hebridean Air offers flights on Thursdays, morning and afternoon to and from Oban and Colonsay, with a stop-off in Islay.

HebrideanAir operates a weekend flight to and from Colonsay on Saturday and Sunday afternoons during the winter. Tel: 0845 8057465

See other transport links under Getting Here

Internet

There is free Wi-Fi access available at The Colonsay and the Council Service Point at the far end of the village hall.

Many accommodation providers have Wi-Fi too. 

Church services The Parish church is in Scalasaig and extends a warm welcome to all visitors; the church is always open and weekly services are held on Sundays at 10.30. The congregation is ecumenical and the services are conducted and maintained by the generosity of visiting ministers. The congregations of the Church of Scotland and the Baptist Church have come together for united worship and welcome members of all other denominations. See www.colonsaychurches.org 

The Island School: the younger children attend Kilchattan Primary School. Older children attend Oban High School but come home at weekends either by ferry or by special "scholar flights".

Tide timetables

The crossing between Colonsay and Oronsay is tidal. If you want to walk across you should make sure you go at the lowest ebb of the tide. The walk to Oronsay Priory and back will take some three to four hours so you should start the walk as the tide is receding.

The General Store and The Colonsay have a copy of the tide timetables and you can ask locals for advice. Also see Scalasaig tide times and scroll through to the relevant date.

Weather

The BBC provides excellent forecasts, in particular the Inshore Forecast for Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point which is broadcast and also available on line.  Many local people use the Windfinder service, look for Colonsay Airport.

Fishing

The lochs are managed with a view to conserving the native brown trout. There are no rainbow trout and no imported fish. The native stock are a distinct strain, descendants of the fish introduced by the monastic community of Kiloran Abbey.

You may fish with a permit from March 17 to October 6, using only fly fishing methods.

A permit costs £30 per adult per week and can be purchased from the Office at Colonsay Estate. There are boats on Mid Loch Fada, West Loch Fada and Loch Sgoltaire available for hire for £10 a day (plus £10 deposit for the rowlocks).

Two good-sized fish (more than eight inches) per day may be kept for the table and all others must be returned to the water.