Winter Colonsay Times available here...

Getting to Colonsay

How to get to Colonsay

Nearly all journeys to Colonsay start from Oban.  Oban is a 2 hour drive from Glasgow and 3 hour drive from Edinburgh.  There are a number of trains from Glasgow to Oban each day and the journey takes just over 3 hours. 

Colonsay is served by a Caledonian MacBrayne car ferry service from the port of Oban EVERY DAY from 30 March to late October 2018. The journey takes two and a quarter hours and is a beautiful one, passing from the mainland between the islands of Kererra and Mull and then sailing south west past the islands of Seil, Luing, Scarba and Jura.  On Wednesdays and Saturdays there is an additional sailing from Kennacraig and Islay to and from Colonsay. Even in winter there are ferries on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  See timetables at https://www.calmac.co.uk/

GETTING HERE BY FERRY

Colonsay is served by a Caledonian MacBrayne car ferry service from the port of Oban EVERY DAY from 30 March to 21 October 2018 (summer timetable). The journey takes two and a quarter hours and is a beautiful one.  There are additional ferries from Kennacraig (mainland) and Port Askaig (Islay) to Colonsay and back again on Wednesdays and Saturdays which enables island hopping between Islay and Colonsay.  From 22 October 2018 until late March 2019, there is a ferry 4 days per week (winter timetable).  See the Calmac website for timetables.

Calmac Web-site

GETTING HERE BY PLANE

There is also an excellent air service that operates from/to Oban (Connel airport) via Islay that makes return flights every week on a Tuesday and, during term time in the Winter, at the weekend (bookable three weeks in advance) Details from www.hebrideanair.co.uk. Tel Booking Line 0845 805 7465 and Oban Office 01631 572909.

Hebridean Air web-site

GETTING TO OBAN

There is a train from Glasgow Queen Street station to Oban and return six times a day. See www.scotrail.co.uk which connect with the ferry service to Colonsay. The Oban train station is immediately adjacent to the ferry terminal. (Picture: Wikimedia Creative Commons)

There are also bus services between Glasgow and Oban.  See Citylink.

Scotrail web-site

Day trips

It is easy to come on a day trip to Colonsay on Wednesdays and Saturdays by CalMac ferry from Port Askaig, Islay.   You will have about 6hrs to explore Colonsay, and bicycles travel free. Make sure to come on or just after New or Full Moon if you wish to visit Oransay Priory and the RSPB bird sanctuary.

Getting Here