Coll is a fascinating island in the Inner Hebrides situated 57 miles west of Oban and 10 miles west of Mull. It is approximately 13 miles long and 3 miles wide, lying from NE to SW. All around the island are innumerable sandy bays - ideal for bathing, beachcombing and exploring generally all year round. Great for wildlife-watchers, birdwatchers and botanists.
Topographically, the east end of the island tends to be rockier, with small, sandy bays. The west (Stronvar) end has wide areas of sand hills and large bays. The 14th and 18th century castles are situated at Breachacha. Some loch and sea fishing can be arranged. Bicycles can be hired in Arinagour from Fiona Kennedy at the Post Office (Tel. 01897 230395) or e-bikes from An Cridhe (Tel 01879 230000)
Island tours with a local guide can be aranged Tues/Fri (Tel. 01879 230520). Arinagour is the only village on Coll. Meals are available at the Coll Hotel restaurant and the (newly renovated) Island Cafe, provisions from the well-stocked general store - Coll Stores - and petrol pumps situated nearby. There are 2 gift/craft shops - 'An Acarsaid', found in the post office, and 'Ross of Coll' supplying iconic Collister clothing, cards etc. There's even a charity shop run by RecyColl. An Cridhe, the new community centre, has sports facilities (and coin-operated laundry in next-door Bunkhouse). The 'Saturday market' sells local produce in or outside An Cridhe every Saturday morning. The resident doctor & district nurse are based in Arinagour.
An R.S.P.B. reserve was set up at the west end of the island to protect the diminishing numbers of corncrakes; the information centre is at Totronald. On the N W side of the island there is a 9-hole golf course at Cliad. Mairi Hedderwick's Katie Morag children's books, inspired by her life on Coll, are available at the Post Office.
More about Coll
Coll is a fascinating island in the Inner Hebrides situated 57 miles west of Oban and 10 miles west of Mull. It is approximately 13 miles long and 3 miles wide, lying from NE to SW. All around the island are innumerable sandy bays - ideal for bathing, beachcombing and exploring generally all year round. Great for wildlife-watchers, birdwatchers and botanists.
Topographically, the east end of the island tends to be rockier, with small, sandy bays. The west (Stronvar) end has wide areas of sand hills and large bays. The 14th and 18th century castles are situated at Breachacha. Some loch and sea fishing can be arranged. Bicycles can be hired in Arinagour from Fiona Kennedy at the Post Office (Tel. 01897 230395) or e-bikes from An Cridhe (Tel 01879 230000)
Island tours with a local guide can be aranged Tues/Fri (Tel. 01879 230520). Arinagour is the only village on Coll. Meals are available at the Coll Hotel restaurant and the (newly renovated) Island Cafe, provisions from the well-stocked general store - Coll Stores - and petrol pumps situated nearby. There are 2 gift/craft shops - 'An Acarsaid', found in the post office, and 'Ross of Coll' supplying iconic Collister clothing, cards etc. There's even a charity shop run by RecyColl. An Cridhe, the new community centre, has sports facilities (and coin-operated laundry in next-door Bunkhouse). The 'Saturday market' sells local produce in or outside An Cridhe every Saturday morning. The resident doctor & district nurse are based in Arinagour.
An R.S.P.B. reserve was set up at the west end of the island to protect the diminishing numbers of corncrakes; the information centre is at Totronald. On the N W side of the island there is a 9-hole golf course at Cliad. Mairi Hedderwick's Katie Morag children's books, inspired by her life on Coll, are available at the Post Office.
More about Coll