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Colonsay

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Colonsay shown within Argyll
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Colonsay shown within Argyll

Colonsay [Colbhasa] is an island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, located north of Islay and south of Mull.

The island's total population is about 130 people. Colonsay's main settlement is Scalasaig [Sgalasaig] on its east coast, from which ferries sail to Oban or Kennacraig via Port Askaig. Colonsay is the ancestral home of the McNeill and MacFie (McPhee) Clan.

An Tràigh Bhàn, Kiloran Bay, Colonsay.
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An Tràigh Bhàn, Kiloran Bay, Colonsay.

The island is known for Colonsay House, the eighth century Riasg Buidhe Cross, its sandy beaches, its wild goats, and for birds including kittiwakes, cormorants, guillemots, Corncrakes and golden eagles. The island is linked by a tidal causeway to Oronsay [Orasa].

Tourism is the mainstay of the island's economy, with numerous holiday cottages, most of them owned and managed by the Isle of Colonsay Estate. The estate is owned by the Strathcona family.

The island has a tiny bookshop specialising in books of local interest; it is also the home of the House of Lochar publishing company.

External links


Islands of the Hebrides
Inner Hebrides
Ascrib Islands | Canna | Cara | Coll | Colonsay | Crowlin Islands | Easdale | Eigg | Gigha | Iona | Islay | Jura | Kerrera | Lismore | Luing | Lunga | Oronsay | Muck | Mull | Rùm | Seil | Shuna | Skye | Soay | Staffa | Tiree
Outer Hebrides
Barra (Isles) | Benbecula | Harris and Lewis | North Uist | South Uist

 


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