Balnahard Farmhouse - Self Catering with all the Comforts of Home
Scotland > West Coast > Inner Hebrides > Isle of Colonsay > Balnahard
Things to do..........................
As well as taking advantage of all that nature has to offer in the way of wonderful & rare flora & fauna, historical forts & landmarks, lochs & hills, sandy beaches and great walks, you can also add a number of other activities to your list of things to do.
Colonsay House Gardens
Considered to have one of the finest rhododendron collections in Scotland, these gardens are well worth a visit. The woodland gardens are open all year, with the private inner gardens open on Wednesdays and Fridays. The Workshop Café at the Gardens serves delicious home baked cakes and freshly made soup & sandwiches in a charming setting. Open for lunch and afternoon teas on Wednesdays from 12 to 5pm & Fridays for teas from 2.30pm to 5pm.
Guided Bird Walks
The RSPB runs walks on several days each week throughout the Spring & Summer. This is a wonderful way to get expert knowledge from our resident guide. A list of the walks is available from the shop, pantry, hotel & in the house.
Colonsay Golf Course & Club
Test your skills on this challenging 18 hole links course, set on the beautiful Machrins machair ground. Membership (£20.00p/a) is available at the Colonsay Hotel Office & competitions are often held during the summer.
Award Winning Hotel with Restaurant and Bar
Enjoy a drink, stay for a meal or call in for a peaceful cup of coffee.Weekly quiz nights & children’s DVD nights throughout the summer. Tel 01951 200316
Colonsay Brewery
Amazing beer & lager from this micro-brewery. Take a look round, visit the shop & stock up for your holiday!
Tel 01951 200190 www.colonsaybrewery.co.uk
The Pantry
The Pantry is a family café & restaurant, ideal for lunch, suppers & teas. Fully licenced and open all day and in a handy position near to the pier, they also bake a wonderful selection of bread & cakes for taking away.
01951200325 www.thecolonsaypantry.co.uk
Tour round the island by sea
Circumnavigate the island in a fully-enclosed RIB by award-winning Seafari Adventures. In addition to the magnificent scenery, the trip provides a great chance to see the bird-cliffs and marine wildlife.
For further information & to book tel 01852 300003 or navigate to www.seafari.co.uk.
Kayak Colonsay
Kayaking truly is a magical way to explore Colonsay from a different angle. The beautiful coastline offers breath-taking scenery, with curious seals often joining in on the paddle. For more information please contact Grace or Bobby at .
MacPhie Bagging
A MacPhie is Colonsay's equivalent to a Munro, but not as high. Purists may wish to climb all the peaks on Colonsay & Oransay that exceed 300ft in one go on a connected walk, but they can also be tackled one at a time! There are 22 peaks in the Official List, and the distance is about 20 miles.
For more info & a larger map go to
www.colonsay.org.uk/bagging.html.
Oronsay
Visit the tidal island of Oronsay, situated off the south end of Colonsay. Walk across at low tide to see its fourteenth-century Priory, with church, cloister, exquisite medieval cross and fine grave-slabs. Timing of this expedition is crucial, so please check in the Post Office for daily safe crossing times.
Churches
There are two active churches in Colonsay, and joint services are held on alternate Sundays at 11.30 a.m. The parish is served by visiting ministers for united worship and persons of all denominations are very welcome to attend. A list of services can be found HERE.
Colonsay Bookshop
The tiny bookshop at Port Mor carries a large selection of books, specialising in titles with a Scottish & Hebridean flavour. They also have an antiquarian section, as well as crafts, cards and small gifts.
Tel 01951 200232.
Bicycle Hire
Explore by bicycle and take advantage of the quiet roads & tracks that criss-cross the island. A good selection of bikes & helmets are available to hire from Archie. Tel 01951 200355, or email
Guided Walks & Tours
Kevin Byrne leads an energetic walking tour each week, normally on a Saturday, for visitors wishing to enjoy this wonderful island & to learn more about its history anad archaeology. Kevin also runs minibus tours at least once a week.
For more details tel 01951 200320 or go to www.colonsay.org.uk/walks.html
Summer Social Events
During the summer the island also puts on many other activities, such as Ceilidhs, Sports day, the Regatta, Golf Tournaments, Craft Sales, Quizzes and Art Exhibitions. Look for notices in the Shop, Pantry & Hotel.
Beachcombing & Shells
Get out & about exploring & collecting. Colonsay gets a good selection of ‘treasure’ washed up- from sea worn wood, to old bottles, to aluminium fishing buoys. Also see how many different shell varieties you can find.
Colonsay Festival of Spring
The Colonsay Festival of Spring is in May, when we welcome you to celebrate the arrival of Spring with us. We gather together a wonderful & diverse group of experts to walk and talk you through all our Island has to offer. Their expertise & talents cover Flora & Fauna, Archaeology, Wild Foods, Farming, Gardening, Landscape Art, Poetry, Golf & Bridge.
Go to www.colonsayevents.co.uk for all the latest . . .
CeolCholasa Music Festival
In September the Island hosts the CeolCholasa Music Festival, featuring internationally acclaimed artists from Scotland and beyond. In the last three years, this has become an un-missable event.
Go to www.ceolcholasa.com for the dates & programme.
Colonsay General Store & Post Office
The shop stocks a range of everyday essential, as well as some specialist local produce. You can also order your groceries from them in advance of you visit. Diesel & petrol are also available from the shop.
Tel 01951 200265 , www.colonsayshop.net.
Medical Facilities
We have two wonderful doctors & a nurse, should you require any medical care during your stay.