Balnahard Farmhouse - Self Catering with all the Comforts of Home
Scotland > West Coast > Inner Hebrides > Isle of Colonsay > Balnahard
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Getting to Colonsay
Part of the adventure of a Colonsay holiday is the excitement & build-up of getting there. Wherever you start from, your journey will include views of the outstandingly beautiful Argyll countryside and changing seascapes.
The most common way to arrive is via the ferry that sails from the town of Oban. Between April & October Caledonian MacBrayne run this service 6 days a week, reducing to a 3 day service in the winter. The ferry takes you on a 2 hour 20 minute journey past the neighbouring islands of Mull, Kererra, Seil, Luing & Jura, with wildlife & scenery to all sides.
Balnahard is the first bit of Colonsay you see as the boat sails south towards the port at Scalasiag, enabling you to catch a glimpse of what is in store . . .
| FERRY TIMES Oban/Colonsay ‘SUMMER’ 2011 25th March to 22nd October | ||||
| Depart Oban | Arrive Colonsay | Depart Colonsay | Arrive Oban | |
| Sunday | 17.30 | 19.50 | 20.05 | 22.25 |
| Monday | 17.00 | 1920 | - | - |
| Tuesday | - | - | 07.50 | 10.10 |
| Wednesday | 15.40 | 17.55 | 11.45 | 14.10 |
| Thursday | 09.00 | 11.40 | 11.55 | 14.15 |
| Friday | 17.00 | 19.20 | 19.35 | 21.55 |
| There is also additional service on a Wednesday via Kennacraig & Islay. For more information on this & all other sailings, please go to www.calmac.co.uk. Here you will also find ticket information & details on how to book your crossing. | ||||
By Air
The other option is to arrive by air. The air service operates on a Tuesday & Thursday, both in the morning & afternoon and flies between Connel (by Oban) and our own island airstrip. An onward flight to & from Islay is also available.
Expect to get a wonderful aerial views, not only of Colonsay, but of the surrounding areas as well.
Go to www.hebrideanair.co.uk for the full timetable, on line booking & contact details.
Oban itself has many hotels & B&Bs, if you need to stay overnight there. Oban Tourist information has a good list of what is available at www.oban.org or tel: 01631 563122
If you are coming by road or rail from central Scotland The Crianlarich Hotel is a wonderful stop off and meeting place, and has Colonsay connections. Tel: 01838 300272 (mention Colonsay!) or see www.crianlarich-hotel.co.uk
Also on route for many will be the village of Tyndrum, with its very useful Green Welly Stop filling station, café & shop. If you just want a meal, the award winning Real Food Café is also there on the main road - www.realfoodcafe.com
Places for the dog & the children to have a romp before embarking on the ferry journey can be found at various Forestry Commission sites along the Tyndrum to Oban road, the best being a mile or so on from Taynuilt heading towards Oban. All are signposted.
