Bits And Pieces Round Colonsay

We've given quite a bit of thought to what it would be like to live here. You would need to be a very self sufficient person or couple.

Sheep are a big part of the island economy.  We saw a select few being moved down to a pen by the harbour in anticipation of going by ferry to fates unknown. The farmer suggested that the "Boys" may fare worse than the "Girls".

We have now driven every road on the island in the last 24 hours. There is one circular route that passes the airport and school and golf course.

 The only flight of the day had been cancelled due to weather, and the course was deserted and rather forlorn looking. But there is life here and we are just a week too early to experience the Colonsay Food Festival.

The roads are very narrow and differ in roughness from one foot to the next. Yesterday it took us about an hour to go around the loop stopping to look at things. The skies were grey and it rained on and off. We also passed the big house, home of the 5th Baron of Strathcona and Mount Royal. The1st Baron was Donald Smith. Every school child in Canada sees the picture of him driving home "The Last Spike" of the Canadian Pacific Railway at Craigellachie, BC. In 1905, he bought Colonsay and Oransay from Clan MacNeil

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Today we did the other road out to The Strand where you can cross to Oronsay, another Holy Isle that has a priory built by St Columba. At low tide, you can walk or drive across the Strand. However, the tide today didn't give us the time to do the 5 mile hike round trip to see the Priory. It was sunny and it was beautiful to explore the shoreline at the crossing point.

We then went the other way around the loop road stopping to see the garden of Colonsay House.

We have booked in for breakfast at the hotel next door before we leave tomorrow morning.