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Island Hopping In Scotland
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Howburn Digger
Howburn Digger
986 posts

Edited Jan 01, 2017, 12:20
Re: Island Hopping In Scotland
Jan 01, 2017, 12:15
spencer wrote:
:D... I'd like to get to Colonsay, me...there and Lismore, Raasay: do a bit of fieldwalking. There'll be something


Colonsay is well-worth looking into. An extraordinary island-hopper is available but only a couple of times per week (and only in the Summer I think). The Kennacraig - Islay ferry returns via Oban twice a week calling at Colonsay. Like on a service bus, a determined traveller can manoeuvre themselves between Argyll, Islay, travel past Jura and get dropped off on Colonsay (say for a few days) and then return to Kennacraig via a (non-alighting) stop at Islay on the way back. Worth a bit of careful timetable-reading, planning and careful booking of bunkhouse on Colonsay.
Raasay is very quick, cheap and easy but the wait at the terminal at Sconser can be... errr .... long and exposed. Ten minute crossing. Fantastic wild camping. Get up to Hallaig and look for the Five Sisters. Sorley MacLean's fave place. Just be aware that deer are culled on Raasay and if you are rumbling around in the bracken looking for corn-drying kilns or old illicit stills when it is "in season" it might be a little inconvenient...
As for Lismore. You can get the more expensive Oban - Lismore ferry which takes an hour. Or you can catch the ten minute crossing from Port Appin a little further up the coast (a very beautiful short journey). Lismore is a pleasure to walk (it is almost completely flat) and full of stuff. I was there in October 2016. Wonderful.
Not worth taking a car across to any of these places IMHO. Bikes are available for hire on all of them. All are very visitor friendly.
spencer
spencer
3071 posts

Re: Island Hopping In Scotland
Jan 01, 2017, 13:23
Cheers for the very helpful info, HD... I've gazed across from Sconser and Appin, 'felt the pull' but not been able to go due to company. A forthcoming change in family circumstance may at least enable satiation of archaeological wanderlust. Colonsay is a place I've wanted to go to for a very long time... I've known someone of very great intelligence who went there every year for a very long time, and nowhere else, as the antidote to a high powered pressured life. That fact alone is recommendation enough to make me follow in their footsteps - from what I've read it seems somehow 'other'. That the owners do not permit camping is in a way understandable. (Colonsay, in a way, has come to me, though, as I persuaded my local offy to stock the products of its microbrewery: £, but very, very nice : ) )Have subsequent to my post remembered Gigha, am curious about that one too.
Howburn Digger
Howburn Digger
986 posts

Re: Island Hopping In Scotland
Jan 01, 2017, 19:32
I'll throw this one out to ya. I've just convinced myself that I should do it myself.

On May 30th this year you can travel to Colonsay on the MV Waverley (last oceangoing paddle steamer in the world) leaving Glasgow at 7.00 am and arrive in Colonsay in time for tea (17.30). You will travel down the coast of Arran, stop off in Campbelltown (at lunchtime), pass Gigha, Islay and Jura. Judicious forward planning of accommodation on Colonsay could mean a wondrous few days and a swift onward Calmac ferry to Oban a few days later and a rapid return journey on the regular and cheap Citylink coach back down to Glasgow for onward travel.

No car required.
Unforgettable.

http://cdn.waverleyexcursions.co.uk/word/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/spring2017.pdf

The bass player in my old band came from Gigha. Her Mum ran a tea-shop there. She was a great bass player.
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