Isle of Coll – Beaches, Nature and Dark Starry Skies

The Isle of Coll combines expansive coastlines, remote natural areas and exceptionally dark starry skies. The sparse population and geographical isolation make the skies over Coll some of the darkest in Scotland. For a family trip, this creates a special balance between days at the beach, walks and evenings spent together under the stars.

Discover Beaches and Natural Areas

Coll has well over 20 beaches, offering many opportunities to experience the coast in a variety of landscapes. Coll Nature Reserve invites visitors to take a walk along a shell-coloured white beach. Those looking for more remote landscapes can walk across large parts of the island, reaching secluded beaches and wilderness areas along the way. Breachacha Beach is easily accessible from a small car park at the end of the road to the castles.

Breachacha Beach is also the starting or finishing point of a coastal circular walk to Port na Luing. The route can therefore be included in a day's plans as a coastal section in its own right. Loch Ballyhaugh in the Coll Machair area is also notable for nature enthusiasts: it is home to a large population of the slender naiad species Najas flexilis. There are two designated parking areas in the RSPB nature reserve on Coll, one at the Totronald Information Room and one at the opposite end of the reserve.

On Foot, by Bicycle or on the Water

The island is suitable for exploring Coll in a variety of ways. The roads on Coll are single-track and have passing places. Those who want to experience the island by bicycle can hire bicycles at the Post Office and e-bikes at the community centre. A sandy, vehicle-free path behind Hough Bay connects the RSPB Centre at Totronald with the Hebridean Centre, providing a dedicated section for a tour without car traffic.

Sea kayaking also offers a unique perspective on the coast. Some coastal sections around Coll are exposed, while numerous skerries and bays provide shelter. On such a tour, overnight stops are possible on undisturbed beaches or even on islands. Those who prefer to combine short and longer days on land can therefore find different ways to travel on Coll without losing sight of the character of the remote island.

Castles, Church and the History of Coll

The landscape is complemented by historic sites. Breacachadh Castle was the scene of a battle in 1590 between the Macleans of Duart and the Macleans of Coll. Back Breachacha Castle was built in 1750 and combines the original Georgian style with the Victorian Baronial style. Coll Parish Church has stood on a hill above Arinagour since 1907.

Literary traces are also part of the island's history: the experiences of author and illustrator Mairi Hedderwick on Coll inspired the fictional Isle of Struay as the setting for the children's book series Katie Morag. Such connections provide additional points of reference for a trip, especially when children and adults want to get to know a place not only through its landscape but also through its stories.

The Right Base for Your Trip

For travelling to the island, the connection from Oban is important; the ferry docks at Arinagour on Coll. Coll Airstrip is located at the western end of the island. As there is no public transport on Coll, you should consider how you would like to spend each holiday day when choosing your holiday rental: driving yourself on the single-track roads, using bicycles or walking to the coast and natural areas. Three designated locations for observing the night sky are at RSPB Totronald, the football pitch at Cliad and in Arinagour. The location of your accommodation can therefore help determine whether you focus on beach days, active exploration, culture or clear nights.

Discover More Destinations

If you would like to explore destinations in addition to the Isle of Coll, you can find Kames, Kingarth, Luss, Kilchoan, Rhu, Port Charlotte, Lussagiven and Garelochhead here.

To the higher-level travel overview: Argyll And Bute.