2007 saw the opening of the Colonsay Brewery, a micro-brewery that employs two people and offers three different products. Frequently Asked Questions about Isle of Colonsay hotels. The name “Colonsay” (Gaelic Colbhasa) is said to derive from St Columba, who was banished from Ireland in 563 AD.He supposedly first landed here, … In 1995 evidence of large-scale Mesolithic nut shelling, some 8,000 years ago, was found in a midden pit at Staosnaig on the island's sheltered east coast, in a large, shallow pit full of the remains of hundreds of thousands of burned hazelnut shells. Anything written is in good faith - please feel free to challenge, correct or enhance the material; inevitably most will be written by [KB], who can only apologise! Lamprophyre dykes, assigned to the same suite are also frequently seen intruding the country rocks. Media interest was stirred when it was reported that this was the first recorded crime since 2004 and the "first ever theft from a house". [8], There are a variety of ruined hill forts on the island such as Dùn Cholla and Dùn Meadhonach. Colonsay House Gardens Cafe, Isle of Colonsay: See 46 unbiased reviews of Colonsay House Gardens Cafe, rated 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #2 of 4 restaurants in Isle of Colonsay. Perched on the hillside above the harbour, the hotel has commanding views over the sea to the neighbouring island of Jura. Locals said that innocent people had been labelled "thieves" and "peasants". Aligned on a south-west to north-east axis, it measures 8 miles (13 kilometres) in length and reaches 3 mi (5 km) at its widest point. It first appeared in September 2014 and all the issues can be accessed from this page. COLONSAY HISTORY No. COLONSAY HISTORY No. Later intrusions took place during the early Palaeogene period and consists of microgabbro dykes assigned to the North Britain Palaeogene Dyke Suite. Its aim is to encourage tourism onto the island, with events and activities led by both local inhabitants and visiting guest "speakers/experts".[30]. Jean was born in Hamilton on the 5th of December 1930 where she attended St John’s Grammar School and Hamilton Academy. 2 December 2014: Contents include a full transcription of the will of Archibald McNeill, sometime laird of Colonsay, plus plenty more. From 1 January 2014 it has been an offence to keep any other honeybee on either island. The ancestral home of Clan Macfie and the Colonsay branch of Clan MacNeil, it is in the council area of Argyll and Bute and has an area of 4,074 hectares (10,070 acres). Colonsay Community Development Company, the local development trust is “engaged in a range of work which reflects a sustainable approach to the regeneration of our island”. Superficial deposits consist largely of modern-day beach deposits, some raised marine deposits and blown sand. 4 March 2015: Contents - Welcome; News; Bonaveh Project; Victorian Photographs; McNeill Photographs; Some Saints Associated with Colonsay & Oronsay; A note to Readers. Hazelnuts have been found on other Mesolithic sites, but rarely in such quantities or concentrated in one pit. In the far north at the north end of Traigh Ban is an outcrop of the orthogneiss of the Palaeoproterozoic age Rhinns Complex named from the larger outcrop on nearby Islay. [27] The American author John McPhee, descended from a Colonsay emigrant, spent a summer on Colonsay, out of which was published The Crofter and the Laird in 1969. B&B's in Isle of Colonsay. This ile is bruikit be ane gentle capitane, callit M’Duffyhe, and pertened of auld to Clandonald of Kyntyre."[10]. The island's population was 124 as recorded by the 2011 census[3] an increase of nearly 15% since 2001 when there were 108 usual residents. Every August, it hosts the annual Colonsay Open, when anyone who turns up can pit their skills against the course. Laird of Colonsay Alex Howard, and a few friends, took action to save the island’s only hotel and bar for the remote community by buying it when the … Another young couple, who were married on the island a few years ago, have just taken over the running of the Colonsay Hotel. It is linked by a tidal causeway (called The Strand) to Oronsay. The line up for 2013 was headed by crime writer Ian Rankin.[31]. By Air There's a small airport on the island and Hebridean Air operates a twice-weekly service from Oban to Colonsay (Tuesdays and Thursdays in 2017, costing from £35-70 one way). [19] In 2016 the brewery launched a gin, called Wild Island Botanic Gin, distilled with hand gathered wild botanicals from the island. Similar sites in Britain and its dependenci… Make a Booking Enquiry. Howard infuriated island residents, by accusing them of removing gravel from a beach without permission. If you are interested in any general aspect of Colonsay History, please bookmark the site you are now on and feel free to contribute. The tradition of joint worship continues and everyone now gathers at the Psrish Church at Scalasaig (Sundays 11.30). The 1945 film I Know Where I'm Going! Donald McNeill, Elderslie; McNeill Portraits 1880-1910; and Alexander McNeill, Laird of Colonsay, his Will. 3 February 2015: Contents refer to Malcolm McNeill & Catherine Stewart; Allen McNeill and the MacDonald chieftain connection; information on the direct descendants of Malcolm MacPhee, chief of the clan; and an update on Victorian Cartes de Visite. It's about 1km from the ferry pier in Scalasaig. Colonsay persons who served in WWI and survived - a note by Alan Davis, author of Colonsay's Fallen. She then went on to study at Glasgow School of Art from which she graduated in 1952 and moved on to undertake her teacher training in Jordanhill. The site you are viewing currently is intended to be a repository of more generic material but there will inevitably be some overlap. [24] The next reported crime was in 2013 involving vandalism to a car. A schedule of services and all sorts of other news will be found at www.colonsaychurches.org, Fern Appreciation Walks: Colonsay has about 36 different ferns, so if they might be of interest please see Fern Walks, Islander Rates at Mainland Hotels: if you need somewhere nice to stay on your way to or from Colonsay, you might like to consider Inveraray or Crianlarich, which are just one hour from Oban. The order is a targeted measure to protect an important population of black bees on Colonsay from hybridisation with non-native bees" (the "non-native species legislation" was used because Apis mellifera are considered to be non-native to Colonsay, but considered native to Scotland as it was the first honey bee to be introduced for use in beekeeping there)[32] The bees on Colonsay are now referred to as the "Colonsay Dark Native Bee". If you are interested in the specific field of Colonsay Family History, you will find another bi-monthly newsletter, called Colonsay Kindred, which is accessed at www.colonsay.info. Log fires, deep sofas, luxurious beds with Egyption cotton bed linen. Ascend it to the right. Port Askaig Hotel, St. Columba Hotel, and Islay House are some of the most popular hotels for travelers looking to stay near Kiloran Beach. Details appear locally, and it is hoped that visitors and locals alike will "adopt" favourite bits of coastline for special attention. We show 4 Hotels and B&B's our cheapest rate in Isle of Colonsay is from £91 per night, up to 70% off hotel room rates on Hotels & BB's See www.inveraray-inn.co.uk or Best Western Crianlarich Hotel or its associated B & B, the Arts & Crafts style Glenbruar B & B. [4] In the 14th century the name was recorded as Coluynsay and by Dean Monro in the 16th century as Colvansay. [28], In 2008, Colonsay hosted the first ever Ceòl Cholasa, the island's own folk festival. [23] In November 2006 a construction worker from Glasgow was arrested and confessed to theft by housebreaking having entered an unlocked house and stolen £60 in cash. See www.inveraray-inn.co.uk or Best Western Crianlarich Hotel or its associated B & B, the Arts & Crafts style Glenbruar B & B [34], Colonsay's name derives from Old Norse and means "Kolbein's island"[35][36] (although Haswell-Smith offers "Columba's island"). [29], Since 2011 the island has held a three-week "Festival of Spring" annually in May. Caledonian MacBrayne ferries sail to Oban and, between April and October, to Kennacraig via Port Askaig on Islay. There are a few "starter" items on this page, but the main focus is the newsletter (nominally bi-monthly), called Colonsay History. 4 April 2015: Contents - follow the link and see it now. What are the best hotels near Kiloran Beach? This site seeks to share and celebrate all aspects of the history and heritage of the Isles of Colonsay and Oronsay. That very welcome sign ended up last November in the annual Jura Bonfire at the hotel … Jane and Alex Howard, the owners of nearby Colonsay House, bought the hotel back into the estate two years ago and this spring fully relaunched it as The Colonsay. Additional material is welcome by byrne[at]colonsay.org.uk. Coordinates: 56°4′N 6°13′W / 56.067°N 6.217°W / 56.067; -6.217, General Register Office for Scotland (28 November 2003). It was later discovered that the gravel had been removed by a builder working on behalf of one of the crofters.[12]. The current owner is Alex Howard, who lives on Colonsay with his wife and family. The pit was originally on a beach close to the shore, and there were two smaller stone-lined pits, whose function remains obscure, a hearth, and a second cluster of pits. The Colonsay Hotel is set on the Isle of Colonsay, in the Southern Hebrides off the coast of Scotland. Colonsay and Oronsay are home to about 50 colonies of the European dark bee the Apis mellifera mellifera. [33] They were collected from across Scotland in the previous thirty years, genetic analysis has shown Australian and New Zealand A. m. ligustica introgression. The eighth century Riasg Buidhe Cross has been re-erected in the gardens of Colonsay House. It is distilled at Langley Distillery in a cooperation with master distiller Rob Dorset. They are ploys by Kevin Byrne, who has an archive of information which really should be shared, and the intention is to host such material here. The nuts were radiocarbon dated to 7720±110 BP, which calibrates to c. 6000 BCE. A similar event occurs every autumn, called "Connect with Colonsay", which runs over a three-week period in October. Colonsay hotel regularly holds quiz and music nights, and a ceilidh is held every Saturday night in the village hall during the summer months. Hazelnuts have been found on other Mesolithic sites, but rarely in such quantities or concentrated in one pit.