Enjoying Colonsay

After our disturbed night all I wanted to do was sleep in, but Julian had more energy and after breakfast we headed for The Pantry, the local cafe which has free wi-fi, so we could publish our blog posts. It was warm and dry when we got there, but driving rain kept us there for longer than we expected.

It soon cleared, and we went for a walk along roads and tracks towards Colonsay House to see the gardens which are only open on Wednesday. Just before we reached the driveway Julian asked if I minded walking a bit further, to see the Atlantic facing Kiloran Bay. Turns out that Trip Advisor has it rated as one of the best 25 beaches in the world. It is rather gorgeous!

Colonsay House gardens were pleasant rather than spectacular and overgrown in some areas, most notably the “wilderness” area which is becoming a great exploration zone. Finding the paths could be a challenge.

We walked about six miles and came back to Robinetta for an afternoon snack before heading out again to the brewery and bookshop. There was a craft fair to look at too, and a book sale in aid of the RNLI. Julian found a copy of Claud Worth's 'Yacht Navigation' including design details of the famous Tern IV and his log of a 33 day circumnavigation from Bursledon via Rockall and Orkney in Tern III.

Wednesday is local fish night at the Pantry, so we had booked the first sitting at 1830. Julian had Colonsay Oysters “The best oysters he's eaten” and my local prawn cocktail had warm shell on prawns to dip in sauce. The main courses were excellent too!

After that it was time for music at the Colonsay village hall, with Iain Thomson a singer/songwriter from Mull, perfectly backed up by the whistles, drum, uilleann pipes and mandolin of Marc Duff.

It's all go on Colonsay on Wednesday!