CollAbout Coll
Coll is a small island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, characterized by low, rolling landscapes, extensive sandy beaches and crofting communities. The island is known for its machair habitats, birdlife and a quiet, sparsely populated rural character.
Population and services are concentrated in the principal settlement of Arinagour, which contains the ferry terminal, a shop and basic visitor facilities; much of the island remains agricultural croftland and open moor. Coll’s shoreline includes several long sandy bays and machair that are important for nesting waders and wildflowers.
Historically the island has a Norse and Gaelic heritage and has been used for crofting and small-scale fishing for centuries; modern transport links include a short airstrip and Caledonian MacBrayne ferry calls on scheduled services that vary seasonally.
Coll lies to the west of mainland Scotland in the Inner Hebrides, north of Tiree and south-west of the Isle of Mull. It is reached by ferry from Oban (via Tiree on some sailings) or by small plane to the island airstrip.
- Access: served by a small airstrip and seasonal ferry services - check timetables in advance as connections are limited and weather-dependent.
- Services: the island supports crofting communities and a low-density population, with basic accommodation and few services outside the main village.
What to See#
- Arinagour: the village of Arinagour serves as the island’s main settlement and ferry terminal, containing shops, the council office and basic visitor services.
- Beaches and machair: Traigh Mhor and other extensive sandy beaches and machair systems that support coastal wildflowers and birdlife are distributed around the island’s coast.
Best Time to Visit Coll
Best visited late spring to early autumn for calmer seas and floral displays; crossings are weather-dependent.
Weather & Climate near Coll
Coll's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 3°C to 17°C. Abundant rainfall (1573 mm/year), wettest in January.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 4° - 7° | 1° | 184 mm | overcast | 83% | 8.2 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.4h |
| February | Poor | 3° - 7° | 1° | 119 mm | overcast | 83% | 8.3 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.3h |
| March | Poor | 4° - 8° | 2° | 137 mm | overcast | 83% | 7.6 m/s | 0.3 low | 11.7h |
| April | Acceptable | 5° - 10° | 4° | 82 mm | overcast | 84% | 6.2 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 14.0h |
| May | Acceptable | 8° - 13° | 10° | 68 mm | overcast | 84% | 5.5 m/s | 1.0 high | 16.2h |
| June | Acceptable | 10° - 15° | 12° | 76 mm | overcast | 87% | 5.4 m/s | 1.3 high | 17.3h |
| July | Good | 12° - 16° | 14° | 97 mm | overcast | 87% | 5.0 m/s | 1.2 high | 16.8h |
| August | Acceptable | 12° - 17° | 14° | 118 mm | overcast | 87% | 5.0 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 14.9h |
| September | Poor | 10° - 15° | 12° | 156 mm | overcast | 85% | 6.0 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 12.6h |
| October | Poor | 8° - 12° | 7° | 179 mm | overcast | 83% | 7.0 m/s | 0.2 low | 10.2h |
| November | Poor | 6° - 10° | 4° | 183 mm | overcast | 82% | 7.4 m/s | 0.0 low | 8.0h |
| December | Poor | 4° - 8° | 2° | 174 mm | overcast | 82% | 7.4 m/s | 0.0 low | 6.7h |
How to Get to Coll
Ferry services operate from Oban or Tiree (Caledonian MacBrayne / CalMac) to Coll - crossings are weather-dependent. Small planes also service the island seasonally from Oban.
Tips for Visiting Coll
- Bring cash and provisions if planning to camp - services are extremely limited.
- Check tide tables and ferry schedules from Mull - crossings can be weather-dependent.
- Visit the standing stones at Kilmartin and explore the island's machair (flower-rich grassland) in late spring.