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Isle Of Colonsay
Isle Of Colonsay photos
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Isle Of Colonsay maps
Historic maps of Isle Of Colonsay and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Isle Of Colonsay maps
Isle Of Colonsay area books
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Memories of Isle Of Colonsay
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Peace on Earth
First visit, New Year 1972/73 with Donald McIntyre [Donald Baan] brother of Rory, sons of Mary & Rodger. Continued every Hogmany till 2002/3. Moved to Colonsay 2003, Craig Mhor, built 2004/5, health, and incomers deteriated so had to return to England [reluctantly], fond memories of good friends, my heart lies there.
Isle of Colonsay memories
Visit to Jura 1972
Arrived by the ferry and stayed at Knockrome. I think the owner was called Boyle. There was certainly a Paddy Boyle. THere were some really old standing stones around Knockrome and you could climb up to the peninsula called Rubb' an Leanachais where there were some amazing beaches and you could view the sea from both directions.
Used to go to the hotel in the evenings to escape the midges and met a Frank Riley Smith who I seem to remember spent the whole evening abusing the locals and the following evening apologising for his behaviour the night before. The Riley Smiths were land owners and Frank told us that he had been given one of the little islands off Craighouse for his birthday. Outside the hotel were these tropical trees able to survive I suppose due to the gulfstream.
Walked across the island to Glenbatrick where my friends and I were invited in for tea with the Astors at their shooting lodge. I remember a bloody great whalebone attached... Read more
School Holidays 50s & 60s
I was born in Portnahaven and so were my brothers, I still have a brother living there. We moved to the mainland but every summer we went over to Portnahaven, all my cousins would be there and then when we met the local kids at night we would all see how many of us would fit in the kiosk. Then we would go for a walk round the village, the lighthouse light would be going round and we would try to duck as it came our way. It does not sound like much but they were the best times of my life. Playing down on the shore, catching crabs. I live in the USA now but one day I will return to Portnahaven and take my grandchildren with me to play on the shore, go over to the stones and over to Currie sands. Cant wait for that day to come.
My 5th Birthday
I remember being taken to Lochranza just before my fifth birthday. My mother, sister and I went and we sailed from the Broomilaw in Glasgow. I seem to remember that the ship we were on was the Dalreada (spelling may be wrong). While there I celebrated my 5th birthday and on that day I fell while running down a hill. To this day I bear the scar!!
Simply The Best
My parents took us to Kilchattan Bay every year from the mid 1960s. As far as my sister and I were concerned we didn't want to go anywhere else but KB. Used to love climbing the Suidhe which was a ritual for all Glasgow kids. Mum had been evacuated to this part of Bute during the war and it seemed the natural choice for Glasgow holidaymakers. As a teenager I only remember long hot summers, playing with friends and exploring places like the lighthouse, and also the "secret" beach near there which appeared to have sand like black, volcanic ash where "luckies" could be found. We also enjoyed little mini trips to places like West Bay which had magnificent views of "The Sleeping Warrior" and also you could catch a glimpse of the basking sharks, or have a game of golf at nearby Kingarth golf club. St Blanes was also a very interesting place to visit. The thing I love about Kilchattan Bay is that it never changes, which is... Read more
Paradise
1969 wasn't my first visit to Blackwaterfoot, that was two years earlier, but it was probably the year I fell in love with the place.
We stayed at The Rock Hotel, and I was 12 at the time. It was a small establishment, probably around 15 rooms, and was the second building along the road to the golf course. I recall there were three families staying there, the Wells who had three children, the Rileys who had two, and the Fergusons who also had two. I also recall an elderly brother and sister, Ian and Alice Morrison and a friend of theirs, Mrs. Wilson. We all got along fabulously, most of the children were within a few years of each other and The Rock was owned by a Mr. and Mrs. Mirrylees who had recently moved from Edinburgh.
We all mucked in together and frequently went on trips together. We climbed Goat Fell (I remember Mr. Riley struggling... Read more
Bentangval
I was broutht up at 16 Bentangval with my grandfather Phoom, also my grandmother. I have great memories. I believe the house has now been knocked down and a new house is there now. I have not been there for 33 years.
