Scotland - The Isle of Coll

Tour Code: GBR211

A 7-day holiday on the fabulous Isle of Coll, enjoying the special birds, mammals, wildflowers and breathtaking scenery of this pristine and remote Hebridean island.

£2,395

Flight Inclusive

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Carbon Footprint

288kg CO2e

With International Flights

127kg CO2e

Tour Only

What does this mean?

Highlights

10% of the UK's Corncrake population breed on Coll
Rare orchids include the Irish Lady's Tresses
Otters are frequently seen
Visit a seabird colony for Puffins and other auks
Rare insects and flora on secluded moorlands and machair
Frequently seen raptors include White-tailed Eagles, and Hen Harriers
Possibility of cetaceans and Basking Shark

Summary

The small Hebridean island of Coll, roughly six miles to the west of Mull, is only around 3 miles wide and 12 miles in length, and yet it supports an astonishing range of wildlife! This land of pristine habitats, stunning white sandy beaches, beautiful scenery and a host of special flora and fauna awaits us. The tour is perfect for the all-round naturalist as we search for everything from Otters and Puffins to orchids and oil beetles, all whilst ‘escaping’ from the rigours of modern life. Our tour leader has lived on Coll for several years and knows the island and all aspects of its natural history extremely well.

We start the holiday early in the morning of the first day in Oban, before a ferry journey of around 2.5 hours takes us to Coll. Heading out into the Atlantic, we shall look for Black Guillemots in the harbour and utilise the crossing to enjoy Manx Shearwaters, Arctic Terns and Great Skuas, whilst cetaceans may include Harbour Porpoise, Common Dolphins and even Minke Whale!

Based at a charming, family run, 4-star guesthouse overlooking the scenic bay of Arinagour, we will enjoy a whole range of activities across our 6-night stay. Walking from our front door we can hope to watch Otters, while White-tailed Eagles are regularly seen. Around 10% of the UK’s Corncrake population breeds on Coll and we shall aim to see this special species throughout our time here. A setting sun to the sound of the “crex crex” of the Corncrake, drumming Snipe and the electronic call of Lapwing is a special experience. Other breeding birds include Red-throated Diver, Hen Harrier, Arctic Skua, Short-eared Owl and Twite.

Botanically the island is incredibly rich with almost six hundred species of wild flower recorded and we shall explore the vegetated dune systems, nutrient-poor lochs, alkaline fens and dry grasslands for such special species as Lesser Water Plantain, White Water Lily, Early Marsh Orchid and Mossy Saxifrage. In July we also hope to find two of Britain’s rarest plants, the Irish Lady’s-tresses and Pipewort.

Our days will be spent exploring the island, taking relaxed, leisurely walks to enjoy the island’s broad natural history. A fine array of butterflies and day-flying moths can be found here as well as beetles including the most important population of Short-necked Oil Beetle in all of the UK. Neighbouring islands have large sea-bird colonies including confiding Puffins and we shall take a chartered boat trip to get close views of them. Coll’s waters are also internationally recognised for Basking Sharks!

The fun doesn’t stop after dark either, as when the weather is suitable, we will set a moth trap with possible highlights including Emperor, Map-winged Swift, Fox and Garden Tiger while Coll is also internationally recognised for its star-gazing. This holiday is set to be a fascinating exploration of this charming island covering its extremely diverse natural history.

Outline Itinerary

Day

Depart Oban

Days

2 - 6

Exploring the Isle of Coll

Day

Final explorations; return Oban

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Dates & Prices

2027

Flight Inclusive

£2,395

Single Supplement

£300

Regional Departures

Would you rather depart from an airport closer to you? Give us a call at 1-844-433-9473 and we'll see what we can do.

Flight Inclusive

£2,395

Single Supplement

£300

Regional Departures

Would you rather depart from an airport closer to you? Give us a call at 1-844-433-9473 and we'll see what we can do.

Book Now

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!