How to get to the Isle of Coll
.... by ferry
Most folk travel to Coll on a Caledonian MacBrayne ferry. In the summer there are daily sailings from Oban, five sailings per week from Tiree and one from Barra. In the winter there are five sailings per week from Oban and Tiree.
The cruise from Oban is pretty spectacular, gliding down the Sound of Mull past Tobermory and then Ardnamurchan Point (the most westerly tip of the UK’s mainland) before the short crossing in more open sea to Coll.
In the summer, the chances of spotting dolphins, whales and basking sharks are quite high and amongst the wealth of bird life you may see shearwaters, petrels and perhaps a white-tailed eagle.
.... by air
The Argyll & Bute Council run Isle of Coll airstrip is situated at the west end of the island 
Flights are run by Hebridean Air Services.
To book flights 0845 805 7465
Scheduled flights operate on Wednesdays only. The morning flight runs from Oban to Coll then back to Oban via Tiree and the afternoon flight runs from Oban via Tiree to Coll before returning to Oban. The runway is unlit and flying is governed by visibility.
There are additional flights for High School kids to return for the weekend. During the summer the timetable flights are Friday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, in the winter the flights run on a Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. Seats are available (for anyone) on the flights to pick up the school kids and these are often offered at reduced prices – contact Hebridean Air Services for times and availability. Depending on the number of school kids travelling, seats may be available both ways, so it is always worth asking about availability.
Light planes and helicopters often come to Coll, usually landing at Coll airstrip. There are no facilities at the airstrip other than a payphone, a waiting room and a toilet. To land at the airport please contact Oban Airport for permission 01631 572910.
.... by air
The Argyll & Bute Council run Isle of Coll airstrip is situated at the west end of the island
Flights are run by Hebridean Air Services.
To book flights 0845 805 7465
Scheduled flights operate on Wednesdays only. The morning flight runs from Oban to Coll then back to Oban via Tiree and the afternoon flight runs from Oban via Tiree to Coll before returning to Oban. The runway is unlit and flying is governed by visibility.
There are additional flights for High School kids to return for the weekend. During the summer the timetable flights are Friday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, in the winter the flights run on a Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. Seats are available (for anyone) on the flights to pick up the school kids and these are often offered at reduced prices – contact Hebridean Air Services for times and availability. Depending on the number of school kids travelling, seats may be available both ways, so it is always worth asking about availability.
Light planes and helicopters often come to Coll, usually landing at Coll airstrip. There are no facilities at the airstrip other than a payphone, a waiting room and a toilet. To land at the airport please contact Oban Airport for permission 01631 572910.
.... under your own steam
Alternatively, come to Coll under your own steam. Coll is an increasingly popular anchorage for yachts people - More information here.
Visitors may prefer to charter a boat from Coll (IsleGO), Tiree (Tiree Sea Tours) or the mainland (Coastal Connections, Oban). The more energetic come by sea kayak (more here), but it’s not recommended for the inexperienced.
Once here, even though there is no official taxi service or any public transport, you have a good chance of a hitch, just ask around.
Prepare for disruptions
However you travel to Coll you should always be aware that you may not get away exactly when you plan. This is a remote island, out in the Atlantic, where ferries and plane schedules are sometimes disrupted by bad weather, or the knock on effect of earlier bad weather. The ferry and plane have also been known to break down!
If you have an important flight to catch on the mainland or really, really must get somewhere then consider leaving early.
If the weather is bad, the ferry may call only once*. If you were planning on taking the scheduled second call into Coll, you may need to re-schedule and be ready for a quick exit and make the sailing to Oban via Tiree.
Please keep in touch with the CalMac pier office 01879 230347 before the first ferry is due.
* The ferry normally calls into Coll twice, once on the way to Tiree and then again on the return leg back from Tiree to Oban