Getting from Colonsay Airstrip to the city

The air link

• Argyll and Bute Council lists Oban to Colonsay among its scheduled plane services, flown by Hebridean Air Services on a Britten-Norman Islander. Bookings go through 0845 805 7465.
• Two seasons apply: summer 29 March to 25 October, winter 25 October to 28 March. Frequencies are low, so the flight shapes the trip rather than fitting into it.
• CalMac sails to Colonsay from Oban, and that remains the route for a vehicle. Hebridean Air's own onward travel page names Colonsay among the CalMac destinations from the Oban terminal.

The island

• The operator describes Colonsay as one of the smallest Hebridean islands and one of Britain's most remote communities, with few residents, big sandy beaches and rich flora and fauna. That is an accurate warning as well as a description: services are thin and you should arrange accommodation and any transfer before you arrive.

What to expect at the strip

• There is no security screening. No bag search, no scanner, and consequently no limit on liquids. Dangerous goods are still banned and check-in asks you to confirm you carry none.
• The load is decided by weight. Excess baggage is removed first if the Islander is heavy, then the last passenger to check in is offloaded unless somebody volunteers. A volunteer receives EU261 compensation.
• Passengers are not weighed. The operator uses standard projections.

Accessibility and disruption

• No wheelchair access to the aircraft, no mechanical lift. You must be able to board and disembark unaided or with a companion, and one foldable wheelchair per flight is carried.
• Cancellations inside the operator's control bring EU261 care. Weather cancellations do not. Given where Colonsay is, treat that as the likely case in winter.