Colonsay House

The sun shone for most of the day, but there was a sudden squally rainshower at 4 o'clock, just as we arrived on our bikes at Colonsay House. The house dates from 1722.

We had come to visit the gardens, famous for their rhododendrons which were mostly planted after 1930 to provide shelter belts for the house. There is also a rose garden and a Lighthouse Garden, so called because at its centre is the fresnel lens from Rhuval lighthouse on Islay. This garden once supplied fresh fruit and vegetables for much of the island.

There is also a well dedicated to St Oran, and next to it, an early Christian statue from the 7th or 8th century, which originally stood at the ruined village of Riasg Buidh.