Coll

Coll is formed largely from gneiss forming the Lewisian complex, a suite of metamorphic rocks of Archaean to early Proterozoic age. The eastern part of the island is traversed by numerous normal faults most of which run broadly northwest–southeast. Dolerite and camptonite dykes of Permo-Carboniferous or Tertiary age are also seen in the east of the island. Quaternary sediments include raised beach deposits which are frequent around Coll's coastline whilst stretches of alluvium occupy some low inland areas. There are considerable areas of blown sand in the west and along stretches of the north coast and of peat southwest from Arinagour. == Geography ==

Coll is about long by wide. It had a population of 176 according to the 2022 Census. Coll's sandy beaches rise to form large sand dunes. The highest point on Coll is Ben Hogh in the mid-west of the island, which is a ridge with two tops running northwest to southeast. It rises initially to a height of , with a triangulation pillar, and to to the southeast. Other inhabited locations include: • Acha (), a crofting settlement located south-west of Arinagour. • Arileod (), located on the west coast; south-west of Arinagour. • Arnabost (), • Ballyhaugh (), located on the northern part of Hough Bay; west of Arinagour. • Bousd (), located north-east of Arinagour. • Clabhach (), located on the north-west coast; north-west of Arinagour. • Cornaigmore • Crossapol (), located on the south-west coast. • Grishipoll • Sorisdale • Totronald (), located on the west coast southwest of Arinagour. • Uig (), located north-east of the head of Loch Breachacha. == Etymology ==

It has been suggested that Coll is derived from Gaelic coll, meaning 'hazel'. However, the name is given as Colosus in the Life of St Columba by Adamnán, the seventh century abbot of Iona. As /s/ between vowels had been lost in Celtic before Adamnán's time, Watson suggests that Colosus may represent a pre-Celtic name. As Kolossós is not originally a Greek word, In Icelandic, the word kollur (Old Norse: kollr, Norwegian: koll or kolle) means "a rounded protrusion, such as a rounded mountaintop, or a tussock". == History ==

Early history In the 6th century, an Irish invasion led to the establishment of the Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata, which included Coll. Dál Riata was divided into four kin-groups, of which the Cenél Loairn ruled Coll, Mull, and the adjacent mainland, which together consequently became known as Lorn, after them. Coll shared the history of Lorn for the next 1000 years, becoming part of the Kingdom of the Isles under Norwegian dominion, then the MacDougall subdivision of that kingdom after Somerled. Coll, like other Hebridean islands, has several crannógs (artificial islands) located in some of its lochs, dating from this early period. It is difficult to estimate the exact age of these islands, but several are thought to date to the Norse period; local traditions describe three – Dùn Anlaimh, Dùn an Achaidh, Dùn Dubh – as having been Norse strongholds which survived until they were attacked by the Macleans. The 1266 Treaty of Perth transferred the Norwegian crown dependency to the Scottish king. Following the MacDougall defeat in the dispute between king John Balliol and Robert de Bruys (they had backed the former), the position of sheriff of Argyll was created to have shrieval authority over Lorn, and the MacDougall lands were merged into the Lordship of the Isles. Though MacDougall authority was restored in 1357, by king David II, the MacDougall heir had 3 years previously, quitclaimed any rights to Mull (including Coll), which therefore remained with the Lord of the Isles. In 1549 Dean Monro wrote of Coll that it was: :"ane mane fertile Ile inhabite and manurit, with an castell and ane paroch kirk in it, gude for fishing and fowlers, with ane utter fine Falcons nest in it". He wrote of Rum: :''"It pertains to McKenabrey of Coll". The MacLeans exercised baronial control of the island until 1848. The Maclean ownership of the castle was sold in 1851. The process took place alongside the clearances where many were removed from their land. In Coll, overpopulation was cited as a factor. Present day In the 2011 census, the island's population was recorded as 195, representing an increase over the previous decade of nearly 19% During the same period Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% (to 103,702). In December 2013, Coll secured 'dark skies' status, the second location in Scotland. The island has no street lights and little other light pollution, allowing unobstructed views of the night sky on clear nights. In winter the Northern Lights are often visible. In January 2024, Coll experienced a 3.3 magnitude earthquake according to the British Geological Survey. == Transport ==

There are only two main roads on Coll. The main hub of the island is the island's largest settlement, Arinagour. Just over a kilometre (0.7 miles) south of Arinagour is the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry terminal. The ferry travels from Oban to Coll to Tiree; and a return trip from Tiree, to Coll, to Oban. The ferry between Oban and Castlebay on Barra goes via Coll and Tiree once a week. The airport on the island, is located between Uig and Arileod. Highland Airways who originally operated the route to Oban went into administration in 2010, but a new operator, Hebridean Air Services now operates the route under a PSO with flights to Oban, Tiree and Colonsay. The aircraft used for the flights are a BN2 Islander (G-HEBS). Hebridean headquarters are at Cumbernauld Airport, North Lanarkshire. == Economy ==

Agriculture, primarily land owned farming as opposed to crofting is one of the major employment areas on the island. There are also a few fishing vessels that operate from the island. Owned and managed by the community-led organisation Development Coll, the new facilities were built to provide much needed amenities on the island and a social hub for the local community. An Cridhe now hosts a series of annual events such as a half marathon, the Coll Show, a basking shark festival, a bird festival and a chamber music festival, as well as a range of music, comedy, theatre and dance throughout the year. The centre also has a film club, Screen Coll. A remote outdoor disco is also held on the island. In September 2024, it was reported that the island had one shop, one restaurant, one hotel and a post office in operation. The founder, Nicholas Maclean-Bristol, also restored Breacachadh Castle. The island also has several tourist businesses. == Wildlife ==

There is an extensive RSPB reserve towards the west end of the island. One of the main attractions is the rare corncrake, as well as Skylarks. Traditional local farming practices have helped this once common British bird to survive. In the 1970s, scientists released sand lizards on Coll. There is also a small population of sand lizards, as many as 39 individuals were introduced by scientists to test whether they can survive so far north in the 1970s and are still thriving today. In 2010, a colony of short-necked oil beetles was found on the island. The beetle, thought to be extinct in the UK, is now known only to occur in southern England and Coll. It is parasitic on ground-dwelling bees, and is also flightless, raising the question of how it arrived on the island. It does not appear to be found on neighbouring Tiree, possibly because of a difference in terrain. Modern farming methods had partly caused its demise elsewhere. == In fiction ==

s and lochs on Coll. In the foreground, heather and a rowan tree. Mairi Hedderwick, the illustrator and author, used to live on Coll and has used the island as the setting for her Katie Morag series of children's books. In the books, Coll is known by the fictional name of the Isle of Struay. == See also ==