Sailing SE from Barra across the Sea of the Hebrides, we passed through
Gunna Sound which separates Coll and Tiree, and N into the anchorage at
Arinagour, Coll’s only village – complete with gun to repel unwanted
visitors! The northern two-thirds and extreme SW tip of the island are
Lewisian gneiss, its low hummocks infilled with peat bogs and lochans.
The remaining third consists of very ancient metamorphosed sandstones
containing quartz and marble. The west coast has a covering of
wind-blown shell sand, forming dunes over 100ft high and machair
suitable for grazing. The highest point is Ben Hogh at 341ft. On our
walk across the island and round Cliad Bay we were delighted to have a
chance encounter with Mhairi and John and young family, who were
holidaying on the island.