Motor Homes / Camper Vans on Coll

It's a pity this page even needs to exists but such is life. The summer of 2009 saw an incredible influx of people and an unprecedented number of motor homes/camper vans. The consequential damage to the machair was, for the first time, extremely noticeable - hence this page.

Whilst we islanders have no right to hold kangaroo court and dictate who is allowed and who isn't allowed to come here and drive the queen's highways, there are real laws which should be upheld. Not because we over care about laws but because most Collachs have a deep respect for our environment, after all, that is why many of us are here on this godforsaken rock. Wild camping for backpackers, cyclists, sea kayakers etc.. is catered for (legally) by right of access acts and it is very rare to find any evidence of the many true wild campers that visit Coll. However, vehicles and motor homes calling their 0ff-road parking 'wild camping' makes a mockery of the concept particularly since vehicles are not allowed to drive off the highway and just park up. Just because there's no policeman on Coll doesn't mean its OK.

There is a campsite on Coll that caters for motor homes/camper vans/caravans. Please use it and its facilities. If it's full, and you are advised to book early, then thats it, it's full. There is no where else on Coll to park up unless you can find a landowner to allow it. Currently, no landowner is offering this opportunity but if one does they are most welcome to contact me and I'll amend this information immediately.

Damage to the machair in 2009 was extensive. Considering the fact that machair is one of the great natural attractions of this wee rock it is not only ignorant to destroy this precious asset, it is selfish. The photo, right, shows what was machiar, once full of wild flowers including frog orchids. Here you can see there is nothing left, the result of constant 'camping' and parking up (not just motor homes in this case but car campers as well).

Toilets
Disposal of chemicals from toilets has also become a problem. Coll has one disposal point at the Garden House Campsite - here. This facility, for 'Green Chemical Only', is also available for those not using the campsite. Please contact the camp site.
Otherwise, there is no where to off-load your poo. People have been seen dumping their excrement in the middle-pier public toilet and Calmac's pier toilet, which, like nearly all toilets on Coll, feed into septic tanks. Your chemicals will destroy the natural process of these tanks, some legacy to remind us of your visit !

There are public toilets (Location) - please use them as toilets and not a dumping place for your cocktail of nasties.

Water
Few are probably aware, as it's so often taken for granted, that water is a precious commodity on Coll (and Tiree). Only houses in Arinagour have mains water and many of us have no water as springs and burns dry up in June and July. Please fill up with water from the wetter mainland before coming to Coll and/or Tiree. Most of us living here know the true value of water and it's a bit disheartening to see a motor home filling up on its way down to the ferry. The public drinking water tap is by the middle pier toilets (Location).