Balnahard & Colonsay Wool Growers

Balnahard & Colonsay Wool Growers Balnahard is located on the beautiful Hebridean Isle of Colonsay. Offering self catering holidays, b

We've had lots of lovely new followers in the last couple of weeks, so I thought I'd do a very rough summary of what we ...
26/09/2026

We've had lots of lovely new followers in the last couple of weeks, so I thought I'd do a very rough summary of what we get up to.

The farm is Balnahard Farm, on the Hebridean island of Colonsay (island population 130)

The most important aspect of this account are the collies. The team currently consists of Miss Gracie and Miss Daisy. Daisy has more white on her and can generally be found gazing into the David's eyes 🙄
Miss Gracie is slightly more reserved and somewhat enigmatic

We farm 420 sheep and 35 cattle, producing wool and beef while protecting the amazing biodiverse environment we have here.

Colonsay Wool Growers is the wool producing arm of the farm, turning the fleeces from our sheep into yarn, knitted accessories and other woolly goodies

The yarn gets dyed with native plants growing freely on the farmland, meaning fleeces and dye material grow side by side.

That's a brief(ish) summary. Feel free to send through any questions!





I've been feeling a bit under the weather the last week or so, so I'm having a few days at home pottering about Not unus...
24/09/2026

I've been feeling a bit under the weather the last week or so, so I'm having a few days at home pottering about
Not unusual for me at this stage of the year but I can't say I find it any less frustrating just because it's predictable

Anyways, I've finished a few knitting projects, including this sleeveless vest which is knitted in left over bits of plant dyed yarn and undyed grey.

Dyeing with Common Reed flowers. It really is magicWhat adds to the excitement, is that the Reed flowers have to be at t...
21/09/2026

Dyeing with Common Reed flowers.

It really is magic

What adds to the excitement, is that the Reed flowers have to be at the right point of ripeness. Too soon and you'll just get yellow, and too late and you won't get much at all.

Here in Colonsay they reach this stage around mid to late August - they will be iridescent pink and purple

They are in peak condition for no more than a couple of weeks, although I have successfully frozen the flowers for use later in the year.

Sorry about the captions not being very easy to read....Instagram won't let me edit them anymore 🤷‍♀️

Yarn dyed with Common Reed One of the most magical plants you can dye with. I'll show you the process tomorrow The range...
20/09/2026

Yarn dyed with Common Reed

One of the most magical plants you can dye with. I'll show you the process tomorrow

The range of greens and yellows that you can produce from one dye bath is amazing

Colonsay plants and Colonsay Wool

The David calls her Fringe-y
19/09/2026

The David calls her Fringe-y

A bullock looks at a pile of old fencing and sticks his tongue out
18/09/2026

A bullock looks at a pile of old fencing and sticks his tongue out

16/09/2026

Bringing the last few ewes and lambs in to be sorted out.

Lambs will all be weaned and sorted into girls for keeping, girls for selling and also boys for selling

We keep approx 110 girls every year to go into the flock to replace the older ladies.

That's about 25% of the adult ewe numbers (we have approx 430 breeding age sheep).

The girls and I have been up in the wild corner of the silage field collecting Bog Myrtle to dry for winter dyeing.Gives...
16/09/2026

The girls and I have been up in the wild corner of the silage field collecting Bog Myrtle to dry for winter dyeing.

Gives me a chance to admire the Devil's Bit Scabious while they admire the rabbits 🐇.....

Corners and edges of the silage fields are great for biodiversity and wild flowers - they have animals excluded from them from May to the end of August while the grass grows for winter fodder and then they are lightly grazed in the autumn by sheep and cows, who trample about and 💩


An update on the calf that slipped down the hillA bit disappointed that she's not improved very much. It looks like the ...
15/09/2026

An update on the calf that slipped down the hill

A bit disappointed that she's not improved very much.

It looks like the problem is in her hip, hence her reluctance to put any weight on her back hoof.

We've been in consultation with our vet, who advises to keep up the painkillers/anti inflammatory injections and to keep her as quiet as possible.

They are currently in the paddock at the yard but we'll move them to a nice flat field later after another injection. And then it's just a waiting game 🤞🤞

Address

Isle Of Colonsay
Scalasaig
PA617YT

Telephone

+447850230000

Website

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