Colsay is an uninhabited island off the South West coast of Mainland, Shetland. Fora Ness lies to the south, across the Muckle Sound. The highest elevation is 44 metres (144 ft), and there is an ancient cairn

Cairn

Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...

 on the summit.

It is in Dunrossness parish, 8 miles (13km) NNW of Sumburgh Head

Sumburgh Head

Sumburgh Head is located at the southern tip of the Shetland Mainland in northernScotland. The head is a 100 m high rocky spur capped by the Sumburgh Head Lighthouse. The Old Norse name was Dunrøstar høfdi, it means "The Head onto the Thunderous Noise", referring to the noise of Sumburgh Roost...

. It used to pasture a good many sheep mostly Cheviot/Shetland cross breeds, which were transported to the island by small boats, called Yoal

Yoal

The Yoal, often referred to as the Ness Yoal, is a clinker built craft used traditionally in the Shetland Islands. It is designed primarily for rowing, but which also handles well under her traditional square sail when running before the wind or on a broad reach...

s, from the nearby Spiggie Beach, and landed at the only decent landing place on the island, called the "Owsin Gaet".