From the SW tip of Holy Island we looked across Lamlash Bay to Lamlash village backed by the distant hills of Arran.
When we arrived at the Holy Island Inner Lighthouse the "No landing closed retreat" notice did not bode well for our visit to the island. It has a rich tradition of peaceful meditation dating from the the time of the hermit monk St Molais in the sixth century to the Samye Ling monks of today.
However, the closed area was just the immediate vicinity of the lighthouse buildings.
Good paths, followed by a mild scramble, allowed exploration to the highpoint of the island. If you are looking for the Inn of the Sixth Happiness you will not find it on Holy Island. Those seeking that sort of enlightenment would be better to head for Lamlash.
We enjoyed our visit to this stunningly beautiful and peaceful island.
NB please see the comments for a very different experience of visiting Holy Island.
17/08/2007
