Holy Isle News

Hello from a rather wet and storm-lashed Holy Isle and a belated Happy New Year for 2016.

We are currently battened-down as storm Jonas is passing over the island and all round the west coast of Scotland, the latest in a series of storms that have turned the paths to streams, torn our prayer flags to ribbons and whipped the sea into white-capped green rollers.

Fortunately, we have a great ferry service which works very hard in demanding conditions to ensure that our guests arrive and depart safely as well as provide us with our groceries and other needs. A big thank you too to all our other suppliers and partners on Arran who help us so well throughout all the seasons.

The bad weather hasn’t deterred the Saanen goats from giving birth already. The mild temperatures have helped and there are many new mothers to be seen huddled up along the path with their kids. We have also had baby seals taking up residence on the end of the jetty during the calmer spells between storms.

Thanks to all our guests, visitors, volunteers, course participants and course leaders who contributed to another very successful season in 2015, culminating in wonderful Christmas and New Year Retreats. We are currently settling into the three month Winter Retreat, a time for quiet reflection and preparation for the new season ahead.

As part of our planned improvements, we hope to bring a new and more regular output of information and news to keep everyone on Arran in touch with developments on Holy Isle.