📌 Holy Island, off Isle of Arran
★★★★
Holy Island may be small but has some impressive scenery, ranging from the rocky peak of Mullach Mòr to dramatic cliffs overlooking much of the shoreline. Visitors disembarking from the Lamlash ferry are given a quick overview of possible walking routes; the one described here is the “big one”, climbing along the island’s spine to its summit, descending steeply past some well-marked crevasses to Pillar Rock lighthouse then returning along the west coast. The circuit gets reasonably busy if the boat is full (ironic, given the island’s other function as a retreat centre) but deservedly so: it takes in all the main scenic highlights, packed into just four eventful miles. The final, shoreline section is decorated with several rock paintings of Buddhist leaders, and also features the island’s original Healing Well, and a cave home to the hermit St Molaise in the 6th century. Soay sheep and wild goats can often be seen too, munching seaweed on the shingle beaches. Timings can be quite tight depending on ferry schedules; a much shorter and easier option would be to walk the route in reverse as far as the lighthouse, then return the same way.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Centre for World Peace and Health 
Clauchlands Point from the ascent 
Mullach Mòr from Mullach Beag 
View north from Mullach Beag 
Arran east coast & Ailsa Craig 
View back from the ascent to Mullach Mòr 
Mullach Mòr summit 
View south from the summit 
View north from just beyond the summit 
Steep descent towards the south end of the island 
Kingscross Point from the descent 
View back to the summit 
Pillar Rock lighthouse 
Traversing back to the west side 
Return along the west coast 
Below Mullach Mòr 
Soay sheep 
Healing Spring 
Saint Molaise’s Cave 
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Holy Island jetty, 2 mi off the Isle of Arran’s east coast at Lamlash
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 052310
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.533559,-5.088615
🚢 Ferry from Lamlash on Isle of Arran (seasonal) – book in advance
🚗 Street parking in Lamlash, then use ferry
📝 Key info
▶ 7 km / 4 mi | ▲ 470 m | ⌛ 3-3.5 hr
Features: ☮️ Centre for World Peace and Health; △ Mullach Mòr (314 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn); ⚓ Pillar Rock lighthouse; 🖼️ Buddhist rock paintings; 💧 Healing Well; 🕸 St Molaise’s Cave & Table
⬤⬤ Moderate to Tough | Path throughout, but steep & rough in places higher up, possibly requiring the odd hand.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start & Centre for World Peace and Health – Mullach Beag – Mullach Mòr – Pillar Rock lighthouse – Healing Well – St Molaise’s Cave & Table – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Eriskay ponies near the lighthouse, Soay sheep along the west shoreline (plus wild goats on a previous visit), a lizard; gannets, eiders, grey heron.
Weather: Quite sunny with some cloudier spells & a brief rain shower. Moderate breeze higher up, temperature in mid teens.
September 2025
