📌 Holy Island, off Isle of Arran
★★★★
Visitors arriving on Holy Island by ferry from Lamlash are given a quick description of the island’s rules, ideas for possible walking routes and warnings about the deep holes and crevasses pockmarking the summit area. The island may be small but has some impressive scenery, ranging from the rocky peak of Mullach Mòr to dramatic eastern and western cliffs. The steep circuit taking in both gets quite busy (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. Returning along the coast, look out for the rock paintings of Buddhist leaders, the island’s original Healing Well, a cave home to the hermit St Molaise in the 6th century, and the goats and Soay sheep inhabiting the low ground. Allow a full half day or risk missing the last ferry back to the Arran “mainland”.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Ferry arriving at Holy Island jetty 
Miniature stupas and flags near the jetty 
South end of the lighthouse from Mullach Beag 
Looking south across Arran towards Ailsa Craig 
Lamlash 
Ascent to Mullach Mòr 
Arran east coast 
Pillar Rock lighthouse from Mullach Mòr 
Pillar Rock lighthouse 
Western cliffs of Mullach Mòr 
Return along the west shoreline 
Below Mullach Mòr 
Wild goats 
Soay sheep
🌍 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 at busy times
🚗 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: Soay sheep, goats and ponies roaming the island; cormorants and other seabirds by the shore.
Weather: Sun increasingly breaking through, although a little patchy hill fog at the summit. Dry, and warm in the sunshine.
June 2012
