Holy Isle, Firth of Clyde
Categories: Islands of the Clyde | Marilyns of Scotland | Mountains and hills of the Scottish islands
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Prominence:
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Coordinates:
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55°31′30″ N 5°04′20″ W
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Topo map:
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OS Landranger 69
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OS grid reference:
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NS063297
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Listing:
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Marilyn
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Big hill (
Gaelic)
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Pronunciation:
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/mʊlæx mɔz/
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The
Holy Isle, Firth of Clyde is one of a number of islands in the
United Kingdom which go under the name "
Holy Island". It is located in the
Firth of Clyde off the west coast of central Scotland, inside
Lamlash Bay on the larger island of
Arran.
The island is around 3
kilometre (2
miles) long and around 1 km (around half a mile) wide. Its highest point is the hill
Mullach Mor.
The island has a long history as sacred site, with a spring said to have healing properties, the
hermit cave of 6th Century monk
Saint Molaise, and evidence of a 13th Century
monastery. Indeed the earlier
Gaelic name for the island was
Eilean Molaise, Molaise's Island. This became corrupted to
Elmolaise,
Limolas, and finally Lamlash the name now associated with the adjacent bay and town.
It is now owned by the Samyé Ling Buddhist Community, who belong to the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The settlements on the island include the Centre for World Peace and Health, founded by Lama Yeshe Losal, on the north of the island. This is an environmentally designed residential centre for courses and retreats which extends the former farm house. It has solar water heating and a reed-bed sewage treatment system. The approach from the ferry jetty is decorated with tibetan flags and stupas.
On the southern end of the island lives a community of nuns who are undertaking three year retreats. The remainder of the island is treated as a nature reserve with wild Eriskay ponies, Sanaan goats, Soay sheep and the replanting of native trees.
There is a regular ferry service from Lamlash, and the island is popular with holiday makers staying on Arran.
External links