TheHoly Island orHoly Isle (Scottish Gaelic:Eilean MoLaise) is an island in theFirth of Clyde, off the west coast of central Scotland, insideLamlash Bay on the largerIsle of Arran. The island is around 3 kilometres (1+7⁄8 mi) long and around1 kilometre (5⁄8 mi) wide. Its highest point is the hill Mullach Mòr.
The island has a long history as a sacred site, with a spring orholy well held to have healing properties, thehermit cave of 6th century monkSt Molaise, and evidence of a 13th-centurymonastery. An oldGaelic name for the island wasEilean MoLaise, Molaise's Island; this is the origin (viaElmolaise andLimolas) of "Lamlash", the name of the village on Arran that faces Holy Island.
Somerunic writing is to be found on the roof of St Molaise's cave and aViking fleet sheltered between Arran and Holy Isle before theBattle of Largs.
In 1549,Dean Monro wrote of the "little ile callit the yle of Molass, quherin there was foundit by Johne, Lord of the iles, ane monastry of friars, which is decayit."[6]
In 1992, the island was in the possession of Kay Morris, a devout Catholic who reportedly had a dream in which the Virgin Mary instructed her to give ownership of the island to theSamyé Ling Buddhist Community, who belong to theKagyu school ofTibetan Buddhism.[7] The settlements on the island include theCentre for World Peace and Health, founded byLama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, on the north of the island. This is an environmentally designed residential centre for courses and retreats which extends the former farm house. It hassolar water heating and a reed-bed sewage treatment system. The approach from the ferry jetty is decorated withTibetan flags andstupas. On the southern end of the island lives a community of nuns who are undertaking three-year retreats.
There is a regular ferry service from Lamlash, and the island is popular with holiday makers staying on Arran. The usually resident population was recorded as 31 in 2011,[8] an increase from 13 in 2001.[9] At the time of the 2022 census the population was 17.[2]
Holy Island travel guide from Wikivoyage
