The Way To Happiness on Holy Island

So, yesterday we sailed to Holy Island in a day with clear blue sky and calm seas - a total contrast to the day before.  We sailed past the beautiful island of Arran, round her southern coast and a small way up the eastern side to reach the neighbouring Holy Island. 

Approaching the passage to Holy Island with Arran to port

Holy Island is owned by a Tibetan Buddhist sect who have set up a "Centre for World Peace and Health" where people can come for retreat and to learn from their teachings in this quiet and special place.  They welcome visitors, so we planned to visit the following day.

Holy Island viewed from our anchorage in the morning

There was not a breath of wind as we rowed ashore to Holy Island and all was peaceful ashore.  The Peace Centre did not seem to have woken up so we followed a path leading to the top of the island.

Our anchorage next to the jetty on Holy Island - viewed from our path up the hill

The path took us scrambling over the rocks to the very top and then down the other side, passing several herds of the wild goats that roam free on the island.

Holy Island wild goats

We took the lower path back along the shore to the Peace Centre, thankful to rest our weary legs.  Along the way, we passed a number of rocks with Buddhist paintings on them.


We came across a number of retreat visitors who all gave us friendly greetings.  Then we found ourselves back at the Peace Centre. We had hoped to speak to some of the Buddhists but their information centre was closed until later in the year.  However, we took a look around their Organic Peace Garden with its quiet areas and health-giving plants.

We found a sign with the Buddhist saying "Do not ask me the way to happiness, happiness is the way".  We liked this.

During our walk across the island we noticed that the goats and seagulls were not afraid of humans in the normal way.  They let us pass much closer than we normally could.  And we found a seagull nesting under the camp signpost - quite unafraid of the ferry visitors passing close by.


What a magical place :)



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