Holy Isle, Firth of Clyde

Holy Isle

Gaelic name	An t-Eilean Àrd or Eilean MoLaise
Meaning of name	"the high island" or "Laisren's island" in Gaelic.
Holy Isle from Lamlash
Location
Holy Isle Holy Isle shown within North Ayrshire
OS grid reference	NS063297
Coordinates	55°32′N 5°04′W / 55.53°N 5.07°W / 55.53; -5.07
Physical geography
Island group	Firth of Clyde
Area	253 ha (0.98 sq mi)
Area rank	95
Highest elevation	Mullach Mòr 1,030 ft (314 m) (a Marilyn)
Administration
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	North Ayrshire
Demographics
Population	31
Population rank	58
Population density	12 people/km2
References

Holy Isle Outer Lighthouse
Pillar Rock Point

Holy Isle Outer Lighthouse
Scotland
Location	Holy Isle Isle of Arran North Ayrshire Scotland United Kingdom
Coordinates	55°31′02″N 5°03′39″W / 55.517299°N 5.060764°W / 55.517299; -5.060764
Year first constructed	1905
Automated	1977
Construction	masonry tower
Tower shape	square parallelepiped tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern	white tower, black lanter, ochre trim
Height	23 metres (75 ft)
Focal height	38 metres (125 ft)
Light source	solar power
Range	25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi)
Characteristic	Fl (2) W 20s.
Admiralty number	A4330
NGA number	4320
ARLHS number	SCO-100
Managing agent	Samyé Ling Buddhist Community

Holy Isle Inner Lighthouse
Lamlash
Wee Donald

Holy Isle Inner Lighthouse
Location	Holy Isle Isle of Arran North Ayrshire Scotland United Kingdom
Coordinates	55°30′44″N 5°04′13″W / 55.512218°N 5.070168°W / 55.512218; -5.070168
Year first constructed	1877
Automated	1977
Construction	masonry tower
Tower shape	cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern	white tower, black lanter, ochre trim
Height	14 metres (46 ft)
Focal height	17 metres (56 ft)
Light source	solar power
Characteristic	Fl G 3s.
Admiralty number	A4332
NGA number	4328
ARLHS number	SCO-101
Managing agent	Samyé Ling Buddhist Community

The Holy Isle (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean MoLaise) 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 kilometres (1.9 mi) long and around 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) wide. Its highest point is the hill Mullach Mòr.

The island has a long history as a sacred site, with a spring or holy well held to have healing properties, the hermit cave of 6th century monk St Molaise, and evidence of a 13th-century monastery. An old Gaelic name for the island was Eilean MoLaise, Molaise's Island; this is the origin (via Elmolaise and Limolas) of "Lamlash", the name of the village on Arran that faces Holy Island.

Some runic writing is to be found on the roof of St Molaise's cave and a Viking fleet sheltered between Arran and Holy Isle before the Battle 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."

The island 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 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 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.