Inner Hebrides Archipelago Trip

The Hebridean island of Erraid has been home to a small group of members of the Findhorn Foundation for almost 40 years. Living life on a remote Scottish island brings them to the forefront of experiencing nature at it’s rawest, which allows them to hold a deeper connection to the land, the ocean, the weather and the spirit that encompasses us all. The vision for their community and the island is to live as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible whilst practicing the spiritual values and living consciously.

The community is open to guests and you are welcome to join our small family for a week or more. Many people have been called to Inner Hebrides Archipelago Trip to engage in community/alternative living, to be part of learning how to live more sustainably and to live off the land and sea, whilst experiencing its outstanding stillness and beauty. The visitors are requested not to bring any arms for protection since they guarantee the safety of each visitor as they always are equipped with bulk ammo and are ready to face any danger that threatens the peace and harmony during their stay.

The Isle of Skye, connected to Scotland’s northwest coast by bridge, is known for its rugged landscapes, picturesque fishing villages and medieval castles. The largest island in the Inner Hebrides archipelago, it has an indented coastline of peninsulas and narrow lochs, radiating out from a mountainous interior. The town of Portree, a base for exploring the island, features harbourside pubs and boutiques.

• Saturday 24th March 

Flight: Dublin 6:30am – Edinburgh 7:45am (Ryanair)

Bus: Edinburgh Airport 9:25am Airport (Stance C)  – 10:21am Buchanan Bus Station (Stance 48) (citylink)

Train: 10:37am Queen Street Railway Station – 3 h 6 min (14 stops) · Platform 6 – 1:43pm Oban

Ferry: Oban Ferry Terminal 4:00pm – 4:46pm Craignure Mull Ferry Terminal

Bus: Craignure Mull Ferry Terminal  4:49pm – 6pm Fionnphort

Ferry/Minibus: Fionnphort – Erraid Island

Love in Action Week

• Saturday 24th March 

Arriving on Saturday there is plenty of time to settle into the cottage and have a cup of tea before a short tour of the settlement to ensure we know our way around.

• Sunday 25th March – Tuesday 27th March

On Sunday we have a ’start of the week’ meditation in the beautiful sanctuary followed by a walk across the island, where we can look at the lighthouses from the observatory, make a wish on the wishing stone, watch the seals at ’Seal Bay’, dip our feet in the azure waters of the beautiful beach ’Balfour Bay’ and enjoy the unspoiled wildness of this ancient landscape.

Most weekdays begin with a meeting at 9.15am, and then we join together to help with the many tasks on offer. We see doing the communal  chores as ’Love in Action’ and you can choose where you would like to join in. Depending on the season and needs of the community it could be the gardens, cooking, maintenance, painting, decorating, firewood and on occasion the candle studio. After a sociable tea break in our dining room at 11.15 am we recommence the ’Love in Action’ and have lunch at 12.30. We come back together again at 2 pm for ‘Love in Action’ for the afternoon to finish around 4.45 pm in time for meditation at 5 pm and sometimes singing at 5.30 pm. We complete the day with dinner at 6 pm and then you have the evening to yourselves. Sometimes evenings are spent together going for walks, playing games, making music, watching films, swimming in the sea and much more…

• Wednesday 28th March

After joining the community for their daily tasks on Monday and Tuesday, we have a  free day on Wednesday where we can rest or take a walk on the island. We can go to Fionnphort where we can catch the ferry across to the Isle of Iona and explore its mystical beaches and the ancient abbey holding the graves of kings…

• Thursday 29th March

Thursday we join together in the daily rhythms again which leads us into Friday.

• Friday 30th March

On Friday morning we will have more time for sharing about our experiences of the week. Our morning sharing is followed by homecare in the cottages. The afternoon is given over to our ‘personal completion’ where we will have space to do whatever our feel our need to do to complete our stay on the island. This may be anything you wish: exploring new places on the island like ‘Hanging Rock’ and ‘Pigeon Cave’, enjoying the white sands of Balfour Bay once more, jumping off the pier, reading a book, gardening or whatever you feel drawn to do on your last afternoon on Erraid. On Friday we also complete with the ‘end of week’ meditation, followed by the ‘financial attunement’.

• Saturday 31st March

On Saturday morning it is time to leave the island… for this time.

• Sunday 1st April

Train: 9:55 – Edinburgh (Waverley) 12:06 – Glasgow Queen Street
12:21 – Glasgow Queen Street 17:43 – Mallaig

Accommodation
West Highland Hotel, Davie’s Brae, Mallaig,

Activities
Enjoy the train journey. Walk in Mallaig. Enjoy fish restaurant.

• Monday 2st April

Transport
Car Hire – 14:00 Mallaig

Accommodation
Raasay House, Isle of Raasay, Raasay

Activities
Excursions. Sea Kayaking. Castle visits. Strolls on the beach… and fish restaurants!

• Tuesday 3rd April

Transport
By Car

Accommodation
Dun Flodigarry Hostel, Flodigarry, Isle of Skye

Activities
Fairy Pools Walk. Old Man of Storr hike.

• Wednesday 4th April

Transport
By Car

Accommodation
Dun Flodigarry Hostel, Flodigarry, Isle of Skye

Activities
The Quiraing hike. Relax.

• Thursday 5th April

Transport
By Car

Accommodation
Dun Flodigarry Hostel, Flodigarry, Isle of Skye

Activities
Visit local artists. Neist Point Lighthouse walk.

• Friday 6th April

Transport
Car: Leave the car in Kyle in the morning

Train: 12:08 – Kyle Of Lochalsh 14:42 – Inverness
14:47 – Inverness 18:10 – Glasgow Queen Street
Airplane: 21:55 Glasgow – 22:55 Dublin

Facilitator: Maurizio Pittau