Erraid Retreat
nourish your soul on a remote Scottish island
Reconnect with yourself and nature in the wild setting of Erraid, a small community island off the West Coast of Scotland.
Give yourself time for reflection, meditation, explore the island and take a dip in the sea. With our extensive library of spiritual and fiction books you can sit and read in front of a cosy fire. Nourish your connection with nature by taking part in our wholesome community Love in Action activities.
“These two weeks have been extremely important and meaningful to me. I could say I remembered the rhythm of my own being / soul for the first time in over twenty years.”
Erraid Retreats FAQs
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You are welcome to join in with community life as much as you wish. The retreat is self led as we are a working community and you can follow some of the structure of the Love in Action week or decide to only join in for the morning meetings, orientation walk on Sunday, meals and social activities.
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There is an Erraid Sanctuary just up the hill from the cottages. You are welcome to sit and meditate by yourself when group meditations are not happening.
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On Sunday we have a ’Start of the week’ meditation. There is a guided meditation at 5pm on weekdays and sometimes the opportunity to sing sacred songs together.
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Vegetarian meals are provided and breakfast is self-serve in your cottage.
You will be assigned to our KP (Kitchen Party) rota to wash up dishes for 1 or 2 shifts during your stay.
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We can sometimes take you to Fionnphort on Wednesdays, (depending upon available drivers and/or vehicles) where you can catch the ferry across to the Isle of Iona to explore its mystical beaches and the ancient abbey.
Some guests choose to walk. It takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to walk to the ferry from Erraid.
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You will share a house with one of the members of our community, or other Retreat or Love in Action guests but we will not ask you to share a bedroom; although do be aware that our side bedrooms link together so you may have to walk through another guests room.
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At the end of your stay we ask you to put love back into your cottage by cleaning it and leaving it as you found it ready for our new guests.
If you are staying for two weeks you are requested to join in with our community clean on Saturday morning, cleaning the communal areas ready for the new guests and the week ahead.
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Yes, you can book more than one week of retreat on Erraid.
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You can walk up to the observatory, make a wish on the wishing stone, watch the seals at ‘Seal Bay’, swim in the waters of the beautiful beach at Balfour Bay and enjoy the Erraid's unspoiled wild, ancient landscape. We also have an extensive library, both spiritual and fiction to read in the cottages.
For more information about travel arrangements, food requirements and cancellations visit our Booking FAQs page.