Retreat week on Erraid
A retreat week on Erraid offers a rare chance to slow down and sink into the quiet rhythm of island life.
From the moment of pick-up in Fionnphort, you’re gently welcomed into the space with an introduction circle, shared meals, and daily meditation. Beyond that, the structure is intentionally light and open for your exploration.
Each day includes two simple, nourishing meals (from our organic gardens), and the steady backdrop of a small, working community. If you feel like getting involved, you’re welcome to join in mindful, optional tasks such as gardening or animal care.
Some guests come to focus on personal projects such as writing, reading, painting. Others come simply to rest, reset, and spend time in quiet reflection. Others are looking for time to explore and connect with the wild and beautiful landscape and ecology.
With almost no light or noise pollution, the island offers stillness that’s often hard to find elsewhere. Whether you’re seeking clarity, creativity, or simply space, you’re free to shape the week in your own way.
About this week:
- Accommodation in the Lighthouse keepers’ cottages
- Food provided. Including 9 fresh cooked meals from the produce in our garden
- Meditations at 9am and 5pm
- Guided tour of the island on Sunday
- Possibility to visit Iona on Wednesday
- Pick-up and drop-off in Fionnphort
- Small group size
Upcoming retreat weeks in 2026:
- September 12 – 18
- More dates to come…
More details about the week:
Accommodation
Accommodation in one of the lighthouse keeper’s cottages. The cottages have a kitchen, bathroom, living space, and private back garden. Further down the street is our communal dining and living area for shared meals. For quiet reflection, there’s the sanctuary on the hill, as well as the island’s wild landscape to explore and unwind in.
The bedrooms in the cottages are interconnected, meaning one is accessed through the other. You will have your own space, but should be comfortable with shared entry. We pair guests thoughtfully with a person of the same gender, and if travelling together with a friend we’re happy to reserve interconnected rooms for you.
Arrival and departure times
The retreat week takes place from Saturday afternoon till Friday afternoon.
As we are based on a remote tidal island, logistics are carefully coordinated:
- Pick-up at 14:40 on Saturday in Fionnphort to meet the bus arriving from Craignure
- Drop-off at 15:00 on Friday in Fionnphort to connect with the 15:20 bus back to Craignure
We kindly ask guests arriving by car to align with these times so the group can make the last 30-minute walk to the island together.
Guests must be able to complete this walk and are asked to bring a bag they can carry themselves.
For detailed instructions on how to get to the island, please read this page.
Meals
There will be communal meals on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Meals are vegetarian and made with fresh produce from our gardens.
On Wednesday guests are welcome to use ingredients from our gardens and larder or leftovers from the kitchen to prepare their own meals.
Breakfast supplies (oats, muesli, bread, butter, eggs, milk, coffee, tea) are stocked in the cottages and the gardens are full of fresh vegetables and, depending on the season, fruit as well.
Lighthouse keepers cottage
Lunch in the garden
Home grown food
Bedroom
Fireplace
