Holy Isle, just off the Isle of Arran, Scotland

Looking down holy Isle hill

 Holy Isle, in the Firth of Clyde off the west coast of Scotland is a delightful place to visit for the day. It has a population of about 13 and is just out in Lamlash Bay, Arran. It was the site of a cave and holy well that was home of the 13th century Saint Molaise. 

Looking across to Lamlash

The island is now the home to a Buddhist Community and home tp the Centre for World Peace. The island is also a nature reserve, home to the Eriskay ponies, Saanen goats, Soay sheep and the Arran Whitebeam.

One of the Islands painted stones

The visitors centre

Throughout the summer ferries from Lamlash to the island can be taken from about 10am and the final ferry back is about 4pm. Just enough time to walk over the hill and then back along the sea shore taking in the painted stones of Buddhist Gods.

The low path

Another of the Island painted stones. 

Daffodil walk through three woods, near Newent, Gloustershire.

View in Betty Daw's Nature Reserve

Betty Daw's Wood

Today I went on a circular Daffodil Trail walk, following a route on a leaflet from Gloustershire Wildlife Trust, (www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk ). It is called, "Discover Gwen and Vera's and Betty Daw's Wood nature reserves".  For my sat nav I found that entering "Four Oaks, Newent" got me there.

Also in Betty Daw's nature reserve

Gwen and Veras Field

I hope you can see from the pictures just how magnificent the woods here look at the moment. The daffodils are a bit past their best, but will still look okay for another 7-10 days. The wood anemones look absolutely fantastic, and the carpet effect of the two mixed together is magnificent.

View in Gwen and Veras Fields Nature Reserve

Dymock Wood

Poultry Park opens 10 am daily

 I would recommend, if you had young children, either to start at Dymock Wood, where there is room for about eight cars to park, or at Betty Daw's Wood, where ther is room for three cars. I would then just go round Dymock Wood,Turn right out of Dymock wood and then just along the road on the right is  The Poultry Park, (if your children like looking at a wide variety of chickens and having the chance to feed them). A little further down the road on the same side as the Poultry Park is the entrance to Gwen and Veras Field's Nature reserve. From the far side of this a footpath across an open field brings you to the back entrance of Betty Daws Wood Nature Reserve. The rest of the circular route is along roads and is not as magnificent as this part, so if Ihad young children who liked to run about I would then just turn back the same way I had come and enjoy the whole thing again.

View in Dymock Wood

A native Lent Lily Daffodil

The main point to these three nature reserves so close to one another, is that between them they hope to preserve the native daffodil species, "Wild Daffodil" or "Lent Lily". These are under threat due to fragmentation and neglect of their habitat, climate change, and the many more ornamental daffodil species that have been introduced by gardeners into their home gardens and then cross pollinate with the native species.