Wildlife on Holy Isle

Aside from livestock, like cattle and sheep, there are other large animals you'll occasionally encounter while wandering on the Scottish Isles. I have come across wild goats on Islay, Mull, Cara and Jura, and horses while wandering on Muck and Eriskay. But there is only one island where I've encountered goats and horses at the same time, and that is Holy Island. You can read about the Eriskay ponies and the Saanen Goats that run free on Holy Island here, and below are some photos I took of them in 2002.

Saanen goat and kid meditating on the west coast

Saanen goat grazing above Pillar Rock lighthouse

Ponies grazing on the slopes above the Inner Light

Ponies grazing

Kilnave Hermitage 2

After dropping down the steep ravine we come to a wall with a small entrance. It's built across the path, so perhaps this is where a gatekeeper warded off unwelcome visitors.

Guards still stand watch, but they are easily shooed away. 

Below the guard house and the watch-goats stands a cluster of beehive cells and several kidney shaped dwellings, which we'll see tomorrow.