Over the May bank holiday, 4 of us went on a wild camping trip to this wonderful island.

It is part of an archipelago in the Inner Hebrides called the Garvellachs- surrounded by fierce tidal waters between Mull and Scarba.

The island is about 2 miles long, with precipitous cliffs to one side, and long rolling sloping glens on the other. Just getting there is a challenge itself- we chartered the 'Sea Lepoard' out from Ardfern, from where there is a two hour trip through the Gulf of Correvreckan, past the world famous whirlpool.

The island was the site of one of the earliest Christian Monasteries in Britain- associated with St Brendan and  St Columba. It is one of the islands that is thought to be the mythical 'Hinba', the place where Columba retreated to recharge his batteries away from the pressures of Iona, and after his long missionary journeys.

We set up camp at the edge of the enclosure and began two full days and three nights of exploration, conversation and peace.

The rain swept in on Sunday, but we did not complain. It seemed a small price to pay for what this amazing place gave us in return.

On Sunday night, the rain had gone, and after watching the sun go down over Ben More on Mull, we gathered in the ruin of a 10th C chapel. We lit tea lights and candles in every nook and cranny we could find in the well laid dry stone walls. And we prayed and read scripture and meditated on life, and love and people now far away.

 Above us, the stars came out, brilliant  away from the street lights. This place of worship suddenly seemed not just ancient, but eternal.