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“Chatting with Holly” and Vanessa Branson of Eilean Shona

23rd September 2020

“The island is an enormous playground offering luxurious simplicity” Vanessa Branson, Eilean Shona.

Holly caught up with the charming Vanessa Branson, owner of Eilean Shona, the idyllic private island nestled in a tranquil loch on the dramatic west coast of Scotland and as such offers the perfect island adventure to get away from it all! 

This exclusive Scottish Island retreat is a back-to-nature Neverland. Originally the site of an 18th-century hunting lodge, the island has an illustrious history—the author J.M. Barrie spent summers here in the 1920s and wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of  Peter Pan  while staying on Eilean Shona. “There certainly is a feeling of true fantasy here”, says Vanessa. 

 A retreat for guests who want to detach and detox from the modern world, Eilean Shona is a car free wilderness heaven. Days are filled with cooking and drinking around camp–fires, wild swimming, reading, hiking, picnicking, kayaking, nature watching, and generally pottering about. You can even enjoy a cooking class or brush up on your painting skills in the Artist Studio – Eilean Shona has a rich cultural programme of workshops and Eilean Shona’s cultural focus remains a central theme due to Vanessa’s artistic background. 

 

Eilean Shona House, with its comfortable, quirky design, is ideal for family gatherings and special celebrations. The holiday cottages are perfect for romantic escapes or family adventures. 

 You can either rent the whole island, just the main house, or one of the five individual cottages. The House itself sleeps 20 and is a retreat that combines the luxury of a boutique hotel and the charm of a family home. Visit for weekends or longer and anchor yourselves back in a time when the stars shone bright in clear black skies and the only sound in the clear air was of rushing waters and calling birds. 

 

To hear more about the island and all the wonderful things to see and do during a stay, listen to Vanessa chatting with Holly on our new podcast series.

 

For more information about booking an Eilean Shona experience, get in touch with us now or take a look at our Eilean Shona Page in our Exclusive Use Collection.

You can also check out some sample programme ideas that can include a stay at Eilean Shona here : The Highands and a Private Island

 

 

 

 

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