Morag Fleming visited last June
for the Sunday Herald

Photograph: Scottish Viewpoint

Home-made cheese, fresh baking and whisky for the body. Deserted beaches, unspoiled mountain scenery and historic places for the soul. No wonder they're offering holistic breaks on the Isle of Arran.

I am in for a treat at the Belvedere Guest House, a B&B with a holistic twist. As soon as I arrive, a gin and tonic is instantly pressed into my hand by Chris & Jan Attkins, who run the all-inclusive breaks. Any stresses which didn't evaporate during the ferry crossing leave with my first sip. Refreshed, I sit down in the cosy lounge and peruse the extensive menu. As expected, it's mainly vegetarian and fish, but carnivores needn't despair.

The meal is perfect. The beautifully cooked food is accompanied by no fewer than four side dishes of vegetables and topped off with locally produced cheese and chocolates. Any awkwardness about travelling by myself is dispelled pretty quickly as Chris, Jan and other guests join me for dinner. Our conversation flows as freely as the wine.

The next day, after a tailor made and equally satisfying breakfast, I head out to see a bit of the place. There are mountains to the north, but you don't have to be a serious hill walker to enjoy the island. There are walks of all lengths and difficulties, to caves and waterfalls, through woods and along beaches. I head for the grounds of Brodick Castle and decide to explore.

It's a beautifully maintained building with a fascinating combination of 13th, 17th and 19th century influences, but there is a secret to getting the most out of this place. Have a look at the cards in each room aimed at the children. Brilliant games and intriguing facts really brighten up the tour, whatever your age.

By luck I leave the grounds right beside a brewery and ice cream shop. Not only that, I am just round the corner from one of the two creameries on the island. It's about now I start to realise exactly how much Arran has to offer, and how delicious it all is. A bakery makes the oatcakes to go with all that cheese. Or there's always the smoked salmon pâté made at the local smokehouse.

For a huge range of chutneys and mustards, jams and marmalades you can stock up at Arran Fine Foods Factory Shop at Lamlash. And for those with a sweet tooth, there is Arran Dairies' every flavour ice cream, or the home-made chocolates from James' chocolate factory in Brodick. And to top this indulgence, I have to finish with a whisky chaser from Scotland's newest distillery at Lochranza.

Now that the body has been tended, it's time to nourish the soul. Included in my holistic break is a personal development session with Chris, and my choice of treatment from Jan.

My chat with Chris is great. It's informal and friendly and sets me at my ease immediately. This makes it easier to think about things and then talk about them. Chris is genuinely keen to help guests with whatever is bothering them - whether it's a health issue, trouble with relationships, questions over career direction or just taking stock. He makes me realise we charge through life without thinking too deeply or enough. After an hour I leave full of new ideas about my situation.

Jan offers me the following menu: Reflexology, Reiki, CranioSacral therapy or Aromatherapy massage. I choose CranioSacral therapy as I've never tried it before. This is energy work, so in a way it is similar to Reiki. Jan manipulates my head and shoulders to help my body realign itself. Or something like this. Anyway, it feels as good as it sounds. I'm no expert, but I float out of there feeling fantastic.

The tone is set for the rest of my stay on the island. The universe seems to be smiling on me as the sun shines and I experience some special moments at the standing stones and on Holy Island. But best of all is the afternoon spent on the beach only a few feet away from about 100 seals.

For somewhere so literally on our doorstep, Arran is a wonderful place indeed, but thanks should go to Chris and Jan for making me slow down and appreciate it.

Kelly Apter visited on behalf of "The List". This is what she wrote about her experience here...

Leave the rat race behind and get pampered on an island retreat.

"Tannoys blare, train engines roar and human traffic darts across the concourse. Friday lunchtime at Glasgow Central, and the stresses of modern life are alive and well. Today, however, I'm leaving them all behind. A 50 minute train journey to Ardrossan; two minute walk onto the waiting ferry and less than an hour later, my companion and I arrive in a different world.

The sheer beauty and calm of Arran would be enough to drag your stress levels down to a workable level. But we're going one better - the Holistic Break. Run by husband and wife team, Chris and Jan Attkins, VISION unlimited is a company dedicated to 'Personal attention for your mind, body and spirit'. A motto which initially set some alarm bells ringing. But a quick tour of their website before departure allayed any fears we had about saying grace before meals or group soul-searching. Instead we were headed for two nights of comfy accommodation, four-course evening meals, full Scottish breakfasts, a complementary therapy and, should we so desire it, a 'heart-to-heart' about our personal lives. And all for £150.

Meeting our ferry in Brodick harbour, Chris shakes our hands warmly before relieving us of our baggage (the literal kind - he'll deal with our metaphorical baggage later). In five minutes we're being shown to our room at the Belvedere, a charming old guest house with immaculate, cosy decor and a self-help book on every shelf. But the interior pales into insignificance when we look through the window. Brodick bay sweeps before us, with Arran's highest mountain, Goat Fell, looming ahead. A quick check on dietary likes and dislikes, instructions to be back at the hotel by 7pm for apéritifs and we head down to the beach. Arran, like most of Scotland, can easily fit four seasons into one day, so this brief moment of sunshine is maximised to the full.

The weather remains kind into the evening, so we dine al fresco on the patio, enjoying the view. Chris busies himself in the kitchen, while Jan fills us in on the couple's past (film producers in Glasgow and much travelling the world) before whetting our appetites with details of tomorrow's therapies. Fully trained in Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Reiki and CranioSacral therapy, Jan operates from premises down on the sea front and we all book in for a session the following day. Curled up on comfy sofas and tucking into hand-made Arran chocolates, we drink and chat late into the evening.

The next day dawns grey and rainy, but no matter. After a tasty cooked breakfast, we take a bus trip round the island and a walk up the magnificent Glenashdale Falls before journeying back for Jan to revitalise us with her magic hands. Part counsellor, part psychotherapist, part wise sage, Chris is in charge of the optional 'personal development', and later we discuss a few 'issues' which arose out of the questionnaire I filled in upon arrival - and much to my surprise, I feel all the better for it. Continued rain confines us to the dining room that evening, but the food, wine and chat flow just as easily, although the fresh Arran air forces us all to an early bed.

Our last day on the island and we visit a pool and sauna at a nearby hotel, access to which is included in the break. A whistle-stop tour of Brodick Castle and Country Park and the nearby museum, and it's time to go. Relaxed and rejuvenated, we pull on our trainers and get back to the rat race."