Meet the Carna Family
The people behind Carna
The people who love, protect and run this small Scottish island, and have done for generations.
Today the island is stewarded by a new generation of the family, following a long and successful tenure led by Tim, Vanessa and Frances Milward. It is an exciting chapter for both the family and the island, as we focus on improving the experience for our guests, advancing our conservation work and deepening Carna’s contribution to the local economy and community.
Meet Ella
Ella is proud to be the next generation running Carna, having cherished the Isle of Carna for over 45 years. Her parents got engaged at its summit over 50 years ago and her three children continue to enjoy Carna every year. She’s even finally admitted they are better den builders than her!
Excited by what the future holds for Carna and the legacy created, as part of the stewardship of this magical island. Committed to creating a sustainable future for Carna, ensuring it always remains a retreat or adventure for a variety of visitors.
Enjoying driving boats, getting muddy and lost in the Islands natural beauty, she’s also a spreadsheet geek and manages the island’s finances and regulatory compliance.
Meet Sarah
A mother and paediatrician living in the Midlands. She has been coming to Carna since she was 5 with her family and Godmother Frances Milward & is now enjoying seeing her children delight in being free range, enjoying the same rope swing, boat journeys and opportunities for exploration that she grew up with.
Sarah is heavily involved with conservation projects on Carna and was instrumental in setting up our conservation charity.
She loves being immersed in nature, swimming, painting, making fires and playing card games and being out on the boat, and just slowing down and reconnecting with family and herself.
Meet Milly
Ella’s twin sister. She loves spending quality time with family and friends on Carna, and about 8 birthdays!
She spent 15 years abroad but came back in 2024 and is so happy to be closer to the other members of the Carna Family and is able to visit more often with her three children.
Milly works for Water Aid and has worked for non for profits since graduating university. She is passionate about making a difference to people living tough lives.
Her favourite thing to do on Carna is play board games with the kids, marshmallow roasting and no devices!!
Meet Edward
Edward is the twins cousin, and great-great-grandson of the original purchaser Canon Horace Newton.
He is passionate about Carna’s past, future and sharing it with visitors old and new. He has spent the last 20 years researching the family’s history in the Morvern area since acquiring the Glencripesdale, Rahoy & Laudale Estates in 1870 (opposite the Isle of Carna) and adding Carna in 1881.
He is happiest when on a horse and is passionate about reintroducing a balanced and appropriate selection of wildlife to Carna to help restore the natural ecosystem.
Edward is a Chartered Surveyor, and lives in the South Downs with his wife and little boy.
Meet Andy and Allison Jackson
Andy, General Manager and co-founder of Carna Conservation Initiative and his wife Allison Jackson have been an integral part of running the island since 2003.
Based across the water at Laga Bay for over 35 years they run Ardnamurchan Charters and mainland self-catering accommodation Laga Lodge as well as providing all the essential support to the island keeping it running smoothly and looking after guests – making sure holidaying on the Isle of Carna is a fun, relaxing and interesting adventure.
Allison, a retired nurse, manages the housekeeping side of the island’s operations. Andy, a trained engineer and local Coastguard Search and Rescue Station Officer, operates the logistics side of Carna providing maintenance, transport, guided wildlife trips and boat training as well as being heavily involved in our conservation projects as a Director of Carna Conservation Initiative.
A founder member of the marine protection initiative CAOLAS and founder member of West Highland Peninsulas Tourist Association, Andy has worked continuously promoting and protecting this very special area. Andy is also a WiSe (wildlife safe) qualified skipper who can provide excellent wildlife guiding on the island and around the local waters in his charter vessel MV Laurenca.