Right
is a view of the Caledonian McBryane ferry Caledonian Isles that runs
between Ardrossan/Ayrshire and Brodick/Isle of Arran. The crossing
takes about 55 minutes with prices being about £8 return per
passenger and £47.50 return per car. Price checks and timetables
can be found at the ferry website www.calmac.co.uk.
Normal departure times from Ardrossan are 0700, 0945, 1230, 1515,
1800 and the (2030 on Fridays only). Sundays are 0840, 1115, 1405
and 1655. Crossings from Brodick depart 0820, 1105, 13.50, 16.40,
19.20 and (21.40 on Fridays only). Sundays are 11.05, 13.50, 16.40
and 19.20. Bookings by phone call Ardrossan 01294 463 470 or Brodick
01770 302 166. Car hire on the Island from £20 per day can be
made from Arran Transport LTD based at Brodick Pier, phone 01770 302
122. |
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Left
is a view of Brodick as the ferry is preparing to dock. Brodick is
the largest town on Arran with 6 hotels and a Spa Resort. There are
also many B&Bs and self contained apartments in Brodick. Most
of the hotels and shops are situated on Shore Road, Brodick’s
main street that runs from the pier to the par 64/4736 yard Brodick
Golf Club. Prices are £18 per round and £25 per day. Bookings
can be made by phoning 01770 302 349. |
For
tourists there is an open top, hop on hop off bus service. Enquires
about local bus service routes phone 08706 082 608. The highest mountain
on Arran is the 2,867ft Goat Fell. The trails to the mountain range
can be picked up at Cladach 2 miles north of Brodick or at Corrie
6 miles north of Brodick. The summit and back takes about 5 hours. |
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The
Wineport Bistro at Claddach is about two miles north of Brodick. This
area is basically a few houses, a bistro and a brewing company. The
brewery has a gallery where you can watch the beer being made. The
main trail to Goat Fell can be picked up in this area. The bistro
can be contacted by phoning 01770 302 977. |
Brodick
Castle and Country Estate is situated about 3 miles north of Brodick.
The castle, grounds, visitor centre and castle restaurant are open
to the public all year round from 09.00 until sunset. Prices are about
£6 per adult and £4.50 per child. The earliest part of
Brodick Castle (the tower) was built for the Hamilton’s (Earls
of Arran) in 1588. See more at Country Parks Brodick Castle or visit
the website www.nts.org.uk/brodick.html.
There is a regular bus service from Brodick. |
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Six
miles north of Brodick is the small village of Corrie with a Hotel
as seen left. The village is mainly one long street winding it way
around the coastline. There is a small harbour at the village that
allows canoeing and other water sports. Pony trekking and hill walking
in this area give some exceptional sights. The 9 hole golf course
at Corrie has fantastic views of the mountains with the largest being
Goat Fell. There is a teahouse at the golf course that is popular
with golfers and visitors to the area. |
Sannox
is another small village that hugs the coastline on the east coast
of Arran 8 miles north of Brodick. Sannox has a small hotel and restaurant
as seen right, pony trekking centre and is ideally situated for hill
walking or mountain climbing adventures. |
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The
road from Sannox leads through the scenic six mile long Glen Chalmadale
towards the village of Lochranza. On the outskirts of the village
is Scotland’s newest whiskey distillery, the Isle of Arran Distillery,
opened in 1995. Tours of the distillery are conducted every hour between
10.00 and 18.00 at £3.50 per adult or £2.50 students.The
ruins of Lochranza Castle as seen left are situated near the centre
of the village. The earliest parts of the castle were built in the
mid 1200s for the MacSweens. Close to the castle is the Lochranza
Hotel with views across the bay towards Kintyre. There is a ferry
terminal close to the hotel that allows crossings to the small village
of Claonaig 60 miles south of Oban on the peninsular of Kyntyre. The
small car ferry makes up to ten crossings a day. You just queue up
and wait your turn, no bookings allowed. |
A
view south over Blackwaterfoot on the west of the island shows the
town looking over the Kilbrannan Sound towards Kintyre with the most
prominent building being the Kinloch Hotel. This area has legendry
caves, riding school and loch for fishing. The Shiskine Golf and Tennis
Club is situated to the north of the town. |
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On
the south side of the island is Kildonan with views over the islands
of Plada and Ailsa Craig. This quiet area consists of a few houses,
two hotels, castle ruin and touring park.
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Traveling north back on the east side
of Arran you reach Whiting Bay 8 miles south of Brodick. This is
another scenic small village that hugs the shoreline. The island
in the distance is the Holy Isle. There are two hotels, restaurant,
golf course, tennis courts, putting green and cycle hire in Whiting
Bay. There are also some interesting trails from the village for
hill walkers. |
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Left
is a view of the village of Lamlash 3 miles south of Brodick. A ferry
service to the Holy Isle in a small boat leaves every hour during
the summer. Enquiries for this service phone 01770 600 998 or mobile
0860 235086. Sea angling trips can also be arranged. Lamlash has two
hotels, an inn with a beer garden, tennis courts, bowling green, putting
green and golf course. |
The Holy Isle lies one mile off the
Arran coast at Lamlash. Previously the site of an early Christian
monastery, it is now the home of a Buddhist Retreat. In 1263 before
the Battle of Largs, the Norse king Haakon anchored his fleet in
Lamlash Bay. The cave of Saint Molaise on the island has Viking
inscriptions which may have been made by sailors at that time. The
Lamlash Golf Club is situated to the north of the village traveling
towards Brodick. The tour of Arran anti clockwise covered 56 miles.
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