Tour of Arran

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.