|
Arran is arguably the
most scenic island off the
coast of the Scottish
mainland. The Island has a
number of fine beaches and
rugged mountains up to
2,866 ft, many with knife
edge ridges.
The island is situated
about 14 miles west of
Ardrossan on the
southwest coast of
Scotland. Ardrossan Train
Station is situated about
half of a mile southeast of
the ferry port. Prestwick Airport
is situated about 16 miles
south, and Glasgow Airport
about 25 miles
northeast.
The main car/passenger
ferry from Ardrossan to
Brodick on Arran is the
Caledonian Isles with a
restaurant and bar on
board. There is a smaller
ferry that also runs
throughout the summer named
the Isle of Arran
with a restaurant and
coffee bar on board.
The Isle of Arran is
about 56 miles around
following the coastal road.
There is also an 11 mile
road that runs over the
mountains between Brodick
on the east side and
Blackwaterfoot on the west
side, known as The
String.
There is a small ferry
that runs from Lochranza on
the north side of Arran, 14
miles north of Brodick, to
Claonaig on the Mull of
Kintyre, 27 miles north of
Campbeltown, 60 miles south
of Oban.
Arran
Hotels . 82 Large
Images
|
|
This view is of
the Caledonian
McBryane ferry
Caledonian Isles
that runs between
Ardrossan/Ayrshire
and Brodick/Isle of
Arran.
Isle of
Arran Click On
Map
|
|
|
Large Image . The
crossing takes about 55
minutes with prices being
about £7 return per
passenger and £30
return per car. Price
checks and timetables can
be found at the ferry
website www.calmac.co.uk/arran.
There are about 5
crossings each way per day.
Bookings and enquiries by
phone call 0800 066 5000.
There is a large
inexpensive car park at
Ardrossan Pier, as seen in
this image, if you want to
leave your car there.
Larger Ferry main times
departing Ardrossan
are:
07.00 . 09.45 . 12.30 .
15.15 . & 18.00 .
Car hire on the Island
from about £35 per day
can be made from Arran Motors
based at Brodick Pier,
phone 01770 302 839.
Arran Motors also offer
up to 8 seat mini buses for
Hiking Parties, Golf
Parties, or Island Tours,
and have a Mobile Home for
hire. For more information,
call Mob: 07967 587
481.
|
|
This view is of
Brodick as the
ferry is preparing
to dock. Brodick is
the largest town on
Arran with hotels
and a Spa Resort.
There are also many
B&Bs and self
contained
apartments in
Brodick.
Large
Image
|
|
|
Right is a view
of Brodick Pier
with the Terminal
building and Bus
Station. There is
also a large
Tourist Information
Centre at the
pier.
Large
Image
|
|
|
There are regular
service buses that run
around the island with day
tickets about £5, or
week tickets for about
£28, buy the tickets
on the bus and use the
buses when you want. Buses
are timed to run 10 minutes
after a ferry has docked,
to the villages north and
south, apart from the early
morning ferry. Main bus
times departing Brodick
north and south are about
10:55 . 13:40 . 16:20 .
19:05. If buses do not
suit, you can contact
ARC Private Hire
at Brodick: Tel: 0777 608
2752.
In summer, there is also
an Open Top Bus that runs
between Brodick Pier and
Brodick Castle to the
north, and Lamlash and
Whiting Bay to the south,
also a tour around the
north of the island.
|
|
The Auchrannie
House Hotel, Lodges
and Spa Resort are
situated on the
north side of
Brodick, about 1
mile from the
pier.
Map/Reviews
. Large
Image
|
|
|
The Spa Resort has a
number of restaurants,
swimming and other indoor
activities.
Outdoor activities
include mountain biking,
gorge walking, kayaking,
archery and much more, for
individuals, couples,
families and groups.
www.auchrannie.co.uk
|
|
The Isle of
Arran Heritage
Museum is situated
to the north of
Brodick, only about
1 mile north of the
pier.
Large
Image .
Rear
Image
|
|
|
Originally the site of a
small school, the present
group of buildings were a
croft and smiddy, and
include a farmhouse,
cottage, bothy, milk house,
laundry, stable, coach
house and harness room. The
exhibits reflect the social
history, archaeology and
geology of the island.
Website .
Map . Reviews
|
|
Arran Aromatics,
Arran Cheese Shop
and Creelers
Restaurant, are
situated about one
and a half miles
north of
Brodick.
Large
Image
|
|
|
About 2 miles
north of Brodick is
the Cladach Visitor
Centre.
At Cladach there
is the Wineport
Bistro & Cafe,
MacKenzie Leather,
Cladach Pottery and
the Arran
Brewery.
Large Image .
Map
|
|
|
Brodick Castle
and Country Estate
are situated just
over 2 miles north
of Brodick. The
Country Park is
open to the public
all year round from
09.00 until sunset.
The Castle is open
for tours from the
1st April to the
the 31st
October.
Large Image .
Website
|
|
|
Six miles north
of Brodick is the
small coastal
village of Corrie
with a small
harbour on the
south side with
boating tie ups
painted like
sheep.
Large
Image .
Hotel
Reviews
|
|
|
There is also a seal
sculpture on a rock at the
harbour, that at first
glance, looks like the real
thing.
The Corrie
Hotel is situated about
half of a mile north of the
harbour with a large beer
garden overlooking the
bay.
Rising above the village
of Corrie are mountains up
to 2,866 ft. The Well
marked Corrie Trails to
Goat Fell and North Goat
Fell start at the south
side of the village named
High Corrie.
Photo Tour
. Map .
Corrie Shoreline
Image . Hiking Map.
The village also has the
workshop of Marvin Elliott,
a woodcarver sculptor.
Large Image .
Website . and a
Tearoom / Gift Shop.
Large Image.
|
|
The very small
coastal village of
Sannox, that is
mainly a few
cottages alongside
Sannox Bay, is
situated just over
seven miles north
of Brodick. This
hotel seems to
close now and
again.
Large
Image .
Hotel
Reviews
|
|
|
Sannox Bay is a tranquil
place with only ever a few
people using the scenic
shoreline. The bay is
overlooked by the Sannox
Bay Hotel with its beer
garden having the best
views.
Sannox Bay Hotel
Image . Map . Photo
Tour Page .
There are walking trails
from a car park at the
north side of Sannox to
Lochranza on the north
of the island, one round
the coast, and one coastal
then over the hills.
There is a Pony Trekking
Centre about 1 mile
north of Sannox.
|
|
The Corrie Golf
Club and Tearoom
are situated about
8 miles north of
Brodick, on the
north side of
Sannox.
Large
Image .
Tearoom
Image
|
|
|
This is a short course
of 3,220 yards, par 62 with
amazing views. Mountians up
to 2,800 feet are all
around.Map . Reviews
The Glen Sannox hiking
trail starts from a signed
car park on the north side
of Sannox, just south of
the Corrie Golf Club. The
trail runs out to the foot
of Goat Fell mountain up
this glen seen right. You
can also cross the lowest
point at Goat Fell and go
down Glen Rosa to Brodick,
the lowest point being the
fairly steep 1,400ft
Saddle.
The Saddle Image
. Hiking Map
|
|
North Glen
Sannox has a car
park about 9 miles
north of Brodick,
normally used for
the well marked
trail into the
mountains and to
waterfalls.
Large
Image .
Local
Guides
|
|
|
You can use this trail
to get onto the second
highest, mountain on Arran,
the 2,818 ft Caisteal
Abhail.
If you want to do the
loup around the top of this
mountain range, it may be
best to use a local guide
your first time as the east
side contains the dangerous
Witches Step.
Hike to the top
via the safe northeast
route Photo Tour.
Large Image of
the North Glen Sannox
Range.
|
|
The Arran Whisky
Distillery and
Visitor Centre is
situated by the
village of
Lochranza about 13
miles northwest of
Brodick.
Map
. Large
Image
|
|
|
The Visitor Centre was
opened in 1997 by Her
Majesty the Queen. It is
built next to the
Distillery in stunning
surroundings at Lochranza.
There are fully guided
tours, an audio visual
presentation set in a mock
eighteenth century
Smuggler's Inn, an
exhibition, shop and
restaurant.
www.arranwhisky.com
.Reviews
|
|
The Lochranza
Caravan and Camping
Site is situated by
Lochranza, 14 miles
northwest of
Brodick.This is a
quiet site at the
head of the loch
surrounded by
glorious mountain
scenery with a tea
room and
restaurant.
Large Image
|
|
|
Part of the Camp Site is
the Lochranza Golf Course.
The golf course stretches
from the head of the glen
to the sea, with views out
to Lochranza Castle and
Kintyre. Golf Reviews
Website .
Map . Camp Site
Reviews
|
|
Lochranza
village is situated
about 14 miles
northwest of
Brodick. The road
up takes you
through the scenic
Glen
Chalmadale.
|
|
|
The ruins of Lochranza
Castle, as seen right, 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.
Lochranza is one of the
most scenic villages in
Scotland, surrounded by
mountains and a sweeping
bay. The mountains give
increadible views over the
village.
Photo
Tour . Map . Large
Image
There is a ferry
terminal close to the hotel
that allows crossings to
the small village of
Claonaig, 27 miles north of
Campbeltown, 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.
|
|
Going down the
west side of Arran,
2 miles from
Lochranza, you pass
Catacol which is a
row of cottages
with the Catacol
Bay Hotel , and
the small village
of Pirnmill
south of
Catacol.
|
|
|
Thirteen miles southwest
of Lochranza, is the area
of Machrie with a few
cottages and the Machrie Bay Golf
Course, Tennis &
Tearoom.
About 1 mile south of
the Machrie Golf Course, is
a well signed car park for
the trail to the Machrie
Moor Standing
Stones.Map . Golf Reviews
.
The easy to follow wide
trail is about half of a
mile out to the first of
the standing stones, then
about another mile from
there out to the largest
stones, as seen left, said
to be of the Neolithic
period and the early Bronze
Age, dating back up to
4,500 years ago. Standing Stones
Tour
|
|
Just over one
and a half miles
south of the
Machrie Bay Golf
Course, you will
see a car park next
to the road with
signs for the trail
to the Kings Caves.
There is a large
notice board in the
car park showing
the trails to the
caves.
|
|
|
One of the caves is
where King Robert the Bruce
encountered the spider that
inspired him to continue
his battle for Scottish
independence in the
1300s.
It is about a one and a
half mile trek from the car
park to the caves, with the
south trail following a
woodland path. The north
trail goes around the
trees, so has clearer
views. Both trails are
about the same distance.
Many walkers go out one and
back the other.
Kings Caves Photo
Tour
|
|
The village of
Blackwaterfoot is
situated about 5
miles south of
Mackrie. There is
also an 11 mile
road across the
mountains to
Brodick, named
The
String
Large
Image
|
|
|
The Shiskine
Golf & Tennis
Club is situated on
the north side of
Blackwaterfoot.
The Shiskine
Golf Course is one
of the finest
courses on a
Scottish island.
shiskinegolf.com
|
|
|
There is also a walking
trail through the course,
round a hill, and along the
beach to the Kings Caves,
about 2 miles out.
Reviews .
Large Course
Image
Kings Caves Photo
Tour from
Blackwaterfoot
|
|
About 7 miles
south of
Blackwaterfoot, are
the really small
villages of Lagg
and Kilmory, next
to each other.
Map
. Large
Image .
|
|
|
The main building in the
villages is the Lagg Hotel
& Restaurant, as seen
left, and the main
attraction in the area is
the Torrylin Cairn.
Torrylin Cairn
Photos
The good path to the
cairn is well signposted
from the Kilmory Post
Office, 50 yards from the
Lagg Hotel, to the right in
this image. The trek is
under half of a mile out to
the cairn. If you are
driving, the car park for
the hike is at the Kilmory
Public Hall, about 200
yards south of the Lagg
Hotel. There is also a
trail from the Kilmory
Public Hall now that joins
the trail from the Post
Office a couple of hundred
yards out.Lagg & Kilmory
Photo Tour
|
|
About 2 miles
south of Lagg, 15
miles southwest of
Brodick, on the
south side of
Arran, is Bennan
Head Beach and
Cliffs.
Large Image .
Map
.
|
|
|
The beach is one of the
best on Arran and is
normally peaceful due to
its location. There is only
one hotel, one camp site,
and a number of cottages
along the south side of
Arran.
The Black Cave of Bennan
Head is a popular
attraction that can be
visited when there is a low
tide, or by canoe or
boat.
|
|
From the south
side of Arran, you
get great views of
the Isle of Pladda,
under 1 mile off
shore, and the Isle
of Aisla Craig
about 9 miles
south.
Large
Image
|
|
|
Pladda is an uninhabited
island with an automated
lighthouse of the same
name. The island is now
privately owned after being
sold by Arran Estate in the
1990s.
The Arran Adventure
Company runs Kayaking
trips to Pladda.
|
|
About 2 miles
east of Bennan
Head, 12 miles
southwest of
Brodick, is the
area named
Kildonan.
Map
. Large
Image
|
|
|
Kildonan is a few
cottages and houses here
and there with a Camp Site
and Hotel.
The Kildonan Hotel is
situated right next to the
beach, where you can at
times watch the seals. The
hotel does bar lunches, has
a restaurant, a shop and
has entertainment some
nights.
Photo
Tour . Hotel Reviews
|
|
Next to the
Kildonan Hotel, on
the south coast of
Arran, is the Seal
Shore Camping &
Touring Site.
Large
Image .
Map
|
|
|
This beautiful family
site has its own private
beach with great views over
the Isle of Pladda, its
lighthouse and the coast of
Northern Ireland.
Website .Reviews
|
|
Whiting Bay is
situated about 8
miles south of
Brodick.
Map
. Large
Image
This is a quiet,
scenic small town
that hugs the
shoreline.
|
|
|
Lamlash is
situated 4 miles
south of Brodick, a
fairly lively
village as there is
a small ferry that
runs from the pier
to the Holy Isle
all day throughout
the summer, and
fast boat tours
also depart from
the pier. Boat
Tours
Website.
|
|
|
Arran Outdoor
Education Centre is
based at Lamlash offering a
range of activities on land
and sea.
The pier area also
attracts a number of kids
in their canoes and
boats.
Lamlash has two hotels,
an inn with a beer garden,
tennis courts, bowling
green, putting green,
golf course and
sea fishing can be booked
from the Holy Isle Ferry
office, phone numbers
below.
Photo
Tour . Map . Pier
Large Image
|
|
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.
Large Image
|
|
|
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.
A small ferry departs
Lamlash Pier on the hour
throughout the summer, when
the weather and tides are
suitable. The last ferry
back is about 17.00. Tel:
Tom Sheldon on 01770 600
998 or Jim on 01770 700
463.
The steep hike over, or
level walk around the
island, are extremely
popular with well marked
trails.
Website .
Map . Island Photos
|
|
Lamlash Golf
Club is situated on
the north side of
Lamlash, about 3
miles south of
Brodick.
Website
. Map
. Reviews
|
|
|
Lamlash Golf Club is a
delightful 18 hole golf
course offering a serious
challenge for golfers of
all abilities.
Large Image of
the Lamlash Golf Club 1st
hole
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
