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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 14 miles west of
Ardrossan on the
southwest coast of Scotland. Ardrossan
Train Station is half of a mile southeast
of the ferry port. Prestwick
Airport is 16 miles south, and
Glasgow
Airport 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 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.
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Arran
Attractions Click On Map
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This view is of the Caledonian
McBryane ferry Caledonian Isles
that runs between
Ardrossan/Ayrshire and
Brodick/Isle of Arran.
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Large
Image . The crossing takes about 55
minutes with prices being about £10
return per passenger and £41 return
per car. Price checks and timetables can
be found at the ferry website calmac.co.uk/arran.
There are about 5 crossings each way
per day. 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 . 15.20 . &
18.00 .
Inexpensive Car hire on the Island can
be made from Arran Motors
based at Brodick Pier, phone 07967 587
481.
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.
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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.
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Image . Brodick Page
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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.
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There are regular service Buses
that run around the Island with
inexpensive day tickets or week tickets,
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. Main bus
times departing Brodick north and south
are about 06.10 . 07.30 . 09.40 . 10:55 .
12:40 . 14:45 . 16.00 . 19:05. If buses
do not suit, you can contact ARC Private
Hire at Brodick: Tel: 0777 608
2752.
In summer, at times, there is 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.
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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
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The Spa Resort has a number of
restaurants, swimming and other indoor
activities.
Outdoor activities include mountain
Segways, biking, gorge walking, kayaking,
archery and much more, for individuals,
couples, families and groups.
auchrannie.co.uk
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The Isle of Arran Heritage
Museum is situated to the north
of Brodick, only about 1 mile
north of the pier.
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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
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Arran Sense of Scotland,
formerly Arran Aromatics, and
Arran Cheese Shop are one and a
half miles north of Brodick.
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All Arran Sense of Scotland toiletries
and candles are made on the island, using
the finest, most natural ingredients
available.
Website .
Map/Reviews
View the website for the Arran Cheese Shop
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2 miles north of Brodick is
the Cladach Visitor Centre.
At Cladach there is the
Wineport Bistro & Cafe,
MacKenzie Leather, Cladach
Pottery, Arran Brewery and Beach
House for drinks.
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Brodick Castle and Country
Estate are 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.
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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.
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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 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.
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and a Tearoom / Gift Shop. Large Image.
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The very small coastal village
of Sannox, that is mainly a few
cottages alongside Sannox Bay, is
just over seven miles north of
Brodick. The hotel here seems to
close now and again.
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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.
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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
here. 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
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North Glen Sannox has a car
park 9 miles north of Brodick,
normally used for the well marked
trail into the mountains and to
waterfalls.
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Image . Local
Guides
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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 Photo
Tour to the top via the safe
northeast route.
Large
Image of the North Glen Sannox
Range.
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The Lochranza Whisky
Distillery and Visitor Centre is
by the village of Lochranza 13
miles northwest of Brodick.
Map/Reviews . Large
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The Visitor Centre was opened in 1997
as the Isle of Arran Distillery 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.
The name was changed after a sister
Distillery was built at Lagg on the
southwest of the Island.
arranwhisky.com
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The Lochranza Caravan and
Camping Site is 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.
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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.
Website .
Map/Reviews
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Lochranza village is 14 miles
northwest of Brodick. The road up
takes you through the scenic
Glen
Chalmadale.
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The ruins of Lochranza Castle, seen
here, are 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 .
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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.
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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 , now converted to a house,
and the small village of Pirnmill south of
Catacol.
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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
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 above, said to be of the Neolithic
period and the early Bronze Age, dating
back up to 4,500 years ago. Standing
Stones Tour
Just south of the Standing Stones is
Kings Cave
Clampingwith a number of Glamping
Pods for 1 to 14 day holidays.
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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.
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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. There are also
Dinosaur Footprints close to the
Cave.
Kings Caves Photo Tour
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The village of Blackwaterfoot
is 5 miles south of Mackrie.
There is also an 11 mile road
across the mountains to Brodick,
named The
String
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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
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There is also a walking trail through
the course, round a hill, and along the
beach to the Kings Caves, about 2 miles
out.
Large Course
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Kings
Caves Photo Tour from
Blackwaterfoot
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7 miles south of
Blackwaterfoot, are the really
small villages of Lagg and
Kilmory, next to each other.
Map . Large
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The main building in the villages is
the Lagg Hotel & Restaurant, as seen
above, and the main attractions in the
area are the Lagg Distillery
with a Cafe, Shop, and Tours, and 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. 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
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2 miles south of Lagg, 15
miles southwest of Brodick, on
the south side of Arran, is
Bennan Head Beach and
Cliffs.
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The Beach is one of the best on Arran,
normally peaceful due to its location.
There is only one hotel, one campsite,
and a number of cottages along the south
side of Arran.
There are large Dinosaur Footprints a
few hundred yards west of this Beach,
follow the single lane road along the
coast till it ends at a small car park in
front of two cottages, the footprints are
about 50 yards out on flat rocks, a
little to the left when walking out,
needs to be a low tide.
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.
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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.
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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 Kayak
Arran runs Kayaking trips to
Pladda.
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2 miles east of Bennan Head,
12 miles southwest of Brodick, is
the area named Kildonan.
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Kildonan is a few cottages and houses
here and there with a Camp Site and
Hotel.
The Kildonan Hotel
is 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
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Next to the Kildonan Hotel, on
the south coast of Arran, is the
Seal Shore Camping & Touring
Site.
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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
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Whiting Bay is 8 miles south
of Brodick.
Map . Large
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This is a quiet, scenic small
town that hugs the shoreline.
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There is one hotel, a few B&Bs,
many self catering properties, Whiting Bay Golf
Club, and putting green by the
beach.
There is also the really impressive
walk to the Glenashdale Falls and Giants'
Grave from the south side of the village.
The walk out to the falls and back round
past the graves, is about 3 miles
altogether.
More
Information
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Lamlash is 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 the Pier is normaly
busy with kids diving and
boating.
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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.
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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. The Ferry
company now also provides boat trips to
other attractions on Arran. Tel: 07904
846 765.
The steep hike over, or level walk
around the island, are extremely popular
with well marked trails.
Island
Website . Ferry
Website
Map .
Island Photo
Tour
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Lamlash Golf Club is on the
north side of Lamlash, 3 miles
south of Brodick.
Website . Map /
Reviews
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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
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