Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, with an area of 167 square miles (432 sq. k) and a population of approximately 4500. Sometimes referred to as “Scotland in miniature”, it's a place where you can find a little bit of everything you'd ever expect from a Scottish island: an ever-changing coastline, dramatic mountain peaks, sheltered beaches, verdant forests, great cultural festivals and a wealth of tasty local produce. Arran has several villages, mainly around the shoreline. Brodick is the site of the ferry terminal, several hotels, and the majority of shops, although Lamlash is the largest village on the island. Other villages include Lochranza (in which the Blackwood-Davidson family had their principal seat, Lochranza Castle) and Catacol in the north, Corrie in the north east, Blackwaterfoot in the south west, Kildonan in the south and Whiting Bay in the south east.
Brodick’s attractions include the Arran Brewery, Brodick Castle, Brodick Beach and the 2,866-ft Goatfell mountain, whilst Lamlash offers good sea views, connections to the Holy Isle and is the location of the island's high school and hospital. Lochranza in the north has the ferry connection to Claonaig on the Kintyre peninsula. Other points of interest include Lochranza Castle and the Isle of Arran Distillery, which opened in 1995 and has become a busy tourist attraction. Blackwaterfoot on the west coast is a smaller community with a few shops and the Kinloch Hotel. The town is located near Machrie Moor stone circles and Kings Caves.
There are golf clubs in many villages in the island, including Brodick, Lamlash Whiting Bay and Shiskine.
Food and drink
For a relatively small island, Arran has plenty of choice for the foodie. You can taste your way around the island as you try Arran's range of cheeses, beers, traditional oatcakes, chocolates and ice cream. There is a good choice of hotels, pubs, restaurants and cafes to choose from, all offering good quality home-cooked meals using traditional local ingredients. If you’re partial to a drop of whisky, you can book a tour of the Arran distillery and learn more about the birthplace of the award-winning Arran Single Malt whisky, including tastings. If ale is more your cup of tea, the excellent Arran Brewery visitor centre and guided, walk-through tour will give you the opportunity to see for yourself the way in which Arran Premium Ales are brewed, including free tastings.
Things to do
The variations in Scotland's dramatic landscape can all be experienced on this one island, best explored by hiking or bicycle. Arran offers some challenging walks in the mountainous north, while the island's circular coastal road is very popular with cyclists. Explore the fascinating Bronze Age remnants of the Machrie Moor Stone Circles on the west coast of the island, near Blackwaterfoot, and enjoy the short walk to the site. Brodick Castle, Gardens and Country Park is the only island country park in Britain, and is described by the National Trust for Scotland as 'the quintessential Victorian 'Highland' estate', where you can see many different flowers, including an internationally acclaimed collection of rhododendrons. For the more adventurous, Arran offers activities such as gorge walking, rock climbing or even sea kayaking, hidden waterfalls, plunge pools, natural slides, rugged peaks, coastal crags and pretty coves. You might want to scale Goatfell, the largest mountain on Arran, sitting at 2,866 ft above sea level. Take your binoculars to catch sight of red squirrels, deer, golden eagles, otters, seals and basking sharks.
Arran Art Gallery is located on the sunny south-east coast of Arran in the coastal village of Whiting Bay. Established in 2005, it aims to promote the island’s artists to visiting tourists from the British mainland and farther afield. The gallery has built up a large client base throughout the UK and beyond as a result of the island's thriving tourist industry and the proximity of Prestwick airport. It holds the largest stock of original art to be found on the island and one of the largest in Scotland.
How to get there
By public transport, there are rail links directly to Ardrossan Harbour, from where the ferry departs. The crossing to Brodick is served by the MV Caledonian Isles and takes about 55 minutes. It is advisable to book in advance if you are planning to bring a car to the island.
Alternatively, during the summer months, you can also sail from Claonaig on the Kintyre Peninsula to Lochranza in the north of the Island. The shorter crossing takes only 30 minutes, but whilst pleasant and efficient has no catering facilities on board. During the winter months, there is a reduced service which sails to Tarbert (Kintyre) taking approximately 1.5 hours.
Ferry Services are operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. Their web site has the latest ferry timetables and offers bookings to and from the island.
Title Image Credit: John Mason (Image Cropped)