ARRAN | Bailemargaidh Cottage

The Isle of Arran

Known as Scotland in miniature owing to its mountainous north and lowland south the Isle of Arran lies in the Firth of Clyde, enabling it to combine a feeling of remoteness with easy accessibility from central Scotland. Arran offers visitors great variety, ranging from some of the best mountaineering and hill-walking to be found in Scotland, through other sporting activities such as fishing or golf, specialist interests such as ornithology and geology or for the less energetic simply exploring one of Scotland’s most beautiful and unspoilt islands. Brodick Castle and its gardens are a must for all visitors, as is the distillery at Lochranza with its Visitors' Centre which offers tours and the chance to sample the unique Arran Malt.

Blackwaterfoot & Drumadoon

Blackwaterfoot Harbour

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Blackwaterfoot & Drumadoon

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The island's main road follows the coast in its entirety, so whichever direction you take will bring you back to your starting point after 57 miles. The only other major road, the String, cuts across the middle of the island between Brodick and Blackwaterfoot. For visitors coming to the island without their own transport, bus services to all points of the island connect with ferries arriving at Brodick and more limited connections can be made at Lochranza.

Getting Here

The island can be reached by either of 2 ferry crossings, both transporting foot passengers and vehicles. The larger boat sails from Ardrossan to the island port of Brodick, taking about 55 minutes. Advanced booking is essential. Further information and online booking is available from the ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne: www.calmac.co.uk or telephone: Tel: + 44 (0)8705 650000.

Good rail connections exist from Glasgow Central station to Ardrossan Harbour connecting with ferry crossings. Both Glasgow and Prestwick Airports are under an hour from Ardrossan by road or rail.

Regular crossings throughout the day in summer are made between Lochranza (north Arran) and Claonaig on the Kintyre peninsula for which advanced booking is not required. This “back-door” to and from the island provides access to the west highlands and the western isles.

Things to do

Eating Out:

Kinloch Hotel, Blackwaterfoot 01770 860444

The Tee Room, Shiskine Golf & Tennis Club, Blackwaterfoot 01770 860777

Machrie Bay Tearoom 01770 840329

Cafe Thyme, Old Byre Showroom, Machrie 01770 840227

The Lighthouse Restaurant, Pirnmill 01770 850240

Lochranza Hotel Country Inn 01770 830223

Arran Distillery Café, Lochranza 01770 830264

Sannox Bay Hotel 0793 557 2803

Corrie Hotel 01770 810273

The Wineport, Cladach 01770 302101