A Week on the Isle of Arran

As usual we spent the first week of our holidays on the Isle of Arran, which is off the West Coast of Scotland. To reach it you have to catch a Caledonian MacBrayne roll on roll off car ferry from Ardrossan. The journey from Ardrossan to Brodick takes about fifty five minutes, and if you have used the ferry regularly you will be aware that you can travel a bit cheaper if you don't decide to go on one of the peak sailings. None peak sailings are usually the first and last sailings of the day. So we catch the 18.00 sailing from Ardrossan, arriving in Brodick at 18.55.

After driving the 3 miles from Brodick to Lamlash, where we stay at Prospect Hill Studios, we unpack and then head for a meal at the Pier Head Tavern in Lamlash. This is one of those places which service good homely meals, well cooked and plenty of it. If you visit during the season it is always a good idea to book if you plan eating there on a Saturday evening, but as we were a fortnight later than usual, we simply walked in and ordered a meal.

The Pierhead Tavern Dining Room

After rising quite late (for us) 10.00 - 10.30, we drove into Brodick and had a lunch at Bilslands, which is the main independent "superstore/Cafe" on the island. It is situated on the front and sitting in the cafe you get superb views of Brodick Bay, the CalMac Ferry, Brodick Castle and Goatfell, the highest mountain on Arran.

Bilslands Store, which sells all manner of goods - outdoor clothing, souvenirs, books, cards, sweets, children's toys etc.

View of Brodick Bay from Bilslands Car Park

Brodick Castle on the far side of Brodick Bay

Goatfell, Arran's highest mountain

Scotsmen, complete with kilts, playing crazy golf on Bilslands crazy golf course

Sunday evening found us dining at Eilean Mor, a bar bistro, which opened in April 2009. We had visited it previously, but had nearly always dined at the Brodick Bar and Brasserie, however as the Brodick Bar and Brasserie doesn't open on Sundays we patronised the Eilean Mor.

The Eilean Mor Bar & Bistro

On Monday our first "port of call" was the ARCAS (ARran CAncer Support) shop, where we deposited about half a car's worth of goods!

We then took a circular tour of the island, which is approximately 58 miles all round. Starting from Brodick, where we had left the goods for the charity shop we headed northwards to Corrie, a picturesque little village. The photo of Corrie below is the one I have as my screen saver.

We then moved northwards to Sannox (another little village on the East coast of Arran, and then up to the northern end of the island to Lochranza, which has a superb castle ruin, is famed for the deer and has a small ferry which takes you across to the Mull of Kintyre. (We have travelled on this ferry many times when we have gone from the Isle of Arran to the Isle of Mull).

The Ferry approaching Lochranza

Lochranza Castle

Heading southwards down the western side of Arran the next place we come to is the tiny hamlet of Catacol. This is famed for its row of cottages, which was built by the Duke of Hamilton during the clearances. Each of the cottages has different upstairs windows so that when a lighted candle was put in them the fisherman could tell which person was trying to send them a message! The row of cottages is known as the Twelve Apostles!

Heading southwards the next place of any size is Blackwaterfoot. There is a large hotel here, and a few shops and some bed and breakfast establishments. Blackwaterfoot has a picturesque harbour.

At the south of the island we find the village of Kildonan, with views of the lighthouse and Ailsa Craig (the pudding shaped island nicknamed Paddy's milestone, as it is halfway between Arran and Ireland!)

Pladda (with lighthouse)

Pladda

Ailsa Craig (Paddy's Milestone) in the distance

Pladda with Ailsa Craig in the background

Dot with Ruby on the beach at Kildonan

The next village you come to heading northwards on the east side of Arran is Whiting Bay. Known as the Yorkshire of Arran because so many people from Yorkshire have settled here!