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Island off the coast of Scotland
Photo: nick macneill, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Isle of Arran is part of Ayrshire in southwest Scotland. It lies in the Firth of Clyde, the broad reach of sea southwest of Glasgow and enclosed by the Ayrshire coast to the east and the Kintyre peninsula to the west. With a 2011 population of 4629, Arran extends for about 20 miles north-south and 10 miles east-west, with all its settlements strung along the coast road, and a hilly interior.
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With mountain bikes, hybrids, electric, and children's tag-alongs.
In an attractive old farmstead at the north edge of town, this covers Arran's geology, archaeology and social history.
This splendid pile is Arran's top sight. It dates to 14th century but most of what you see is grand baronial Victoriana. Plus gardens and country park.
It is sheltered by Holy Island so it has the safest anchorage and was the traditional port of arrival. It still has the island admin and hospital though Brodick outgrew it once the ro-ro ferry port was developed.
Catch-and-release aquarium showing the marine life of these waters.
The ivy-clad stump of a 13th-century bastion, used by Scottish royalty as a hunting lodge. It's quarter of a mile east of Seal Sands Campsite.
A 13th-century bastion rebuilt in the 16th century and now just a masonry shell. It has a dramatic setting on the shingle spit of the village harbour, enfolded by hills and with views towards Kintyre. It's open in summer to visitors and sheep alike, so watch where you step.
The outstanding group of ancient stones on Arran. If you were secretly disappointed by “the Stonehenge Experience”, come here to reconnect with your inner Ancient Brit. They're from Neolithic going on Bronze Age, 3000 to 4000 years old. There are six circles, at a point lit at midsummer sunrise through the notch of Machrie Glen. The first along the track from the car park (Moss Farm Road Circle) is modest as its stone was robbed and the track goes through it. The main group half a mile east are impressive granite and sandstone blocks. Others lie here and there across the heath, and the area can be boggy, wear stout boots.
An unusual 12-hole course, so you get round in a couple of hours. (18 are only used in competitions.) Seaside links with beautiful scenery.
Nine holes and you go round twice, par 66, 4200 yards.
11 holes, a par-3 pitch and putt course, for 18 holes you replay seven. Deer often stand in the line of play, scorning all cries of "Fore!". Check-in at the campsite reception.
Course is 18 holes, par 63, 4092 yards; also a nine-hole round, par 31, using holes 1-4 and 14-18. Starter box with changing room, clubhouse with restaurant and bar. Snooker table in its own room.
Only children's rides are available.
Pony trekking & hacking.
Reliable Chinese takeaway.
Popular fish & chip takeaway, some gripes about prices but they're realistic.
Snacks and good light meals, reasonably priced.
Excellent meals, especially the venison burgers. Breakfast, sandwiches and cakes.
Seasonal takeaway with excellent freshly made sandwiches, snacks and drinks.
Pleasant spot for lunch on the west coast.
Great pub grub, mostly seafood and grills, with views of Holy Isle.
Offers good lunch (noon- 3PM) and, of course, whisky! It's small and gets busy so do book.
Now run by a community group, it is a pub with bar meals, they now have rooms. See website for hours.
Seasonal place with excellent food, menu rotates every two weeks. Unlicensed, BYOB without corkage fee. Refer to website and social media for more information.
Serves excellent burgers, chips and drinks, plus Turkish haggis. Licensed.
formerly Brodick Bar
Great reviews for the revamp at this upscale restaurant, where Timur Unal is the chef. The bar is now called The Fallen Goat.
It has a nice atmosphere (upper part is in former glasshouse), pub quizzes and an elaborately tiled toilet block. Music at weekends. Choice of real ales. Extensive selection of food.
Bar & Bistro close to Arran Brewery whose ales feature here.
Bar & Restaurant. Views of Holy Island from the roof terrace.
Brewery producing a wide range of ales, generous tastings available. Although it does not hold a licence, you're permitted to drink your purchase on the adjacent picnic tables.
Arran's first modern whisky distillery, established in 1995. Their main product is the unpeated "Isle of Arran" single malt, in various cask finishes and ages. They also produce a peaty (20 ppm) malt whisky, "Machrie Moor", in small quantities as this involves closing and washing out the main product line. See also Eat entry for Casks cafe here. Assistance dogs only.
Arran Whisky Co's second distillery opened in 2019 and its whisky went on sale in 2022. It's heavily peated, 50 ppm.
14-bed self-catering facility next to Brodick Castle. Rooms let individually.
Good facilities for campers and caravans, but could do with more toilets and shower blocks. Very midgey at times!
Open Feb-Oct. Ensuite huts with shared kitchen, clan and cosy.
Open Apr-Oct, with tent pitches, hard standing and pods.
Dog-friendly hostel open Apr-Oct with 13 rooms, 6 en-suite. With large self catering kitchen, 2 dining rooms and 2 guest lounges, laundry, drying room, wifi and cycle storage.
A quaint campsite with excellent views a few miles up a paved cart track. No caravans or RVs allowed, but you can make campfires and bring pets. Toilets but no showers. The site is prone to flooding and in 2023 suffered a serious flash flood, fortunately without loss of life. No booking, just pitch up.
Within the village hall, this has rooms with 3, 4 and 8 beds. It has a self catered kitchen, dining room, free wifi, and tiny bar downstairs.
What it says on the lid: glamping! In Mongolian yurts! In Arran! They're available Feb-Nov and sleep 4-6.
Open Mar-Oct, a lovely site with its own beach where seals haul out. Pitches, hook-ups and two camping pods; decent toilet/shower block, laundry and covered BBQ area. The site owner sells his fishing catch in the shop, which has a few basic grocery items. Kildonan Hotel with public bar is next door.
Smart mid-price hotel with bistro.
Cosy 3-star hotel. Restaurant and bistro with pizza oven, does takeaway, open daily 5-8:30PM.
Comfy dog-friendly hotel with Bistro and bar.
Good accommodation with a beer garden.
Pleasant little B&B open all year, dog-friendly.
Smart modern hotel with 37 rooms, plus 7 self-catering apartments suitable for dogs. It has an indoor heated swimming pool and sauna for residents only, and a squash court and snooker room available to others. Meals are available daily 12:00-14:00, 17:00-20:00. The hotel is no longer affiliated to Best Western.
This has B&B summer weekends only, and self-catering year round.
A secluded self-catering cottage with great views over the sea and Ailsa Craig. No pets.
Large complex offering upmarket self-catering lodges, a traditional country house hotel and a modern spa resort. There's an excellent range of on-site services including two swimming pools and health and leisure facilities.
Arran Cancer Support
Charity shop with second-hand clothing and books.
Arran Aromatics
Perfumes and bathroom toiletries.
Shop selling clothing and souvenirs.
Craft shop that makes and sells the Arran Stonemen, painted figures.
Handmade woodwork and stoneware pottery.
You reach Arran by ferry, almost always by the Ardrossan/Troon-Brodick route; Ardrossan and Troon are both well-connected with Glasgow.
Read in the guideBy car
Most visitors bring their own vehicle.
By bus
Bus routes all start from Brodick ferry terminal and ply all the island roads except the Ross Road. So you can get places by bus, but you might not get much of a view through the mud-splashed windows.
By bicycle
Bicycles travel free on Calmac ferries. The main road from Brodick to Corrie is too busy for an enjoyable ride, but if your lungs and sinews can take it, the String Road and Ross Road are sublime.
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Prestwick, South Ayrshire · International · PIK
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