Vacations Blog

Isle of Arran, North Ayrshire of the many Stags. The sea strikes against her shoulders. Companies of men can feed there. Blue spears are reddened among her boulders. Merry hinds are on her hills Juicyerries are there for food, Refreshing water in her streams, Nuts in plenty in the wood.

The island is situated in an area called Ayrshire, a county in western Scotland, near the Hebrides. There are a host of awesome islands in this region, and this article can only give a thumbnail sketch. However, without doubt Arran is arguably the most beautiful of all the isles of Scotland, and well worth a visit.

There is a place called Clyde Muirschiel that is situated in a wonderful regional park conservation area. This is a highly popular tourist spot. There is an abundance of places to visit and a superb range of flora and fauna to gladden the heart of nature lovers. Particularly impressive places to see are Castle Semple Loch, Greenock, Locherwood and Laundeson Bay.

As there is such a lot to see, making a beeline for the on site visitor centre may be a good move. They can advise you on all the best spots on the island for your particular activity whether it be hiking, biking, swimming walking, fishing or whatever. Arran is the largest of the Firth of Clyde islands. The scenery is so amazing you might like to take along your camera. There are over five thousand people on Arran but one hundred and sixty seven square miles of land to enjoy.

The islands main village is Brodick. The name means Broad Bay in the Norse language. The ferry connection links at this point. There is a castle amidst the mountains named, yes, Brodick Castle. The highest of the mountains, Goats Fell is nearly 3000 feet to the summit. To the south of the island are lots of high sea cliffs and raised beaches.

Because of the islands varied geography, Arran is nicknamed Little Scotland. The fact that the island is split into Highlands and Lowlands exactly like the mainland probably accounts for that. Its a geologists dream.

If you are a lover of lakes and mountains, (and who is not) this area will be like paradise to you. There is a serenity and placid beauty that is quite beguiling about this whole unique landscape. As you’ll find when you stay on the Isle of Arran is beautiful, at almost any time of the year. You will be glad you paid a visit.There are plenty of fine guest houses and camping facilities too.

Scotland, in the British Isles, is a fantastic destination to take a vacation with a copious list of attractions including some of the greatest museums and galleries in the UK,  ideal countryside for ramblers, hikers, mountain climbers, hill-walkers and others as well as a huge selection of castles, historical buildings, stately homes and fortified houses.  Below I talk about the island of Arran and explain why the island is such a fantastic destination for a vacation.

Arran is the 7th largest island in Scotland and even though Arran is commonly referred to as being in the Hebrides it is in fact located further south in the Firth of Clyde. Because tourism is the main industry on Arran you will not find it surprising that there is a huge number of Arran hotels. Even though the overall majority of folk visit the island in order to enjoy the awesome countryside the island also has a reasonable number of attractions including; Brodick Castle Gardens and Country Park, Kildonan Castle, Arran Transport Museum and Arran Heritage Museum.

There are several population centres, the biggest settlement is Brodick, the site of the ferry terminal with ferries running to Ardrossan on the North Ayrshire coast. Lamlash, four miles south of Brodick, is where you can sail to Holy Island.

Lochranza is main settlement in the northerly part of the island and will find the ferry terminal with sailings to Claonaig on the Scottish mainland. It is important to know that the ferry only sails in the summer. Lochranza is set in a wide, and extremely pretty, bay with the ruins of Lochranza Castle being the most popular tourist attraction.

Blackwaterfoot is the most populous village on the western coast of the Isle of Arran. The village features a pub (bar), a small harbour, a garage and petrol station. Other villages worth visiting include; Catacol (in the north), Kilmory (south coast), Whiting Bay (south of Brodick), Corrie (north of Brodick) and last but not least Pirnmill which has the best beach on Arran.

If you considering a vacation in Scotland and you are looking for Arran hotels please take a look at our listings of bed & breakfast on the Isle of Arran.