Isle of Arran - Brodick Castle / Goatfell / Lochranza.

The Isle of Arran is located off the South Ayrshire Coast in Scotland. It has often been described as Scotland in miniture due to it's range of scenery and spectacular views. To get to the Island, the Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry from Ardrossan harbour to Brodick offers five crossings a day. The cost for a foot passenger costs less than 10 UK pounds return or $15 US dollars. Car parking is available for a small charge nearby or pay extra and take your car across on the Ferry. The crossing to the Isle of Arran takes just 55 minutes and there is a good range of hot food and drinks available on board.

The Isle of Arran has around 10 miles of coastline. To tour the Island follow the coastline around in a circle or take the other main road, known as the string which crosses the Island from East to West. On arrival to the Island, there are several bus services waiting to take you around the Island. A must see on the Island is Brodick Castle and gardens which is 2.5 miles from the harbour. A return bus ticket to the castle can be obtained for under 3 pounds uk or $4.5 US Dollars. Better still buy a day return for under 5 pound uk or $7.50 US Dollars, which allows you unlimited bus travel for the day around the Island.

Brodick Castle is spectacular and steeped in history stretching back 700 years. The Castle has been the scene of a blood spilt past. Once a medieval stronghold, then through the fourteenth century Wars of Independence, the invasion of Scotland by Henry the Eighth in 1544 and the stationing of Cromwell's troops. As the ancient seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, the Castle's architecture was built over several centuries by the incumbent heir of the time.

Brodick Castle

Majestic Brodick Castle has wonderful gardens, where you can discover plants bought back from China, the Himalayas and Burma. The woodland gardens are renowned for the different colours of rhododendrons on flower in May. There is also a formal walled garden and over 10 miles of trails around the castle to explore, including the waters of Glenrosa and the climb to Goatfell, being the highest point on Arran at 880 metres.

Brodick Castle Gardens

Arran offers walkers a huge range of landscapes and wildlife over it's many trails, including Glenashdale Falls (4kms / 200 minutes), Goatfell (6kms / 300 minutes), King's Cave Forest Walk (5kms / 150 minutes), The Cock of Arran (12kms / 240 minutes). The Isle of Arran coastal way walk for long distance walkers is a circular walk covering 104kms over 7 days, which offers convenient stop over points. Cycling and golf are also well catered for on Arran. There are 7 golf courses, including Shiskine at Blackwaterfoot (12 holes). Horse riding and Kayaking are also available on Arran.

Other places to visit on Arran are tranquil Lochranza Bay and Castle, the stone circles and remains of burial chambers at Machrie Moor and Lamlash, where you can take a 10 minute ferry to Holy Island with it's ancient healing spring, the hermit cave of St Molaise a 6th century monk and evidence of a 13th century monastery.