Duration
Meeting point
Day 1
Departing from the airport or your hotel, our tour leaves Glasgow behind, crossing over the River Clyde heading south west through undulating countryside towards the ferry terminal in Ardrossan.
Once we have arrived at the ferry terminal we will check in and there may be an opportunity to have some refreshments before boarding the ferry. The crossing takes 55 minutes across the Firth of Clyde, if we are lucky we may spot common and grey seals, harbour porpoises and dolphins.
Once we arrive in Brodick you may want to stop for lunch or we can continue northwards towards Brodick Castle, Garden and Country Park. There we have an option to visit the castle and gardens, the Isle of Arran Brewery, Arran Cheese Shop and Arran Aromatics.
We continue our drive up to Lochranza, where we have the opportunity to visit the ruins of Lochranza Castle, explore the coastline with a circular walk to the Fairy Dell and take a distillery tour and sample some of Arran’s finest Single Malt Whisky before heading back towards Brodick and your hotel.
There are lots of options for dinner depending on your preferences. Round off your evening at the Crofters Music Bar to experience some live music.
Day 2
Today we will take the ‘String Road’ across to the west of the island, our first stop will be the Machrie Moor Standing Stones. The stones were associated with religious activities dating back around 4,500 years. Cremation and inhumation burials were placed in the circles, long after they were first built.
After a well-earned refreshment stop at a local café, we will drive a short distance to King’s Cave car park and start our walk to explore the cave in which Robert the Bruce is said to have had his famed encounter with a spider.
We will then continue to explore the island heading in an anti-clockwise direction back towards Brodick stopping for lunch along the way. Options include visiting the new Lagg distillery, stopping at Kildonan – one of the best beaches on the Island, and exploring the villages of Larybeg, Whiting Bay, Lamlash before heading back to Brodick to catch our late afternoon ferry back to the mainland.
What type of clothing should we take?
Scotland’s weather is very changeable, we can have 4 seasons in one day! It is important to bring plenty of layers, a waterproof jacket and sturdy footwear.
How long would it take to climb Goatfell?
Goatfell’ is the highest peak on Arran, at 847m. The walk starts at sea level along well defined footpaths until the final section which winds steeply up through large granite boulders to the summit. Depending on the level of fitness, this walk will take between 4.5 and 6 hours to complete. This walk is only recommended for experienced walkers with appropriate clothing and footwear.
Does Arran produce anything?
The Isle of Arran is famous for its fresh Arran cheese truckles, Arran Aromatics – a range of bath and hand products, producing whisky, and there is also the Arran Brewery producing award winning beers.
What is the Arran Coastal Way?
The Arran Coastal way is a circular long distance trail of 105 km (65 miles). The trail takes around a week to complete or can be walked in smaller sections.
