Isle of Arran
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The Isle of Arran is about twenty miles long and one of the few Scottish Islands not lying off
the west coast. It is situated in the Clyde estuary and is easily
accessible from the Scottish mainland by
ferry from either
Ardossan or, Lochranza on the Kintyre peninsula. Because of
its close proximity to the mainland, and in particular Glasgow, it, and
the Isle of Bute have been traditional places for Scottish visitors to
make for during the holiday periods. In recent years this has
changed a little with the advent of cheep flights to more exotic
destinations with a little more guaranteed sunshine, however, Arran is
still a popular destination.
The island is regularly described as a mini version of Scotland, with
its mountainous terrain in the north and more 'lowland landscape' in the
south. Also like Scotland, the population is in the south, and in
particular Brodick, the main town. The population is around 4,600,
which is quite small for the size of island. This gives the
visitor a feeling of space when travelling around, particularly in the
north.
Visitor attractions include Brodick Castle and gardens, and a range of high quality golf courses. Walking, fishing, cycling and fell walking are very popular persuits. Beinn Tarsuinn in the west and the Goatfell in the east are the main mountains. Goatfell is a fairly straightforward climb, although care should be taken towards the summit. The walk itself starts from a couple of miles outside Brodick.
Arran websites:
