Ferry from Arran to Ardrossan or Troon

I'm very surprised they are sold out for cars totally in September.

If they are you will have to go back via Claonaig then the rest and be thankful to Glasgow, or Tarbet to Portavadie ferry, drive to Dunoon, Western ferries to Gourock. Then drive to wherever you are heading.

Hi, mach229,

Or, as an alternative to isn31c's recommendation, you could ferry from Tarbet to Portavadie, Colintraive to Rhubodach, and Rothesay to Wemyss Bay. All three are pretty much show up and go, although if you're sailing on a Friday or Sunday, you may want to reserve for the Rothesay sailing. We've never had a problem with show up and go on that sailing.

If you do decide to take that route, be sure to stop at the Tighnabruaich overlook on the A8003. There is a spectacular view over the Kyles of Bute. Also, if you have time while you're on Bute, Mount Stuart is probably the most ostentatious home/palace in Scotland that is currently open to the public, and well worth a visit. (Admission to the home and gardens is 17 pounds 50 pence.)

Whichever route you decide to take, don't cancel your visit to Arran unless you can't spare the time for the rerouting. It's also possible that something may open up last minute. Keep checking the CalMac website, or contact them by telephone.

Best wishes, and safe travels,

Mike (Auchterless)

Hi Mach -

I recently tried to book Ardrossan to Brodick and return via the CalMac website and found it impossible due to apparent glitches their end. Ultimately we could only do this by phoning CalMac and completing our booking and payment over the phone. This in itself required some patience in getting through, but once we were in contact with a genuine CalMac human it was relatively plain sailing (if you’ll forgive the pun).

Ian

Hi again, mach229,

To follow up on Ian's post, CalMac's telephone number from the U.S. is 011 44 1475 650397.

Good luck!

Mike (Auchterless)

By the way things may be affected because of uncertainty over sailings after 24 August.
The Troon route is allegedly being closed to allow the MV Alfred to be redeployed, and the berth to be prepared for the new Glen Sannox. But they need the greater capacity of the Caledonian Isles back for single ship service to restart. Where she is with her repairs is anyone's guess. Whether the Isle of Arran can cope with all the traffic is debateable.

Further edit - just checked- bookings 29 August to 23 September are closed while they assess service plans- to be opened ASAP, date unspecified.

Thank you everyone. This was great info and answers all of my questions. We will have been in Tarbert for a couple of days and I don't want to retrace our steps so I'm now looking into Bute instead of Arran. Thank you again.

If I was you I would try to keep my options open with refundable options on both.

If you were trying to get from Kintyre to Bute next week you would struggle. All Tarbert to Portavadie sailings are cancelled all week as the vessel has been redeployed to Mull to support services there.

I will put a watching brief on the Arran situation.

Hi, Stuart,

Is that the Isle of Cumbrae that they're pulling from the Tarbert to Portavadie run? I can't see how that would be much help on the Oban to Craignure run. Or is the Cumbrae going to be helping out on the Kilchoan to Tobermory run?

Have to love the CalMac "musical chairs" game. Bring on the Turkish ferries (soon!)!

Mike (Auchterless)

Mike,

It's the Loch Riddon which has been sent round to the Tobermory to Kilchoan run.

In this case I feel that my writing in haste when travelling has been misinterpreted by the OP. I didn't explain the nuances well.

What I meant to say was that we don't know now what is happening to the Brodick duties but something will be put in place as the freight traffic above all else requires it. Just wait is what I meant to say, but don't abandon Arran.

It worries me putting all his faith in the Portavadie route. You and I both know that Portavadie is the first route to be cancelled if there is a technical problem anywhere else in the network. If the big boat service to Arran has a serious issue they even close Portavadie to provide a two vessel shuttle service from Lochranza. The reason why Portavadie is cancelled so much is that you can drive round from Kintyre to Bute or Cowal via Inveraray, Strachur, Glenraduel and Colintraive. The locals just take it in their stride.

It is not a criticism, more an observation, - what seems to have happened here is the American sticky fingers- of aiming for certainty too far ahead of time rather than just taking what comes.

I would have liked the OP to stick with their first choice of Arran. Something will resolve itself.

Mardee will testify that CalMac local staff pull out all the stops when they have to, and that this forum will also get a traveller to where they want to be. Mardee may have had a bit of excitement with the boats on her Scottish adventure, but against all the odds "on paper" she got to where she had to be all the time.

I don't just write a soundbite and move on. I will stick with an OP all the way if circumstances require it and get them to where they want to be when they want to be, if at all humanly possible.

Further update on Brodick sailings- within the last hour bookings have been opened until and including 9 September, with MV Alfred remaining in service to Troon and the IoA to Ardrossan.

The commitment is that the Alfred and the Isle of Arran will remain on their routes IF the Caledonian Isles is not ready to take up service on 10 September.

Final update- Bookings have opened this evening for all sailings out of Brodick up to and including 23 September.

Success! The ferry tickets for September 19 are now available for the Brodrick to Ardrossan crossing and we were able to book We're very much looking forward to this trip and I so appreciate everyone who helped us out here - what an informed group!

Glad you got it all sorted. Enjoy Arran - it’s a little bit magnificent! Any specific plans for while you are there?

Ian