isle of Arran

Sue, I can definitely understand that. I think you will really enjoy Arran. I spent three nights there in 2023 and loved the island. I’m inserting a link to my trip report so you can read about my stay there if you want. The part about Arran is about the fourth or fifth post down from the main thread. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/scotland/solo-in-scotland-trains-cars-and-ferries-and-a-wee-dram-or-two

I think I remember you saying you would have a car, so that will be helpful although there is good public transportation there. And there are a number of interesting things to see there. I would also check out the island’s website as they have a lot of information there, https://www.visitarran.com/

It’s getting late so I will stop here but I’ll check back tomorrow and see if there’s anything else that I can tell you.

At some point in 2027 Ardrossan port will close for around 24 months for total rebuilding to take the new larger ferries.

At that time (pencilled in for October 2027, but may be sooner) the sole port on the Ayrshire side will become Troon. Currently sailings run both to Troon and Ardrossan. Troon is just as fast a journey to Glasgow as is Ardrossan.

Ironically the first of the new ferries for Arran is currently redeployed in the Outer Hebrides due to vessel problems out there, which is the only reason that Ardrossan port remains open currently. Without that redeployment Ardrossan port would have already closed to all traffic- which would be diverted to Troon.

Down at the south end of the island at Kildonan there is a brand new Community Shop and Cafe which is getting excellent reviews- https://www.kildonanhall.org/cafe-and-shop

There are also plans for a local company to open a new cafe this summer (2026) inside Brodick ferry terminal

A few things we really enjoyed in Arran:
-Brodick Castle- really nice grounds to walk around
-Nice row of shops near the castle just off the road with some really good ones- Arran Cheese Shop, Taste of Arran, and Arran Sense of Scotland (soap, lotion, etc)
-Mara Fish Bar in Corrie
-Arran Distillery in Lochranza
-Dinner at the Douglas Hotel in Brodick

We want to go back and climb Goatfell- I'm not sure if you're looking for hiking but I've done some research and it looks really nice.

Good luck with your planning!

Well, I figured it would probably be easier just to put in the section about Arran on my trip report here. That way you don't have to go digging for it.

I really liked Arran. It’s small, but there is plenty to see and some beautiful spots. I stayed at the Lagg Hotel, which was built in the late 1700’s and is near the south coast. You definitely have to drive to get anywhere, but the hotel itself serves both breakfast and dinner (breakfast is included). The dinners were not fancy, but were very good and breakfast was wonderful. They had some of the best croissants I've ever eaten. It is owned by a married couple and the husband is the chef who prides himself on his "American" burger. It was good (he had me test it). 😂 They also have a bar, and the bedroom itself was really nice. Very comfortable and roomy.. Kilmory beach is a short walk from the hotel, and on the way, you can stop and see the 5,000 year old Torrylin burial cairn.

Brodick was a nice little town, with decent restaurants and fun shops. I liked Arran Aromatics and bought quite a few items there as gifts. I also enjoyed the Arran Cheese Shop. Brodick Castle and Gardens was a great place to visit. The gardens were lovely and there were quite a few walks available on the grounds. When I left to head back, I saw my first hairy coos. I can see why everyone goes crazy over them, as they are adorable and so docile.

There are mostly single track roads on the island, but overall they weren’t too bad. When I drove from Lagg up to Lochranza, which is where the CalMac ferry terminal is for Mull, the drive was absolutely beautiful. After you get through Brodick, it’s mostly along the coast, and it was so pretty. Lochranza itself is a very cute little town and I could easily see staying here on a future trip. Also there is a wonderful place called The Sandwich Shop that’s right across from the ferry terminal. The sandwiches were REALLY good, and the bread was to die for. I really enjoyed seeing the Lochranza Castle ruin. It sits right on the water and is very interesting. You can’t go inside but you can see inside.

The ferry terminal has a toilet that is usually open, but just in case, there are also toilets across the street and up a bit from the terminal. It’s just an outdoor building with toilets inside, but they were very clean.

If you enjoy whiskey, they have two distilleries there, but mostly it's just a great place for hiking and seeing beautiful scenery and sites.

In terms of where to stay, as I said, I stayed in the south of the island, which I really liked because it was very quiet and peaceful and beautiful. That said, you did have to drive to get anyplace, which I didn't mind doing, but if you want more convenience, you might want to stay in Brodick, which is where the ferry port is. There are a number of places there to stay, but I know that the Douglas Hotel has gotten many good reviews from travelers, so you might want to check it out. It is on the pricier side so without knowing your budget, it's hard to make recommendations.

EDIT: I forgot to tell you that if you want to do any hiking in Arran, I would check out the Wauk Highlands section on Arran, which has a ton of great hiking information. https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/arran/

Thank you very much. That is very good information! sue

For others reading this you definitely do NOT need a car to stay at the Lagg Hotel. The South Is!and bus #323 calls at Lagg with a perfectly useable frequency. The first one into Brodick is before 7am, and the last one back at 7pm.

This summer the public toilets at Brodick Invercloy are closed for refurbishment - reopening date unknown, but will be reopen for 2027. They closed last week.

The other thing to watch out for is new 20mph speed limits being introduced on 129 stretches of road in all the villages across Arran this summer.

For others reading this you definitely do NOT need a car to stay at the Lagg Hotel.

I agree and technically, that's correct, but logistically it definitely helps to have a car while you're there. My point in what I said was that Lagg is very much in a rural setting, and you would be giving up a lot of time by riding the bus. I did know that the bus came there because one night at dinner I met a woman and her daughter who were walking the Coastal Trail. They were staying in Brodick on a bus and had come down to the hotel to visit the beach and have dinner.

If you don't have a car, it's much easier if you stay in Brodick, as you can get the bus in town and go north and south without having to get to first get to Brodick. It just saves a lot of time. In fact, even with a car, it took a lot of time to get places, much more than if I had stayed in Brodick. There were often times I regretted that, but I liked the area. But I would never recommend that someone stay in Lagg without a car, unless they had a lot of time and really just wanted a very leisurely stay there and were willing to put up with the extra time to ride the bus.

Hi, Sue. Our recent trip to Arran (pronounced like the name Erin or Aaron) was three weeks ago. We spent May 16, 17 and 18 in Brodick and in our two full days had two excellent outings:

— We spent most of a day at Brodick Garden, it is excellent with both formal and informal areas with extensive trails. I did not count the rhododendron varieties but I’d guess 20 were in full flower since May is the best month for them and they grow into trees here. Also some rarities like blue Himalayan poppies. The lunch room is very well designed and has simple light meals. The castle stuck me as primarily a window into the upper class lifestyle. I walked the Fisherman’s Walk back to Douglas and saw a common seal sunning itself in the bay, from the locals’ picnic area where a stream enters the sea.

—We found the Machrie Moor Standing Stones (Machrie accented on first syllable) to be a true highlight, eerie and captivating. The three primary stones are about a 45 minute walk from the road and are very imposing. Explanatory signage on display . Along the way we met two hairy co and a calf coo along with numerous black-faced sheep; the path is on farmland as are the Stones. About half way in you see a ruined farmstead with apple or crab trees flowering within the stone walls, very scenic. We saw very few other visitors on our visit.

—We lodged at the comfortable Douglas Hotel, welcoming and expensive. The aptly named Terrace room has a very large terrace looking directly onto the bay, as do large windows in other rooms facing that direction. We spotted the Castle across the bay easily since it is illuminated at night. (Sun up at 5, sundown at 10 in May). About a block from the ferry.

—We had a good pub dinner at The Ormidale, dining in a large and airy former greenhouse off the main strip in a more residential area. We also had dinner at the Douglas, very good. Walking distance between them.

—We used the bus system without issue, drivers very accommodating , will pick up and drop off outside of signed bus stops. On the way to Machrie we went the long way , about an hour, and enjoyed the brief scenic views of Corrie and Lochranza. We returned via the “string” road across the middle, not scenic but about 20 minutes.

—Arran Active is a superb outdoor shop if you need gear or apparel; I had been unable to find ideal lightweight waterproof trousers at REI but found perfect ones here, which we used later in our trip but did not need on Arran, we lucked out on weather and no midges either. It, the co-op which is a standard grocery store and RBS and Douglas Hotel are in a strip about 3 blocks long on the bay.

We had a wonderful visit to Arran and hope you do too.

Well, you’ll certainly have a different experience on Arran compared with the Outer Hebrides! It’s a very feels much less wild and oceanic, being in the Firth of Clyde and opposite the conurbations on the Ayrshire coast.

It’s a very popular island for Central Belt Scots and a popular day trip as it’s so easy to access from Glasgow and thereabouts.It’s certainly a day trip my husband and I do at least once a year.I’ve been holidaying in Arran for most of my 68yrs (with my parents as a toddler too!) plus with my own two boys as they were growing up, so it holds great memories.

Nowadays, I’d opt for the Auchrannie Hotel which offers lovely accommodation and very good food in Brambles restaurant.It’s in Brodick, which itself I would recommend as a base.It also is such a scenic location with the mountain backdrop and a nice beach for strolling.

Brodick Castle is wonderful as are the gardens, with some fine rhododendrons out in May/June.Look out for the little Bavarian Summerhouse in the grounds - it’s gorgeous and completely decorated with different pine cones inside.

Hiring bikes is a popular thing to do and the cycling is quite easy, mostly flat until lovely Sannox Beach.Glen Sannox is stunning and well worth even a short walk.Glen Rosa is also lovely, accessed from Brodick.

The Machrie Standing Stones are a must IMO - in general, I think you should hire a car though there is a good bus service, but just to maximise your time overall.

Lochranza is an attractive wee place with the castle too and a distillery. The most dramatically situated distillery is Lagg.

Potentially with a car and as a day trip you could also get the ferry from Lochranza to Claonaig and explore some of the lovely Kintyre Peninsula which feels very off the beaten track.

Corrie is a pretty wee spot, which you’ll pass as you head for Sannox (another fine mountain backdrop here.)

There is some great walking on Arran - as Mardee mentions, check Walkhighlands excellent website.

Goat Fell is very do-able for those with reasonable fitness and hiking gear - great path, stunning views.

My only fear with new visitors to Arran (which is part Highland/part Lowland) is that it might feel a little suburban.That said, I do love Arran though it doesn’t any longer satisfy my need for the beauty and glories of the far west.

We were just in the outer Hebrides, and our five night visit was only to Uist and Barra. Anything less would be sad. We spent two nights on Barra and wish we could have stayed longer. We flew, so we had more time than with ferry access. Arran is a good alternative.

Thanks everyone - I'm excited about Arran and know I'll be back for a week in the Hebrides! Sue