Return trip to Scotland itinerary

Oh, I'm so glad you have Arran on here. I just love that little island, and it's such a wonderful place to visit! It also has very good public transportation (especially compared to the rest of the islands) so it's very easy to get around without a car. I would suggest heading to the Visit Arran site for more info and also the Walk Highlands Arran website for some good hikes.

I also love Glasgow so I'm glad you will get to spend some time there. Just an FYI, if you're looking for an airport hotel in Glasgow, I highly recommend the Holiday Inn Express there. I stayed there the night before I left and found it very comfortable with great service (the staff was exceptionally friendly), good food (I ate dinner there and enjoyed it), and you can grab a continental breakfast starting at 4 am, which is very nice for those of us who had to be up at the crack of stupid o'clock. It was also very reasonably priced, and it's a quick walk from there to the terminal.

I like your itinerary a lot. Lane posted a nice thread about Fort William a year or so ago that you might want to check out. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/fort-william-scotland

I don't know if you are aware but the City link bus to Luss sets down on the bypass, a short walk from the village.
There are a couple of citybus routes which go into Luss Village- the 302 from Helensburgh Central 3 x a day, and the 305 from Alexandria station on the Glasgow suburban trains network, every two hours or so.

The ferry to Arran leaves from a place called Claonaig. That is linked to Tarbert by bus 448 twice a day.
It will take 2 buses to get from Fort William to Lochgilphead for 1500 or Tarbert for 1530 for the afternoon bus.
That needs real thought as the connections are weak.
It looks like Fort William depart 0910, Tarbet (Loch Lomond) arr 1113, depart 1308, Lochgilphead arrive 1436 or Tarbert (Loch Fyne) 1505, bus 448 as above, Claaonaig arrive 1606, ferry depart 1620, Lochranza arrive 1650, bus depart for Brodick at 1708, change at Blackwaterfoot arrive 1857 or 1814 direct, also arrive Brodick 1857.
See if you can find a hotel in Lochranza!!
I can't help but feel that via Glasgow and Troon is an easier route.

Then leave via Lochranza and the bus from Tarbert (Loch Fyne) to Glasgow arriving Glasgow at 1836.

EDIT- I have got my Summer timetable down off the shelf now I am home. During the period 20 May to 29 September 2024 there was an extra bus from Fort William at 1010, so that cuts the wait time at Tarbet (Loch Lomond) down to 1 hour if the same repeats next year. Note the bus stops at Tarbet (Loch Lomond) on the A82 (the Loch side of the hotel). The one to Lochgilphead etc leaves from a stop on the A83- the 'inland' side of the hotel.

I wouldn't stay in Lochranza as there is just not that much to do there. It's nice but Brodick would be a much better location for someone using public transportation, don't you think, Stuart?

Remember this trip of Linnae's is not immediate. It is potentially scheduled for 2025 or even 2026, so the ferry problems will (hopefully) be resolved by then, so she would be able to take the Brodick ferry to Ardrossan and make her way to Glasgow. And

Mardee, The issue here isn't the ferry problems. It is the awkward transfer by bus from Fort William.
I was just thinking it has been a long and awkward travel day without adding on two more hours of the bus from Lochranza to Brodick due to the less than wonderful connections.
It's not as if Tarbet (Loch Lomond) has much to occupy 2 hours. Arrochar on Loch Long is much better for that. (2 miles away).
I had hoped for an Oban to Lochgilphead direct bus connecting out of the lunchtime Fort William to Oban bus but can't invent what isn't there.
As has been said before the bus services means it doesn't matter much where you stay on Arran.
But that is why I suspect that going from Fort William by Glasgow to Brodick and then back to Glasgow via Lochranza may be the best, when using public transport, as opposed to driving like you did.
Starting from Fort William by bus or train creates certain limitations.
I've tried various possible routes, not all of which ever appear on this forum, but can't make any other route work.
Driving would be easy, Fort William to Oban straight after breakfast, time at Kilmartin, lunch at Lochgilphead or (my preference) Ardrishaig, time to look around Tarbert (Loch Fyne) then the same boat as on the bus connection. Drive off the boat and you are in Brodick by 1730.
A very nice and varied day. Maybe even with time to divert alongside the Crinan canal.

Whatever happens ferries are very very unlike!y to be leaving from Ardrossan in 2025 or 2026 while the harbour is being rebuilt. All ferries in those 2 years are expected to leave from Troon unless something utterly unexpected happens.

@Linnae-

I've been mulling this one over, and think I have found a solution for you.

On Day 7 catch the evening Citylink bus #918 from Fort William to Oban at 1750, arriving at Oban at 1923.

One night in Oban.

On Day 8 take the West Coast Motors Bus #423 at 0930 to Ardrishaig, arriving at 1101. then the 1115 bus to Claonaig arriving at 1216.
https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/westcoastmotors/WCMO/23-timetable-20240606-45fba291.pdf
https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/westcoastmotors/WCMO/448-timetable-20220815-8e651472.pdf

(I know these buses, as I have used them all).

The ferry departs at 1235, arriving at Lochranza at 1305.

The next direct bus to Brodick leaves at 1530 (you have just missed one at 1246), but the 1423 going the other way round the island (change at Blackwaterfoot) will get you into Brodick at exactly the same time (1608)- having had a tour of 3/4 of the island. So win, win.

An Arran Day Rider Bus Ticket (unlimited travel on the island all day) is currently £7.50. Direct from Lochranza to Brodick the single fare is £4.60. For anyone staying for 4 days or more the weekly Arran Megarider is currently £23.50

Leaving Arran via Troon/Ardrossan get off the train at Paisley Gilmour Street for the airport- don't go into Glasgow Central for the Airport bus.
From straight outside Paisley Gilmour Street (well signed within the station, which has elevators to all platforms) McGills Bus 757 leaves every 30 minutes and takes just 15 minutes to the airport- https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mcgills/McG/757-timetable-20240318-c0f6fcde.pdf

It is a long established route for people from Renfrewshire and Ayrshire to reach the airport, at normal bus fares. I was there just a few weeks ago by the way changing trains and confirmed the bus stop location.

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Thanks for the suggestions! I've played around with the itinerary a bit more and it might make sense to put Glasgow in the middle, rather than on the front end. Then I can just take the bus/train to and from Fort William, spend a few days in Glasgow, and end with the Isle of Arran. If I had a car it would of course be easier, but for various reasons I'd prefer not to do that. I don't even know precisely when I'll get to do this trip-hopefully in the next few years, but it's certainly fun to dream!