Tweaking Sept itinerary

We spent 4 nights on Arran and I think that was just about right. Five may have been too much and 3 too little. We had a car and covered alot of ground although we did not do the Holy Isle cruise. From my understanding bus service on Arran is pretty good. In fact we saw a couple of people who were arriving or departing by bus multiple times on different days in different locations. So you can definitely get around. We left Arran via the Lochranza ferry and headed to Glencoe from there. Although the Glencoe hiking was more varied I would say that Arran gives you a nice taste of what the Highlands are like.

Regarding shopping, make sure you stop at the old stable yard at Brodick Castle. The stalls have been converted into shops. Mackenzie Leather is in the old saddlery and has some wonderful leather goods. I got a cross-body bag for which I receive compliments frequently.

Thanks Trotter. I’m thinking the same thing about the nights there after I listed some of the things we want to do. Of course if we had more time, we would fill it, but if we spend three full days and the afternoon of our arrival day I think it will suffice. I added a night’s stay in Glasgow just now.

So, we are looking at the different Rabbies one day tours to the Highlands or spending that extra day in Glasgow or Edinburgh. I have one full day planned for Edinburgh already, so adding this could allow us two. We were hopeful to take an early ferry back to Glasgow to give us a good portion of that day there. By adding another day we could then have the arrival day back from Arran and the other full day there if we didn’t want to do a Rabbies tour. I’m chewing on the Rabbies tour right now. As much as I would love to go into that part of Scotland, I wonder if by just coming from Arran seeing more of Edinburgh or Glasgow might not be a better choice. Decisions, decisions! Lol

I've read that the one-day Highlands tours from Glasgow require quite a lot of time sitting in a van, just due to the distances and geography involved. You'll just have come from Arran, where your time will be mostly rural, though with good opportunities for walking/hiking. How will you feel about more countryside with a lot of driving around? I think opinions would vary on that.

I really liked having a bunch of time in both Edinburgh and Glasgow during my first trip to Scotland and will be spending more days in each city later this year. However, I'm an art nut and a fan of Glasgow's architecture (and much lower tourist load).

acraven, that’s what my daughter was saying last night. A friend of hers suggested we look into a jaunt to Stirling Castle if we felt we wanted another option. I think it might be nice to not be locked into having to take the tour as well. What are your thoughts on that?

I love the flexibility of traveling with a list of potential side trips that don't require pre-booking, so I can make last-minute, weather-informed decisions. I expect to go to Stirling this year, for the first time. it's a very handy option since it's so accessible from both Edinburgh and Glasgow. I'll have a friend with me in Scotland who likes castles. I really do not, but I do like gardens and walking around historic cities, so I think Stirling will work well.

On my previous trip I went to Rosslyn Castle by bus from Edinburgh. That's a much shorter trip, less than half a day. I'm thinking about the coast east of Edinburgh for this year; I need to do some research on that.

Last time we side-tripped from Glasgow to Helensburgh to see The Hill House, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, but that wouldn't make any sense on a short visit to Glasgow, because there's great Mackintosh architecture to see right in town. I think Inveraray Castle is also a viable sidetrip from Glasgow, but it would be longer and a careful look at the bus schedule would be required.

I'm with Trotter—I think you could easily take a day off Arran and spend it in Glasgow wherever you like. I was there for 3 nights also (albeit with a car) and had a good amount of time, so with 4 nights using public transport, I think you will be fine.

If you are shopping, there's one little area north of Brodick that is worth a visit. I believe it's about a mile or so north, so it would be walkable from Brodick. There is a little white building that houses the Arran Cheese Shop (wonderful cheeses!) and a red brick building next to it with Arran Sense of Scotland, which is basically the home of Arran Aromatics, and has some great stuff! If you take back souvenirs (for others or yourself), I highly recommend stopping here. All the creams and lotions and soaps and such are made there, and smell so good. Everyone I gave them to loved them. You can also buy them in Glasgow, but I think it's fun to get them at the source, so to speak.

I believe one or more buses travel the Coastal Way. I met a woman and her daughter at my hotel in Lagg who were walking the whole trail. They would catch the bus to one place, then walk for a while, pick up the bus at another and so on. They spoke very highly of the buses on Arran, and said they were frequent and reliable.

Mardee I remember those shops. We picked up some nice little souvenir gifts at Arran Sense. Had a nice lunch too.

This sounds great. I remember Stuart positively commenting on the buses. I would love the ability to walk part of the Coastal Way and then hop on to wherever when we’re ready to stop. Definitely have the little shopping spots bookmarked. In fact, that might be a great arrival day activity. Thanks for your thoughts everyone.

This is the temporary Arran Bus Timetable- https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/West%20Scotland/WSCOT_JAN%202024%20Timetables_USE%20THIS%20FILE/321-322-323-324-Jan-24-WSCOT_23-24_13.pdf

It is optimised for all ferries currently running out of Troon.

When Ardrossan reopens at the end of March I would expect to see it tweaked again to reinstate optimal connections to the Ardrossan ferries.
Emphasis on the word tweaked.

Thanks Stuart! I’m in need of serious diversions rn. :/ so I don’t care how many timetables you link for me to review. Or anything else to look into. I truly appreciate it.

acraven above mentioned Inveraray. It is served by the long distance buses to Campbeltown - https://www.citylink.co.uk/timetables-service-updates/glasgow-campbeltown/

(those are the same buses you would use from Tarbert to Glasgow if you left Arran by the Lochranza route, but I don't know of luggage storage at Inveraray)

and the odd bus to Oban. - https://www.citylink.co.uk/timetables-service-updates/glasgow-oban/

A great circular day out is direct to Inveraray as above, then the other way to Dunoon by bus-https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/westcoastmotors/WCMO/484-timetable-20241021-2908c68c.pdf

(or vice versa)

for the CalMac ferry over to Gourock, thence train back to Glasgow Central (sat on the left hand side of the train Glasgow bound)

Citylink are best booked ahead (not long ahead), but you can normally get tickets from the bus driver as well. The Dunoon bus is pay on the bus only. The proviso to the latter is that you can buy on the West Coast Motors App a 'Dunoon/Cowal 24 Hour Area' ticket for £7.40. I would not be surprised if that was the same or cheaper as a single fare- but Traveline Scotland is playing funny with me when I try to do a fare check.

We were encumbered by luggage at Inveraray, because we were on our way from Glasgow to Oban. I believe we had read one could check luggage at the castle (check this on the website); at least that was our intention. We didn't end up needing to do that. Someone working at the ticket booth down at the parking lot saw our bags and offered to put them in the trunk of their car so we wouldn't have to roll them all the way up the driveway to the castle.

Someone working at the ticket booth down at the parking lot saw our bags and offered to put them in the trunk of their car so we wouldn't have to roll them all the way up the driveway to the castle.

How nice of them! It never ceases to amaze me how friendly and helpful people are when traveling.