| Arran,
is unique amongst the Scottish western Isles. The most southerly of the
inhabited Scottish Islands it is easily accessible being only a mornings
drive from northern England and reachable in a day from most parts
of mainland Britain. |
|
Ailsa Craig from Kildonan, also
known as 'Paddy's Milestone' |
When you
board the ferry at Ardrossan in Ayrshire, a 45 minute drive from
Glasgow you are entering a different world, a world where things happen
at a different pace from the hustle and bustle of mainland life, hard to
believe a place so magical is such a short journey from the 'Real
World'.
|
The 4.40 in Brodick. The start of
your holiday |
| Of
course it is the fact that it is an Island which isolates Arran from the
harsh realities of the 21st century yet the digital revolution has not
passed it by with internet cafe's, two mobile cinemas, a library with
broadband - Arran had broadband before several areas in England. |
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|
Brodick Castle, stuffed full of
beautiful antique furniture and fantastic gardens too |
The Holy Isle ferry office.
Trips to Holy Isle are available
from Lamlash |
Lochranza Castle, steeped in
ancient history
Arran is known as 'Scotland in Miniature' with
good reason. With a geological fault running through the middle, the
terrain varies from the rugged massif overlooking Brodick to rolling
farmlands in the south.
There are hidden corries and imposing glens in the
North where golden eagles soar and red deer roam as well as leafy
woodlands hiding cascading burns in the southeast, with an ever
increasing population of red squirrels
Seemingly endless sandy beaches, vertical cliffs
rising from the sea, ancient rock formations and long pebbl;e
strands make up Arran's varied coastline from which seals,
porpoises and basking sharks can often be spotted |
Blackwaterfoot beach, which seems
to go on forever
|
A walk up the Cnocan Gorge behind the castle
reveals secrets like this |
| The award
winning Arran Brewery at the mouth of Glen Rosa is famed for its 'Arran
Blonde' and worth a visit as is the Isle of Arran Distillery in
Lochranza. |
Glenrosa, gateway to the route up
Goatfell, Arran's highest peak. |
