Isle of Arran

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For other places with the same name, see Aran (disambiguation).

Brodick Bay with Goatfell in background - - 1506623 - Brodick bay with Goat Fell in the distance

The Isle of Arran is in south-western Scotland in the Firth of Clyde, which is the broad reach of sea southwest of Glasgow and enclosed by the Ayrshire coast to the east and the Kintyre peninsula to the West. It has a population of roughly 5,000. Arran extends for about miles 20 north-south and ten miles east-west, with all its settlements strung along the coast road, and a hilly interior. The tourist agency calls it Scotland in Miniature, but if you try cycling the roads over the hills, you might not agree with that term. And if the wind and rain get up, or the ferry crossing turns rough, or the midges attack and the experience will not feel miniature.

Yet that twee slogan is stating an important truth about Arran’s accessibility, scenery and charm. It’s very accessible, being easily reached from England and central Scotland, you don’t have to drive another 3 hours to Oban harbour or beyond. But equally, it’s not too accessible. It’s not blighted by hordes or tacky “attractions”. The one-hour ferry crossing is just enough to feel mainland life slipping away from you, and once you get around to the West side, with the view of Kintyre, you really are in another place. The scenery is Highland, but on a compact scale – it’s sparse and haunting, but not bleak. You can enjoy seeing and doing things, or just chill. You’re not in the remote Hebrides here (they start the other side of Kintyre) and you can always get yourself to Brodick if you’re missing something crucial, like dental floss or a mobile signal. If you reckon your busy schedule may only allow one visit to a Scottish island in your lifetime and then you need to come to Arran, perhaps more than you yet realise.

Isle of Arran Halal Travel Guide

Isle_of_Arran_OS_OpenData_map - Map of the Isle of Arran

How old is this Earth? Arran is where geologists began to see that it was vastly older than they’d supposed, and was continually re-shaped by sometimes violent forces – look at that huge plug of granite thrust up through the island’s centre. So it was only an eyeblink ago in geological terms when Neolithic settlers erected the great stone circles of Machrie Moor. Arran was, and is, a farming and fishing community, but from the late 18th century it was systematically depopulated, as its residents were evicted, or chose to leave for better prospects elsewhere. Tourism developed in the 19th century as city workers came “doon the water” for their summer holidays along the “Glasgow Riviera” or “Costa Clyde”, in resorts such as Troon, Largs, Ayr, Girvan and Arran. In the late 20th century they moved on, to the Med, but good car-ferry connections brought in different visitors. Traditional life persisted alongside the caravan parks and B&Bs, but the last native Gaelic speakers died out, fortunately having survived into an perioid when recordings could capture their oral history and distinctive dialect of Arran Gaelic.

Arran has no air service. You’ll almost certainly arrive on the ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick (Gaelic Tràigh a' Chaisteil) and the village that is the island’s transport hub. This southern part of the island is lowland in nature, with the bulk of the lodging and amenities. From Brodick the primary street south leads to Lamlash (Gaelic An t-Eilean Àrd) which is the main population centre and has the hospital and council & law offices; so if you have official business on Arran, it’ll probably involve a meeting here. Lamlash also has the best anchorage for small craft, with its bay sheltered by Holy Island, to which there are boat trips. The last large village is Whiting Bay then, as the road rounds the southern tip at Kildonan and the island becomes much wilder.

Heading north from Brodick, a couple of miles brings you to Brodick Castle, at the start of the main footpath to the top of Goat Fell. The primary street hugs the coast north through Sannox and Corrie then crosses lonely moors to Lochranza, with its stump of castle, distillery and a ferry jetty. So here is the other route into Arran, via the short crossing from Claonaig in Argyll. The road now turns south along the west shore and is quiet – old maps show it as an A-road, but this stretch has been declassified to a lane. Small places along the way include Pirnmill, Catacol, Machrie, Blackwaterfoot and Kilmory and then you circle back through Kildonan into lusher country.

For weather information on the island check the Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) for the Western Highlands which includes Isle of Arran.

The TIC is

• Visit Scotland Brodick iCentre - The Pier, Brodick KA27 8AU ☎ +44 1770 303774 Opening Hours: May-Sept daily 09:00-17:00, Oct & April Monday to Saturday 09:00-17:00, November - Mar 10:00-16:00 This stands opposite the ferry terminal (listed below), at the junction with A841 the main island road.

Travel to Isle of Arran

Book a Halal Cruise or Boat Tour in Isle of Arran

The only practical way to reach Arran is on the ferry, almost always by the Ardrossan-Brodick route. Thus, getting to Arran means getting to Ardrossan, which is well-connected with Glasgow. There is also a short ferry crossing between Lochranza and Claonaig in Argyll, described below, but this is a very long way round, best considered as part of a road tour of the Western Highlands and Islands. Both routes are operated by Caledonian McBrayne (CalMac) and run year-round, weather permitting. See their website for times, prices, terms and bookings, or call 0800 066 5000. The ferries are often booked up in summer, especially for the weekend get-away and the Sunday-Monday return.

The Ardrossan-Brodick ferry sails 8 times a day in summer, 4 in winter. It can usually carry around 100 cars and 1000 passengers, and has toilets, play area, lounge, tourist information desk, bar, café and restaurant; there is disabled access. Extra peak-period sailings may be on smaller vessels, with size limits for vehicles. Return fares are around £30 for a car, £7.50 per passenger including the driver, and £3.80 per child 5-15; toddlers, bicycles and dogs go free. Make sure your vehicle is at the pier 30 minutes ahead (toilets, café and waiting area at both ports), or your space may be re-allocated to someone else; foot passengers are okay till ten minutes ahead. The crossing takes 50 min, but reckon an hour from cast-off to driving onto the jetty at the other end. People sometimes take a round-trip without landing, enjoying a scenic lunch on the way. But unless it’s filthy weather, do stay on deck and watch for marine life: dolphins, porpoise, seals and basking sharks are not uncommonly seen. For day-trippers, a tour coach sometimes meets the morning ferry at Brodick and takes you round the island’s main sights then back in time for an afternoon return sailing – enquire at the tourist desk on board.

There is a long stay vehicle park at Ardrossan harbour, approx £4 per day. So if you're only staying a couple of days, don't have much luggage and don't plan to venture beyond Brodick/Lamlash, consider parking up and coming across as a foot passenger.

The Lochranza-Claonaig ferry sails 8 times a day in summer, taking 30 min. In winter Claonaig jetty is too exposed, so instead there’s a single daily crossing between Lochranza and Tarbert (Loch Fyne) | Tarbert, taking 90 min. The ferry is a small ro-ro with room for 18 cars and 150 passengers; there’s a small lounge and toilets (and none at the harbours). Return fares are around £19 for a car, £5.60 per passenger including the driver, and £2.80 per child 5-15. From Claonaig you can day-trip to Skipness on foot, and to Tarbert by bike, see “Go next”. However most travellers will either be taking a single ride to tour Kintyre and the Western Highlands, or playing “hopscotch” across several islands – Calmac themselves use that word for ferry itineraries that aren’t simple singles & returns.

On summer Saturdays only and the 07:00 Campbeltown-Ardrossan ferry calls at Brodick, so this is an alternative way to return from Kintyre to Arran. The westbound ferries from Ardrossan to Campbeltown don’t call, so from Arran you have to sail Lochranza-Claonaig to reach Kintyre.

Arran is also visited by other ships in summer, but these are excursion cruises not ferries. A charming example is the paddle steamer “Waverley” and the world's oldest sea-going paddle ship, now restored to her 1947 LNER livery.

• Brodick Ferry Terminal The Pier, Brodick KA27 8AU 55.57604, -5.13942 Opening Hours: Open for all sailings This smart new terminal building finally opened in spring 2018. Now it only remains to complete the big new ferry that it was built to accommodate (autumn 2019 maybe) and upgrade the mainland ferry port at Ardrossan (2020 - who knows?). But Arran's good and ready.

Get Around

GPS 55.57351|-5.25333 By road, obviously. The “primary street” circles the island: it’s the busy A841 on the east side between Lochranza, Brodick and Whiting Bay, and just a lane – but perfectly driveable – from Whiting Bay round the west side back to Lochranza. Two small and scenic roads climb across the hills in the middle. The “String Road” or B880 runs from Brodick to Blackwaterfoot. The “Ross Road” is that quintcrucial Highland experience, a narrow single track lane with passing places, unsuitable for large vehicles (thus, no bus service). It wends and winds from Lamlash to re-join the primary street between Kilmory/Lagg and Sliddery. Especially in the quieter parts of the island, people are often happy to pick up hitch-hikers who don’t look too weird or muddy, but passing traffic can be very sparse.

By car

Fill up the tank before coming over! – It’s a large island and you’ll probably do more mileage than you expected. Filling stations on Arran are few and expensive: Brodick, Lamlash and Whiting Bay are your best hope.

Car hire is available from the petrol station at the ferry terminal in Brodick. Cars cost from £25 per day, and range in size from a two-seater Smart to a seven-seater Vauxhall Zafira. ☎ +44 1770 302121. Also from Arran Motors in Brodick & Whiting Bay (listed), and from Blackwaterfoot Garage, Tel +44 1770 860277.

• Arran Motors - ☎ +44 1770 302839 (in Brodick), +44 1770 700345 (in Whiting Bay) Opening Hours: In Brodick: Monday to Saturday 08:00-17:30, Sunday 10:00-17:00; in Whiting Bay: Monday to Friday 09:15-17:15, Saturday 09:15-16:00 Car rental is offered in Brodick and Whiting Bay. Booking in advance is recommended.

Travel on a Bus in Isle of Arran

Bus routes all start from Brodick ferry terminal and ply all the island roads, except the Ross Road which is too narrow and unpopulated. So you can get places by bus, but you might not get much of a view through the mud-splashed windows. Buses are operated by / Stagecoach West Scotland, under the aegis of SPT (Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) so bus stops and timetables may carry either logo. See online] for the full timetable. Printed timetables are on the ferries, at Brodick ferry terminal, on the buses themselves and from convenience stores. An English over-65 bus pass isn’t valid in Scotland. The regular bus services are:

• 321 Brodick - Corriegills (just a school bus, runs once per day on schooldays only)
• 322 Brodick - String Road - Blackwaterfoot (Monday to Saturday roughly hourly, 5 on Sunday)
• 323 Brodick - Lamlash - Whiting Bay - Kildonan - Lagg - Blackwaterfoot (Monday to Saturday roughly hourly to Whiting Bay, with six continuing to Blackwaterfoot; Sunday six to Whiting Bay and four to Blackwaterfoot)
• 324 Brodick - Castle - Corrie - Sannox - Lochranza – Pirnmill - Blackwaterfoot (Monday to Saturday 7 per day, four on Sunday)

This means that trips around the island can be put together by changing at Blackwaterfoot:

• 324 + 322 for North Island circuit via String Road
• 323 + 322 for South Island circuit via String Road
• 324 + 323 to go all the way round.

The buses don’t carry bikes.

All buses are “Hail and Ride” – they’ll stop for you anywhere. Don’t set off back too late, as few buses run after 21:00.

Arran has a Rural MyBus scheme, an on-demand supplement to regular buses, organised by SPT. See Scotland#Get around for eligibility rules. Since Arran has a bus service on just about every road that a bus can drive along and there's little call for it on the island, but there's a useful mainland connection (M22 once a day Monday to Saturdayt) from Irvine via Stevenston and Saltcoats to meet the ferry at Ardrossan.

Travel by bicycle in Isle of Arran

Bicycles travel free on the Calmac ferries. Bikes can be hired from several locations in Brodick (listed); also from Kinloch Sports Club in Blackwaterfoot, and from the Sandwich Station in Lochranza. The primary street from Brodick to Corrie is too busy for an enjoyable ride; but if your lungs and sinews can take it and the String Road and Ross Road are sublime.

• Arran Bike Hire - The Shorehouse, Shore Road, Brodick 55.576864, -5.145828 ☎ +44 1770 302377 or +44 7717 845755 (mobile) £15 for 1 day (other offers available)

• Arran Adventures - Brodick next to the Auchrannie Resort ☎ +44 1770 303349 £15 for 24 hours (other offers available) Bike rental offered throughout the year. Also offers guided mountain bike tours (seasonal).

• Brodick Cycles - Roselynn, Brodick 55.57736, -5.15221 Opposite Brodick Library. If you come from the ferry, turn right onto the primary street along the water, pass the big Coop supermarket on the left and the small Coop on your right and continue from there for another 100m. It is on your left. ☎ +44 1770 302460 Opening Hours: Summer: Monday to Saturday 09:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00; Winter: Thursday - Saturday 10:00-13:00, 14:00-16:00

Best way to travel in Isle of Arran by a Taxi

Taxis are pricey and booked out at certain times. Ask for a quote when booking.

• Corrie Cabs - - ☎ +44 7517 356 985 - Offers ferry pick up and taxi service around the island. Arrange a taxi before 22:00 if you need transport at night.

What to see in Isle of Arran

In Brodick is the Arran Heritage Museum, and the Adventure Centre (see “Do”) offers guided activities such as pony-trekking and rock-climbing. A couple of miles north of the village is Brodick Castle (interior closed), Arran Brewery, at the start of the easiest hike up Goat Fell (described under “Do”).

• Heritage Museum - Rosaburn, Brodick KA27 8DP 55.58352, -5.16111 ☎ +44 1770 302636 Opening Hours: April-Oct daily 10:30-16:30 Adult £4, child £2 In an old farmstead at the northern edge of town, covers Arran's geology, archaeology and social history.

• Brodick Castle, Garden & Country Park - Brodick 55.59403, -5.15077 2 miles north of town centre ☎ +44 1770 302202 Opening Hours: Country Park open all year, daily 09:30–sunset; garden: 1 April - 31 October daily 10:00–16:30; 1 November - 21 Dec: F-Su 10:00–15:30 Adults £7, NTS/NT free Brodick Castle - Brodick Castle Main Building East 01 This splendid Victorian pile in normal times is Arran's top sight, but the interior is closed for repair and reconstruction until Easter 2019, ie 19 April. You can still visit the gardens and country park, and there are ranger-led tours of the exterior, but without the interior it's overpriced if you're not an NT/NTS member. The works underway will create four self-catering flats within the castle - the place had been losing money hand over fist - and promises an intriguing lodging option once complete.

• Arran Brewery - Cladach, Brodick KA27 8DE 55.59202, -5.15676 2 miles north of town centre ☎ +44 1770 302353 Opening Hours: April-mid Sept Monday to Saturday 10:00-17:00, Sunday 12:30-16:30; late Sept-March Monday to Saturday 10:30-16:30 Tour adults £7, children £2 There is an independent restaurant facing you in the main driveway, but walk around the junction to the brewery itself for some generous free organic juice tasting and the opportunity of buying 8-pint jerry cans of some excellent real ale. Although it does not hold a licence, you're permitted to drink your purchase on the adjacent picnic tables. 45-min tours are daily at 11:00 and 14:00.

Going south from Brodick, Lamlash has fishing trips, indeed you can hire your own boat. The major tourist attraction is Holy Island (Arran) | Holy Island sheltering Lamlash Bay. In summer, boat trips run roughly hourly from Lamlash, for bird-watching, hikes over the small island, and great views over the Firth towards Ailsa Craig and the Mull of Kintyre. And, last thing you expected to find here and there’s a Tibetan Buddhist community. At the northern end where the boats land is the "Interfaith Centre", with visitor information and a café, open in summer more or less whenever the boat trips are running. The track down the island is dotted with Buddhist iconry then at the southern end is the retreat, where monks live in seclusion and you can’t visit. This community is often loosely described as a monastery, which it's not - that term properly applies to their mother house and the Samye Ling Monastery above Garvald in Dumfriesshire.

Going north from Brodick along the primary street to Lochranza, see the caves at Corrie. Pony-trekking is available at Sannox (see “Do”).

• Corrie Caves 55.64470, -5.14078 - Approx. 2/3 into the village, can be visited from the Shore Road, and is best visited as part of a steep trek to the top of the hill. There is even an old, rusty vehicle in one of them! Note that parking is very limited.

The road then leaves the coast and crosses the moors to Lochranza. Here find Lochranza Castle and the Arran Distillery, and the jetty for the ferry to Claonaig.

Lochranza castle - Lochranza Castle

• Lochranza Castle | Lochranza 55.70531, -5.29103 Opening Hours: Open April - September Free Lochranza Castle Lochranza historic castle sunny A 13th-century bastion rebuilt in the 16th century and now just a masonry shell. Dramatic setting on the shingle spit of the village harbour, enfolded by hills and with views out over Kintyre. Usually freely open in summer to visitors and sheep, so watch where you step. If locked, ask for the key at the town hall.

• Arran Distillery - Lochranza KA27 8HJ 55.69795, -5.27559 on primary street at eastern edge of Lochranza village ☎ +44 1770 830264 Opening Hours: April - Oct tours hourly 10:00-16:00 Standard tour £8 Arran distillery - Arran's only distillery, established in 1995. Their main product is the unpeated "Isle of Arran" single malt, in various cask finishes and ages. They also produce a peaty malt "Machrie Moor", in small quantities as this involves closing and washing out the main product line. See also "Eat" listing for Casks cafe here. A new distillery is under construction at Lagg, in the south of the island, which will be dedicated to the peaty potion: this is due to open in spring 2019.

The road now turns south, along the west coast, and downgrades to a lane. Always in Arran be on the lookout for wildlife, especially in these more rugged northern and western sections. Look for Golden Eagles, Hen Harriers, diving birds, ravens, birds-of-passage eg waxwings and crossbills, and occasional windblown strays such as the white-tailed sea eagle and long-tailed skua. Deer are common and have no road sense. Red squirrels may be spotted in the woodlands. Seals often haul out on the shore, eg at Blackwaterfoot. This side of the island has the best views, over Kintyre, and sees the sunset.

Pirnmill has one of the best beaches on Arran. In the hills behind, see the hamlet of Penrioch and the abandoned houses of High Pirnmill. You can get a vehicle or bike up the track as far as Penrioch, otherwise walk.

All over Arran, but especially richly down this western side and there are prehistoric monuments: standing stones, burial cairns, and the like. The main sites are signposted, but use a good Ordnance Survey map (Landranger 69 or Explorer 361) to discover your own. Some are on private land so if there's no sign or access path (eg the Auchencare Stone near the turnoff for Old Byres) then just admire them from the lane. Otherwise feel free to wander in, whenever; there's often no-one else around. They're about 3000 to 4000 years old, Neolithic-going-on-Bronze-Age, good examples being the Auchagallon stone circle and the Kilmory cairn. The outstanding, unmissable group is the Machrie Moor Stone Circles - if you were secretly disappointed by “the Stonehenge Experience”, come here to reconnect with your inner Ancient Brit.

• Machrie Moor Stone Circles | 55.540829, -5.313655 Near the village of Machrie. Watch for the vehicle park sign along the primary street and then walk up the track for 20 min - can be boggy, stout boots recommended. Opening Hours: Always open Free Machrie Moor Stone Circles An impressive, rugged circle of cairns, with others here and there across the heath. The associated site 1 kilometers west is Moss Farm Stone Circle.

From Machrie the String Road cuts across the hills to Brodick (there are signs for Balmichael Visitor Centre, but it's closed). Or continue south along the coast through Blackwaterfoot to Kilmory. Here by a disused church another scenic route branches off and the narrow Ross Road over to Lamlash. Just below Kilmory a track leads down to Cleat’s Shore, said to be a naturist/nudist beach. But how can anyone tell? – since it’s usually deserted apart from the cows, being draughty, dung-splattered and without any amenities. The name “Cleat’s Shore” isn’t recognised by Google Map, and the narrow access track has to date repulsed the camera car, so it should be nice and quiet if you decide to get your kit off.

Near the south tip of Arran is Kildonan, with another good beach, plus great rock formations. The small island with a lighthouse 1 kilometers offshore is Pladda: it's privately owned and can't be visited. The coast road now turns north to Whiting Bay and resumes duty as the A841.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Isle of Arran

Take a Hiking Tour in Isle of Arran

Arran is a great place for walking and hiking. OS Landranger map 69 covers the entire island. All the coast is walkable, though the Brodick – Corrie section is too close to the primary street to escape the traffic noise. For hiking suggestions (including GPS coordinates and route descriptions) see Walk Highlands hiking guide].

The unmissable walk is the ascent of Goat Fell GPS 55.6260,-5.1921 (Ben Govar) and the island’s highest mountain, at 874 metres (so it’s a “Corbett”, it doesn’t qualify as a “Munro”). The usual ascent is from Cladach near Brodick Castle gates. This trail is well-waymarked and well-trodden, and will take 5 or 6 hours there & back. Nothing technical, but there’s a long scramble of scree near the summit. A steeper but shorter route ascends from Corrie, past some fine waterfalls, and you could use the bus to climb one way and descend the other. The view from the top sweeps over Ayrshire, Galloway, Ailsa Craig, Kintyre, Islay & Jura, Bute, and the hills above Loch Lomond. That’s on a clear day of course. On a misty drizzly day, let’s hope you took a compass bearing before you plunged into the gloom.

Glen Cloy just south-west of Brodick is a good scenic walk, 1.5 miles starting by Auchrannie resort to the bowl of surrounding hills.

From Lamlash, you can walk north along the coast to Clauchlands Point GPS 55.55119,-5.08373}}. This is 2 miles (or 3 km) from central Lamlash, or you can drive to within half a mile. Usual beach life: birds, seals, squidgy things in rock pools – and you might spot a nuclear submarine, as their base lies further up the Firth. There’s also the remains of a boom defence signal station from World War II.

A number of walks start from Whiting Bay: the Giants Grave (1½ mile round trip) and the Glenashdale Falls (7 mile round trip) and Kings Cross Point (3 miles round trip).

The Coastal Way is a set of paths for walking around the entire island along the coast divided into 12 sections. The coastal section between North Sannox and Lochranza is not suitable for bikes as it involves light scrambling especially around the Cock of Arran.

Golf

Play golf at one of the island’s many courses:

• Shiskine Golf and Tennis Club - Shore Road, Blackwaterfoot, KA27 8HA 55.5049, -5.3400 ☎ +44 1770 860226 - 12-hole course - beautiful scenery. Ranked 99th in the World's Top 100 Golf Courses.

• Machrie Bay Golf Course and Tearoom - Machrie 55.5545, -5.3378 ☎ +44 1770 840329 - Some of the best Snacks and none-alcoholic drinks around! Also good for a game of golf.

• Lochranza 9 Hole Golf Course - Lochranza, KA27 8HL 55.69949, -5.27722 ☎ +44 1770 830273 - Normally open from April until mid October each year.

• Whiting Bay Golf Club - Whiting Bay, KA27 8QT 55.4902, -5.1012 ☎ +44 1770 700487 - 18 holes, starter box with changing room, clubhouse with restaurant. Snooker table in its own room.

• There is a mini-golf course and a crazy golf course in Brodick.

Other activities

• The Five Ferries is a cycle route of 51 miles, starting in Ardrossan, crossing Arran to Kintyre then Bute and back to the mainland at Wemyss Bay. There are steep gradients along the route and it's often done as a charity challenge. From the first ferry landing at Brodick you'll have 75 min to cover 14 miles to catch the second ferry at Lochranza, otherwise your day unravels.

• Arran Adventure Centre - Brodick KA27 8BZAt the entrance of the Auchrannie Resort ☎ +44 1770 303349 Opening Hours: Easter to October Offers guided activities such as climbing, kayaking and mountain biking. Weather forecasts are posted every day.

• Hands on Hawking - Lamlash ☎ +44 1770 600544 Opening Hours: May-September Intro hour £35 A range of falconry related activities for those who would like to get a little closer to birds of prey.

• North Sannox Pony Trekking - North Sannox KA27 8JD ☎ +44 1770 810222 Opening Hours: Year-round Monday to Saturday, weather permitting £25 for 1-hr track, £45 for 2-hr Booking is strongly recommended.

• Cairnhouse Stables - Blackwaterfoot KA27 8EU at edge of village ☎ +44 1770 860466 Opening Hours: Open all year £25 / hour Pony trekking & hacking. Booking in advance is recommended.

• Flying Fever - 2 Coastguard House Kildonan KA27 8SD ☎ +44 1770 303899 Opening Hours: Daily in summer Intro day £140 Paragliding, solo or tandem, intro days and longer courses.

• Bowling Greens, Lamlash and Brodick - Visitors are welcome to these seasonal facilities, you are asked to wear flat shoes. There is normally someone on hand to show you how to play if you've never tried before. The greens are only open in good weather to avoid wear. £3 per adult £1.50 for concessions.
• Go for a swim at the Auchrannie Resort (Brodick) or the Kinloch Hotel (Blackwaterfoot). The minimum ages to swim solo are 12 at the Auchrannie and 17 at the Kinloch.

Events

• Live music: See HTTPS://WWWW.Wrranfolkfestival.com/ Arran Events for events throughout the year. These include:

Arran Folk Festival was last held 8-10 June 2018. Dates for 2019 are not yet announced.

Summer Ceilidh: in Brodick Weds evenings July-Aug, in Lochranza Thurs evenings August.

Maclellan Arts Festival: early September.

Music Arran: classical concerts monthly throughout the year, usually in Brodick village hall.

• Screen Machine - Mobile cinema that tours the Highlands and Islands. It visits Brodick once a month, parking at the Auchrannie Resort.

• Arran Mountain Festival - The next event is 17-19 May 2019.

Halal Food & Restaurants

View across Drumadoon Bay - View across Drumadoon Bay from Blackwaterfoot to the Mull of Kintyre and the island of Sanda.

As well as those listed, most of the hotels serve meals to non-residents, see Isle of Arran#Sleep|Sleep.

• Shanghai - Kames Corner, Brodick KA27 8BU Opposite the Co-op ☎ +44 1770 303777 Opening Hours: April - Oct daily 16:30-22:30, November - Mar closed Monday Around £7 Chinese takeaway.

• Hooked and Cooked | The Pier, Brodick KA27 8AU opposite the ferry terminal ☎ +44 1770 302656 Opening Hours: Daily 12:00-20:00 Popular fish & chip shop, so you might be waiting a while.

• The Coffee Pot Whiting Bay KA27 8QL . Snacks and good light meals, reasonably priced.

• Machrie Bay Tearoom - Golf Club, Machrie Bay KA27 8DY ☎ +44 1770 840329 Opening Hours: Daily April - Oct 10:00-17:00, November - Mar 10:00-16:00 Sandwiches £4, Burgers £8 Excellent meals, especially the venison burgers. Breakfast, sandwiches and cakes.

• The Sandwich Station - Lochranza KA27 8HL 55.7077, -5.3019 Opposite ferry terminal ☎ +44 7810 796248 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 07:30-16:00, Sunday 09:00-16:00 £5 Offers excellent freshly made sandwiches, Snacks and none-alcoholic drinks.

• Clubhouse Grill - formerly Fairways | Shiskine Golf and Tennis Club, Blackwaterfoot KA27 8HA ☎ +44 1770 860777 Opening Hours: Daily 10:30-17:00 (last food order at 16:00) It's okay, but the good chef moved on a couple of years ago.

• Coast Arran | Whiting Bay KA27 8PR 55.49021, -5.09493 ☎ +44 1770 700308 Opening Hours: Thursday - Tuesday 10:00-00:00 Around £11-15 Excellent bistro menu, featuring local produce. Vegetarians well catered-for. Delicious chilli.

• Felicity's at Eden Lodge - Whiting Bay KA27 8QH ☎ +44 1770 700357 Opening Hours: W-M 12:00-15:00 & 17:00-20:30 Dinner mains from £15 Small hotel and the restaurant serves Scottish food and home-made Pizzas.

• Casks Cafe | Arran Distillery, Lochranza KA27 8HJ - ☎ +44 1770 830264 Opening Hours: March - Oct 10:00-17:00, November - Feb 10:00-16:00 Offers good lunch and, of course, whisky!

• Stags Pavilion - Lochranza KA27 8HJ 55.6993, -5.2767 ☎ +44 1770 830600 Opening Hours: Thursday - Tuesday 17:30-21:00 Main course £15-£20 Evening meals, all home-made. Not licensed, BYOB.

• The Lighthouse - Pirnmill KA27 8HP 55.64423, -5.38283 ☎ +44 1770 850240 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10:00-16:00 and 17:00-21:00 Mains £15-£20 . Offers excellent food, menu rotates every 2 weeks. Unlicensed, BYOB without corkage fee.

• Cafe Thyme - Old Byre Showroom, Machrie KA27 8EB ☎ +44 1770 840608 Opening Hours: Daily 10:00-17:00 £9-16 Serves excellent burgers, chips and none-alcoholic drinks, plus Turkish haggis.

• eighteen69 - Brodick KA27 8BZAt the Auchrannie Resort ☎ +44 1770 302234 Opening Hours: Thursday - Monday 17:30-21:30 Tapas £8, order 3-4 per person Scottish tapas. Fine dining in casual atmosphere. Dress code: smart casual.

• Brambles - Brodick KA27 8BZAt the Auchrannie Resort ☎ +44 1770 302234 Opening Hours: Daily 12:00-16:30 & 17:30-21:30 £15-20 Seafood and grill. Top quality casual dining, excellent food.

• Brodick Cafe - Alma Road, Brodick KA27 8BD 55.57716, -5.15049 ☎ +44 1770 302169 Opening from Monday to Saturday 12:00-14:30 & 17:30-21:00 (F Saturday to 22:30) Upmarket Extensive blackboard selection.

There is at least one pub in most villages - some have two or more. Some hotels also offer bars and other drinking options (see Isle of Arran#Sleep|Sleep).

• Cruize Cafe - At the Auchrannie Spa Resort Opening Hours: Daily Offers a good range of soft-drinks (also serves good food), comfortable surroundings and occasional party nights.

• Ormidale Hotel - Brodick - It has a nice atmosphere (upper part is in former glasshouse), pub quizzes and the most insanley tiled toilet block in the world. Music at weekends. Extensive selection of food.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Isle of Arran

Food and groceries

Stock up before you come over on the ferry! There’s a Asda in Ardrossan right by the pier.

Brodick has two Co-op supermarkets and Lamlash has one, all open daily from 07:00-22:00.

Whiting Bay has two grocery stores, one at the Gulf petrol station, and one in the village centre which also has hot food to go and a deli. Just outside Whiting Bay, Kirkend Nurseries sells exotic & hard-to-get food and old-fashioned sweets as well as plants.

Kildonan Hotel has a shop selling basics such as bread, milk and tinned food.

There is a “farmers' market” at the Kilmory Community Hall on the last Saturday of every month (and the last Saturday in September is the annual fete).

Blackwaterfoot has a grocery store, open daily (but closed from 13:00 on Wednesday). The Kinloch Hotel Bakery sells Pizzas (closed Wednesday and Sunday). Galbraiths are the Butchers Shop here.

Pirnmill Village Store and Post Office has food and alcohol for those on a self-catering budget. Lochranza campsite sells basics.

Arts and crafts

• Old Byre Showroom - Machrie - Great souvenirs can be purchased here. A cafe serves some of the best Burgers and other meaty meals on the island! They also own the Sheepskin Shop in Brodick.

• Craft shop Corrie In the centre of the village

• The Whins Lochranza Opening Hours: daily 10:00-18:00 A fantastic little shop that makes and sells the famous 'Arran Stonemen.' Located on the side of the hill on the north side of the bay. Quite a long but interesting walk from the main part of the village, you are likely to meet sheep and maybe deer on the way.

• Pottery Workshop - Kilmory ☎ +44 1770 870310

Others

• ArCaS - Arran Cancer Support - Brodick Outside the Ferry Terminal in Brodick ☎ +44 1770 302928 Opening from Monday to Saturday 11:00-16:00 Charity shop.

• Jolly Molly - Shore Road, Brodick ☎ +44 1770 302162 - Gift shop.

• Isle of Arran Cheese Shop - Home Farm, Brodick 55.58853, -5.15756 ☎ +44 1770 302788 - Visit the shop at Duchess Court or order Arran hampers online. Among other cheeses they make a delicious blue Cheese. They do not offer tours but you can watch the Cheese making through a large window.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Isle of Arran

Isle of Arran - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Isle of Arran, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Isle of Arran. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Isle of Arran and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Isle of Arran. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Isle of Arran. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inIsle of Arran: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Isle of Arran.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Isle of Arran: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Isle of Arran, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Isle of Arran.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Isle of Arran, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Isle of Arran, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Isle of Arran and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Isle of Arran, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Isle of Arran, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Isle of Arran without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Isle of Arran is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Isle of Arran.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Isle of Arran is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Isle of Arran, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Isle of Arran Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Isle of Arran

eHalal Group Isle of Arran is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Isle of Arran. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Isle of Arran.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Isle of Arran ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Isle of Arran. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Isle of Arran, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

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Muslim Friendly Hotels

Arran camping - Camping at Kildonan, with Pladda in the middle distance and the faint pyramid of Ailsa Craig

Hostels and bunkhouses

• Shore Lodge - Brodick next to castle ☎ +44 844 4932152 . 14-bed self-catering facility next to Brodick Castle. It appears to be closed, as is the castle.
• Brodick Bunkhouse Alma Road, Brodick KA27 8BE, dorm bed £25 ppn.

• Kilmory Hall & Bunkhouse - Kilmory KA27 8PQ 55.4442, -5.2315 £25 ppn Rooms with 3, 4 and 8 beds. Facilities include: self catered kitchen dining room, free wifi, tiny community bar downstairs.

• Arran Sleep Huts - Altachorvie, Lamlash KA27 8LQ next to Arran Lodge ☎ +44 1770 600468 Check-in: 14:00 / Check-out: 10:00 £40 ppn Open February - October.
• Lochranza Youth Hostel - SYHA | Lochranza KA27 8HL 55.70278, -5.28823 ☎ +44 1770 830631 Dorms from £20 ppn, superior Muslim friendly rooms from £90 per room Open March-October. Hostel with 13 rooms, 6 en-suite. With large self catering kitchen, 2 dining rooms and 2 guest lounges, laundry facilities, a drying room, cycle storage is available. There are 2 computers and wifi available, £3 an hour.

Camping Places

In addition to the sites below and there are many quiet places where you can wild camp legally, thanks to the Right to Access laws].

• Middleton's Caravan & Camping Park - Cuddy Dook Cordon, Lamlash KA27 8NQ ☎ +44 1770 600251 (March - Sep), +44 1770 600634 (October - Feb) - Good facilities, but very midgey at times!

• Seal Shore Campsite - Kildonan KA27 8SE 12 miles south of Brodick ☎ +44 1770 820320 Tent £9 ppn, Camping pod or gypsy caravan £35 ppn Open March-October. Lovely site with its own private beach where seals haul out. 2 camping pods and a gypsy caravan sleep 2, The site has a small shop where the site owner, a fisherman, sells his catch, and a few basic grocery items. There's a hotel with public bar close by. Decent purpose-built toilet/shower block, laundry facilities, and a covered BBQ area.

• Lochranza Caravan and Camping Site - Lochranza 55.7001, -5.2766 Opposite distillery ☎ +44 1770 830273 (calls between 09:00 and 19:00 if feasible) Check-in: 14:00-20:00 / Check-out: Small tent £9 ppn Open from Easter to Oct 21. Tent pitches and pods. It also has a small shop selling limited goods and a tearoom which sells home baking.

• Glen Rosa Glen Rosa Lane, Brodick KA27 8DF off B880 £5 ppn A quaint campsite with excellent views located a few miles up a paved cart track. No caravans or RVs allowed, but you can make campfires and bring pets. Part of the campsite is prone to flooding.

• Glamping Yurts - Old Manse, Kilmory KA27 8PK follow lane signed for Kilmory Parish church ☎ +44 1770 870515 . What it says on the lid: glamping! In Mongolian Yurts! In Arran!

Hotels

• Auchrannie Resort - Auchrannie Road, Brodick KA27 8BZ north edge of town ☎ +44 1770 302234 Country House Hotel B&B doubles from £150 Offers 3 types of lodging - 5* luxury self-catering lodges, 4* traditional country house hotel and 4* modern spa resort - excellent range of on-site services including 2 swimming pools and extensive health and leisure facilities.

• Lamlash Bay Hotel - Shore Road, Lamlash KA27 6LU 55.53269, -5.12920 next to the Co-op ☎ +44 1770 600844 B&B doubles from £150 3-star hotel. Restaurant / bistro with Pizzas oven, does takeaway, open daily 17:00-20:30.

• Glenisle Hotel - Lamlash KA27 8LY 55.53392, -5.12769 on prom ☎ +44 1770 600559 B&B double from £140 3 star hotel, also has Bistro (daily to 20:30) and bar (to 23:00).

• Corrie Hotel - Shore Road, Corrie KA27 8JB ☎ +44 1770 810273 B&B double from £100 . Good 2-star lodging, bar is open to non-residents.

• Lochranza Hotel - Lochranza KA27 8HL 55.70539, -5.29755 ☎ +44 1770 830223 B&B doubles from £60 3-star offering varied lodging all en suite. Good value home-cooked bar food, Snacks, teas, coffees etc. The bar has a enviable selection of Scotch - they may still have some Easan Biorach 15 Year Old, produced at the nearby distillery as a limited edition for the hotel.

• Catacol Bay Hotel Catacol KA27 8HN 55.69597, -5.32589 on shore road 2 miles west of Lochranza ☎ +44 1770 830231 B&B double £35-65 Pub with basic rooms. Extensive food list with local dishes at decent prices. They also offer a Sunday Buffet. This property is for sale.

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• Clisham B&B - Pirnmill KA27 8HP 55.64484, -5.38185 ☎ +44 1770 850294 B&B double from £75 3-star guest house, open March - October.

• Best Western Kinloch Hotel - Blackwaterfoot KA27 8ET 55.50175, -5.33254 ☎ +44 1770 860444 . 3-star, recently refurbished. With indoor swimming swimmingpool and great food. 2 Bars. Food is available 12:00-20:30 daily.

• Blackwaterfoot Lodge - Blackwaterfoot KA27 8EU ☎ +44 1770 860202 Open Easter thru Sept.

Self-catering

Lots available dotted along the shore road.

• Firth Cottage - Shannochie KA27 8SJAt the south tip of the island ☎ +44 7767 225958 Check-in: 16:00 / Check-out: 10:30 A secluded self-catering cottage with stunning views over the sea and Ailsa Craig. No pets.

Telecommunications in Isle of Arran

Why on earth would anyone need the internet, when the island's newspaper Arran Banner comes out every Friday? But just in case, Mobile and Wifi access is decent on the ferry from Ardrossan and around the main settlements of Brodick, Lamlash and Whiting Bay. It becomes patchy further out, and (as of mid-2018) on the west side beyond Blackwaterfoot it’s barely one bar - you'll manage a call but not internet. Enquire ahead about signal strength at your lodging. If it’s poor, will your life unravel, or will you finally discover what holidays are meant to be like?

Places with public internet and Wifi in Brodick include:

• Library (open Tuesday 10:00-17:00, Thursday Friday 10:00-19:30 and Saturday 10:00-13:00) and the Arran Store just outside the ferry terminal.

• Computer Shop Brodick To the east of the main Co-op ☎ +44 1770 830343 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00, Saturday 09:00-12:30 . This shop offers a range of computing goods and internet access (£1/hr), also good if you run short of a fuse as nowhere else on the island seems to sell them.

Out of town try the Auchrannie Resort (08:00-late 7 days a week) and the Best Western Kinloch Hotel in Blackwaterfoot and the Lochranza Hotel.

STD code for the island is 01770. There are Post Offices in Brodick, Lamlash, Whiting Bay, Pirnmill and Blackwaterfoot. The village halls in Lochranza and Kilmory and the Kildonan Hotel offer a limited Post Office service on certain days.

Stay Safe

Arran is very safe. There’s the expected list of hazards (road traffic, water safety, hill-walking especially if the weather closes in and the occasional aggressive drunk and theft, and so on) but less so than most other places. Common nuisances, here as elsewhere in western Scotland, are sunburn, midge bites, blisters and hypothermia, sometimes all on the same day.

Consider however: you are going to be on an island with no air service. In bad weather the ferries could be cancelled for days. Have you got enough of your regular medications, and how close is your partner to going into labour?

There are three pharmacies on Arran: in Brodick (+44 1770 302250), in Lamlash (+44 1770 600275) and in Whiting Bay (+44 1770 700584). They are all closed on Sundays.

Be reassured that if there is an emergency and the blue-light services and first responders will be well-equipped to deal with it. Don’t be put off coming because you’ve got a dicky heart or similar.

In case of emergency, call 999.

Consider HTTPS://WWWW.Wrranmedical.co.uk/training-info/advice-for-visitors/ this advice for temporary residents (including tourists).

Travel Next

Simple choice: you either return to the mainland via Brodick, or you cross to Argyll via Lochranza.

Returning by the usual route on the Brodick-Ardrossan ferry and the complete range of destinations lies before you. Close to Ardrossan visit Ayr with its Robert Burns associations, and other Ayrshire sights such as Culzean Castle. Further north and east are Glasgow and Edinburgh: you can’t not see them. Heading south, see Dumfries on the road to England. Note also that if you’re heading for Ireland, you must come this way, as there isn’t a ferry from Argyll.

The path less trodden is via the Lochranza-Claonaig ferry into Argyll. This opens up some intriguing itineraries. Close to Claonaig, within range of a day-trip from Arran, are Skipness (miles 2.5 and its castle, and Tarbert (miles 10). Stretching south for miles 40 is the Kintyre peninsula, with the Mull seemingly almost within shouting distance of [[Northern Ireland. From Tarbert there’s a ferry to the Cowan peninsula, a scenic route back to Glasgow, or drive up the west coast of Scotland to Oban, Skye and beyond. Also from Kennacraig a few miles west of Tarbert, ferries run to Islay (which gets you to Jura), and to Colonsay. If you want Hebrides (which in Arran you didn’t get), find them here.

If you don’t have your own wheels, be aware that facilities at Claonaig comprise a bus shelter, a re-cycling bin, and a lane leading away into the hills, and that’s all. Five minutes after landing and the vehicles have all sped away, and it’s a very lonely place. Relying on public transport in Argyll will demand boundless patience and endurance. West Coast Motors run the 926 bus from Glasgow to Tarbert and Campbeltown (five per day, via the A83 primary street five miles away) and the thrice-daily 448 bus from Lochgilphead to Tarbert, Claonaig and Skipness; neither runs on Sunday. With your own vehicle, touring is easy but Satnav users beware: there are at least 3 places in Scotland called “Tarbert” and one called “Tarbet” (from Gaelic An Tairbeart, a place where you can drag boats from one body of water to another). You’ll be wanting the one that’s 10 miles north on A83, not the one on the Isle of Gigha, nor the one 50 miles away near Loch Lomond, nor the one 250 miles away on the Isle of Harris.

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