The north is ruggedly mountainous and sparsely populated, the south softer in landscape and home to the majority of the 4, people who live here. For accommodation on Arran see the links in the "See and Stay" menu above. See the map below for an outline of Arran and links to connecting areas. The ferry from Ardrossan docks at Brodick, which provides a good base for exploring Arran.
There are tourist facilities in the town and Brodick is home to one of Arran's many golf courses. It also boasts Brodick Castle, set in parkland two miles to the north. En route to the castle you pass the excellent Isle of Arran Heritage Museum. The roads on Arran are easily described. The main road, the A, circumnavigates the island, staying fairly close to the coast as it does so.
In addition a road, known as "The String Road" climbs over the middle of the island from Brodick west to Blackwaterfoot, and a minor road cuts diagonally across the south end of the island. Almost all Arran's settlements and many of its visitor attractions lie on or close to the main road round the island, so it makes sense to describe Arran in terms of a clockwise tour around it on the A If you head for three miles south of south from Brodick, you climb through heavily wooded countryside before descending into Lamlash.
This is Arran's "capital" and its largest village, being home to the council offices, hospital and secondary school. Renting boats, mini golf, bike hire, fishing, bowling, supermarkets and other shops can be found here.
A trip to Holy Island is possible from Brodick only in the season. The Paddle Steamer Waverley occasionally visits Brodick. Brodick Castle is located near the village of Brodick and is one of the finest castles in Scotland. A fortress has been on the site since the fifth century, being destroyed or demolished and rebuilt several times.
The present castle originates from Oliver Cromwell occupied the castle briefly and added some extensions. The Hamilton family acquired the castle shortly after. A picture of the castle appears on the back of twenty pound notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
The Hamiltons made some major changes to the castle and became what it is today. Remarkable fact are the almost 90 heads of deer that were brought to the castle as a hunting trophy and can be found on the wall along the main stairs. In , the Duchess of Montrose daughter of the 12th Duke of Hamilton gifted the castle to the nation, in order to avoid substantial inheritance tax liabilities on her death.
The castle is now owned by the National Trust of Scotland. The castle is open to the public, as are the grounds. It is also home to the art collection of 18th century author William Beckford of Fonthill whose daughter married the 10th Duke of Hamilton. The gardens of Brodick Castle are very nice laid out and should be included in a visit to the castle.
The castle is open daily from April to October 11am — 4. The Country Park is open all year round every day from 9.
Goat Fell is the highest point on the Isle of Arran. Due to the popularity of Arran, Goat Fell is a very popular peak and there are many possible routes of ascent, some of which may be combined with visits to the summits of other nearby peaks. The most commonly used route, a constructed path of just under 5 km in length, starts from near Brodick Castle in Cladach.
Initially the path leads up through the forested grounds of the castle, passing many rhododendron bushes. Above m above sea level the path leaves the forestry, and the route continues through bare moor land, reaching the summit by way of the east ridge of the mountain.
There is a viewpoint table at the summit: on a clear day Ireland may be seen. It is impossible to believe that everyone had a dry landing! Previously the southend had the greatest density but now there was a swing towards Brodick and Lamlash. A visitor to Brodick complained that it took fifteen enquiries to find accommodation and that the rents were enormous. Lochranza was finally connected, in , to Sannox and so to Brodick by the Bouguillie Road. Many islanders were still living in poverty and many emigrated.
The arm of the law reached out to Arran and in the first policeman stepped off the ferry, hopefully onto dry land! These villages buzzed with activity as the graceful Clyde steamers docked and unloaded holidaymakers, cattle, sheep and horses, but it was not until that the first car was landed on Arran.
Education became compulsory between the ages of 5 and They were eventually granted security of tenure in High tech appeared in the form of a telephone connection between Brodick Castle and Dougarie Lodge and by there was a mainland link. After the death of the 12th Duke of Hamilton, in , many restrictions regarding building were lifted and new homes promptly sprang up.
In Brodick Castle installed a private turbine to provide electricity, but it was , before the Arran Light and Power Company brought electric power to Arran with Brodick being the first village to benefit. To encourage tourism a Guide Book was published and an ecological scare occurred when a stranded oil tanker leaked benzine at Bennan Head.
Charabancs appeared on the roads taking visitors on tours of Arran and tractors appeared on the farms. After the war tourism revived. Each village had its own Tourist Officer. The boats were met by numerous bus companies serving different parts of the island.
Each bus company had it own colours and the piers were a colourful melee of buses and visitors. Few cars came to the island and those that did were driven on to the deck of the steamer via two wooden planks.
Prior to that, on the island, various changes took place — The Arran High School took its first pupils in , and Brodick, Lamlash and Whiting Bay got street lighting. This ferry proved to be too large for the pier at Fairlie, which had, because of its sheltered position, been the mainland winter destination for the Arran boats, calling at Keppel, Cumbrae, on the way.
Fairlie, apart from the actually berthing area, was a covered pier, the wooden building providing welcome shelter on the walk to the train. A very good idea. The introduction of car ferries changed the holiday pattern. More visitors brought their cars, stayed shorter times and moved on. Previously families had taken homes for a month, sometimes two, and the minimum was two weeks.
Arran was very much a family holiday destination. In , in Brodick alone, there were almost a hundred properties, ranging from hotel, guesthouse, self-catering to Bed and Breakfast on offer to the visitor. Arran has adapted to the shift in holiday patterns, there are fewer self-catering properties but the standard is higher, and there are more activities provided.
Indoor sports facilities, coastal paths, outdoor adventure courses are now on offer in addition to the traditional ceilidhs, concerts and Highland Games.
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