Arran

March 2025

Whenever you talk about Arran, you must mention that it is “Scotland in Miniature”

Day One

Detour and Ferry Cancellation – 28/03/25

We were meant to arrive on Arran on the 28th of March, staying at a hostel near Lochranza. That was the plan, anyway. But in classic CalMac fashion, the ferry from Troon was cancelled at the last minute. The only alternative that evening was from Claonaig, but we’d have never made it in time for the last sailing.

With all the Troon ferries booked up the next day, we had to rethink fast. After checking maps and accomodation options, we booked a cheap hotel in Arrochar and decided to drive to Claonaig the next morning. It wasn’t what we’d expected, but the detour meant we got to see a tiny bit of Arrochar.

Arrochar and the hotel were a bit shite to be honest. I have never seen so much litter on a beach. That’s why the 2nd photo is cropped. But it meant we were half way to Claonaig.

Planned and Diverted Journey Routes

Day Two

Arrival at Arran and Rainy Driving – 29/03/25

We set off early from Arrochar, weaving our way through the roads behind some slow twat driver. Thankfully, the crossing from Claonaig was smooth, and within no time we were stepping wheels onto Arran. We spent the rest of the day doing a full loop of the island, taking the scenic route clockwise.

Our first stop was Lochranza – a cosy village with a ruined castle right on the shore. It looked especially dramatic in the grey light. But naturally, the weather was shite most of the day. After a wander, we carried on to Brodick, where I had a quick stroll around the castle grounds.

I stumbled upon a squirrel hide tucked away in the woods and, to my surprise, actually spotted a squirrel – the first of the trip so far. These are by far the best photos i have taken of a red squirrel.

From there, we continued south toward Lamlash, all the way round past Blackwaterfoot, rain still pouring for most of the drive. By evening we made it back to the hostel in Lochranza, unpacked, and were greeted by a bit of luck – the rain had cleared. I decided to end the day with a peaceful walk around the village. Several deer sat in an empty golf course, completely unbothered as I passed. The hostel was blissfully quiet. No snorers (for me, anyway), and I basically had the room to myself.

Day Three

Sunny, yeah? – 30/03/25

After the rain-soaked previous day, we woke up to the sun. We headed south toward Whiting Bay, where I set off on a walk to King’s Cross Point. The path was quiet and scenic, with views out to sea, and I ended up chatting away with a local dog walker who joined me for a good stretch of it. He was a proper friendly type. Should’ve got a selfie really.

Afterwards, we explored Auchenhew Wood, a forest trail just nearby. Hidden among the trees was a curious little “forest library”, a wholesome but underwhelming touch. We stopped by the café there for a bite, but the experience was… mixed. They were understaffed, and a portion of chips set us back £5.50. See bonus pics for chip tragedy.

Later in the afternoon, we drove west for the King’s Cave walk. It’s a beautiful coastal loop, full of dramatic views. It had unusual rock formations that are perfect for any rock-lover. There’s also a bit of historical stuff about Robert the Bruce and a spider having an inspirational moment in one of the caves. Total nonsense, but still a lovely walk.

After these walks, we drove to the Drift Inn at Lamlash and sat outside. Here, we had great views of Holy Island as the sun set.

Day Four

More squirrels and departure – 31/03/25

Our final morning on Arran started with a bit of magic – just as we were loading up the car, a red squirrel appeared, climbing straight down a tree trunk beside the hostel. Totally unplanned, and a brilliant moment to send us off.

Before catching the ferry, we both took one last wander around the castle grounds. The castle itself was, naturally, still closed for the winter. It was set to open the very next day, of course. But all was forgiven when we returned to the squirrel hide and, like clockwork, another red squirrel showed up. Even better, it appeared the second a miserable twat with a comically oversized lens gave up and walked off. That’s what you get for being a knobhead.

The ferry back to Troon gave us stunning views across the bay. A calm and scenic end to the trip. That said, I wouldn’t go out of your way to visit Troon itself.