Brodick is home to the island’s main ferry terminal. Arran Heritage Museum is a short walk from the village and Brodick Castle is a very popular visitor attraction. See if you can spot Brodick’s standing stones…one is right opposite the school!
The village of Lamlash looks across to beautiful Holy Isle, with breathtaking sunrises all year round. Lamlash is the island’s administrative hub, with Arran War Memorial Hospital, Arran High School and the local authority offices all sited within the village boundaries. You should also note the Clearances Memorial Monument, in front of lovely Hamilton Terrace, and the COAST Marine Discovery Centre at the tennis courts.
Whiting Bay spreads south from Sandbraes, and used to boast the longest pier on the Clyde! There are many routes from the village to one of the island’s most picturesque walks to Glenashdale Falls. The Giants’ Graves can also be accessed from the village. Whiting Bay has traditionally been known as the arts centre for the island.
Kildonan is a quiet little village at the south end of the island, overlooking the tiny island of Pladda. The shores at Kildonan are popular with seals and otters and ‘Silver Sands’ is one of the island’s most beautiful beaches. Passing Shannochie, and right at the bottom of the island you will find Kilmory, home to the island’s newest whisky distillery at Lagg. Kilmory also has a stunning beach – one of our best-kept secrets, so shhhh….
Moving up the west coast, you will come across Sliddery and Corriecravie. These communities, along with those in Kilmory and Shiskine Valley, form the farming heartland of the island, and you can see rolling pastures alongside the sea cliffs as you travel north.
Blackwaterfoot is the largest community on the west of the island, and part of the area known as Shiskine Valley. The village hosts hotels, riding stables, golf, tennis and various local retailers and producers. Another lovely long beach can be accessed here, and you can walk along the shoreline to King’s Caves.
The spread-out community of Machrie may be small, but the area is famed for its past history. As well as the famous Standing Stones on Machrie Moor, look out for the lesser known Auchengallon – and also for the Druid Stone up at the Old Byre! There’s also a lovely forest and cliff walk to King’s Caves.
Moving farther north you will come to Pirnmill. This is the closest village to mainland Kintyre and you can see amazing sunsets over Kilbrannan Sound. You will pass through the little village of Catacol, with its famed Twelve Apostles, known locally as ‘The Row’, before coming into
Lochranza, home to our second ferry terminal and the wonderful Lochranza Distillery (big sister to Lagg Distillery!). Lochranza Castle is also well worth exploring, and you can walk around the coastline here, down to Sannox via the Coastal Way. Sannox & Corrie are twin villages - they share a village hall, a golf course and lots of community spirit! Look out for the seal on the rock at Corrie…