A Day Around Northern Arran
Written by Graeme Johncock
Scotland has lots of islands, but none quite like the Isle of Arran. Nestled in the Firth of Clyde, it’s somewhere that I feel the excitement building as the ferry crosses over. Arran has a wee bit of everything including distilleries, castles, stone circles, waterfalls and important wildlife. The Highland Boundary Line even divides the island into Highlands and Lowlands. No wonder the Isle of Arran is known as Scotland in Miniature! There’s so much to see on Arran that it can’t be done in a single day, but if you only have 24 hours, I would explore the northern half of the island!
Brodick Castle
Start your day exploring Arran at one of its most impressive sites! Run by the National Trust for Scotland, Brodick Castle was once a lavish home for the powerful Hamilton family. At its core, the building dates back to the 1200s, but you wouldn’t think it today. Brodick was doubled...
North Glen Sannox Waterfall Walk
Time to stretch the legs with one of the most underrated waterfall walks in Scotland, somewhere that in my opinion rivals the beauty of the Fairy Pools of Skye. The first of the North Glen Sannox Falls are reached quickly from the car park and the further you go, the...
Lochranza Distillery
Walking on Arran works up a thirst and there’s no better place to quench it than at the Lochranza Distillery. Even if you don’t have time for a tour or tasting around the award-winning distillery, you can enjoy a dram or two in the bar. That’ll put some warmth back...
Lochranza Castle
The northernmost castle on Arran is a picturesque ruin, built by the MacSweens in the 13th century to guard the Kilbrannan Sound. It’s almost entirely surrounded by water and on a clear day, when the sun is shining, the reflections are stunning. The door is usually open for visitors to...
Lunch At The Sandwich Station
Located near the northern ferry on Arran, the tiny Sandwich Station makes impossibly good sandwiches. If the 5-spice slow roast pork is an option, I’d highly recommend it!
The Sailor's Grave
This tiny spot on the northwest of Arran is easily missed, but a pile of stones beside a layby marks the Sailor’s Grave. The story goes that in 1854, residents of Lochranza and nearby Catacol refused to let a sailor who had died at sea be buried in their graveyards...
Machrie Moor Stone Circles
There aren’t many standing stones as easily recognisable as Machrie Moor. After around half an hour of walking from the car park, you reach an incredible ceremonial landscape. There are dozens of standing stones, burial cairns and hut circles dating back thousands of years. Legend says that they were created...
King's Cave
The west coast of the island is littered with sea caves, but there’s one that’s more important than the rest! That’s King’s Cave and it’s said to be where Robert the Bruce hid during the winter of 1306. Nobody knows for sure if it’s true, but Arran has always been...
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