Did you know
Nothing taken.
Lamlash Bay has a No Take Zone, and the COAST centre was set up to show it to visitors.
Isle of Arran
COAST Discovery Centre
A free marine visitor centre on the shore at Lamlash, run by the charity COAST, with tanks of local sea life and the story of Arran's protected seas.
Welcome
On the shore at Lamlash, the old white pavilion now holds the COAST Discovery Centre, a free visitor centre about the sea around Arran.
Visited and photographed by Simon Hird
It is run by COAST, a local charity working to protect the island's waters, including the No Take Zone in Lamlash Bay, and it is the first community-led visitor centre in a Marine Protected Area in the UK.
Inside, tanks hold creatures from the shore and the bay, and displays explain what lives in Arran's protected seas, where fish comes from and how the climate is changing the ocean. A big map shows the South Arran Marine Protected Area, and there is plenty for children to look at and touch.
The centre opens every day from ten until four, and entry is free. There is a small gift shop, tea, coffee and local ice cream, and the building is accessible from the roadside gate.
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Before you go
Open every day, 10am to 4pm.
Free entry.
- Where
- Old Pavilion, Lamlash.
- Cost
- Free.
- Run by
- The charity COAST.
Opening hours
- Monday
- 10am–4pm
- Tuesday
- 10am–4pm
- Wednesday
- 10am–4pm
- Thursday
- 10am–4pm
- Friday
- 10am–4pm
- Saturday
- 10am–4pm
- Sunday
- 10am–4pm
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Add your reviewDid you know
Did you know
A first for the UK.
The COAST Discovery Centre was the first community-led visitor centre in a Marine Protected Area in the UK.
Hidden Scotland
From our guide to Arran
In the old white pavilion on the shore at Lamlash, the COAST Discovery Centre tells the story of the sea around Arran. It is run by COAST, a local charity that looks after the island's waters, including the No Take Zone in Lamlash Bay, where fishing has been banned since 2008. It was the first community-led visitor centre in a Marine Protected Area in the UK. Tanks hold creatures from the shore and the bay, and there is plenty for children to look at and touch. Entry is free, and there is local ice cream too.
Read moreWhat is on
What is new across Arran, day by day.
New places, news and stories, as we find them.
What is on on ArranWhere it is
In the Old Pavilion on the shore at Lamlash, KA27 8LS.
Close byLamlash.
Brodick BayThe beach at Brodick, up the coast.4 miles 6 min by road
The Parlour, BrodickA little pizzeria and ice cream parlour on Brodick's shore road, baking stone-baked, hand-thrown pizzas and serving Arran ice cream.4 miles 7 min by road
The French Fox, BrodickA French takeaway in Brodick, which began in a vintage van and now cooks from One Auchrannie Road, with confit, moules and tartiflette.4 miles 7 min by road
Isle of Arran Heritage MuseumThe island's past near Brodick.5 miles 8 min by road
ARRAN Sense of ScotlandThe island's bath, body and home fragrance maker, founded in 1989 and still making its products at Home Farm near Brodick, with a shop.5 miles 9 min by road
Glenashdale FallsA double waterfall above Whiting Bay.5 miles 25 min by road
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Scotland, in print.
We want to show you the best that Scotland has to offer. The makers and the creatives, the enduring experiences, the evocative tales, the concealed corners. The roads less travelled that take you to places that matter. The adventures that gather you up and sweep you away. The blend of the wild and the artistic that makes Scotland what it is. We’d love for you to join us.
Read on
What we have written about it and more on Arran.
Find out more
For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .
- COAST Discovery CentreOpening and facilities.lamlasharran.co.ukLamlash↗
- COAST on GoogleDirections.google.comGoogle↗
- Jess MacDonald BrassA jeweller who gives to COAST.jessmacdonaldbrass.comJess MacDonald Brass↗
- Glen Sannox and the east coastBeaches up the coast.scotlandfarandnear.co.ukScotland Far and Near↗