Travel Information

ON ARRANFrom Brodick Pier, turn left towards Lamlash. At the foot of the steep hill past the Lamlash Golf club, the road sweeps round to the right but there is a left turn along "Shore road".About ¾ mile along shore road, just past the last house there is a left hand turn. Take this route signposted "Dunfion" & "Brodick". There is a sign for Oakbank Farm, follow this drive up and into the block paved car park. A train and bus service from Glasgow connects directly with the Arran Ferry. You are advised to book cars in advance (definitely during peak holiday times). Alternatively, a small car ferry runs between Lochranza and Kintyre during the summer months. BY LAND From England just head towards Carlisle and then follow signs for Kilmarnock and Ayr once you have crossed the Scottish Border.The scenic Galloway Tourist Toute along the A713 is a beautiful alternative to the main roads. From the north, just head south towards Glasgow and pick up the M77/A77.

One ferry leaves from Ardrossan on the west coast of Scotland.There is another ferry in the summer that leaves from Cloanaig to Lochranza in the North of Arran. www.calmac.co.uk Tel +44 0870565000

Prestwick International Airport is situated in the heart of Ayrshire and Glasgow International Airport is only an hour to drive from Glasgow. Ryanair is the main airline flying into Prestwick with a number of direct flights from London and Europe, other airlines also use this route. Check the contacts below for further information. Ryanair website - www.ryanair.com Glasgow Prestwick International Airport - www.gpia.co.uk tel +44 (0)1292 511000

There are main train stations at Ayr, Prestwick, Prestwick Airport and Kilmarnock. Main line trains leave from Glasgow Central Station Direct to Ardrossan Harbour.(Glasgow Central station is where the London Sleeper service connects).For further information please contact: ScotRail - www.firstscotrail.co.uk tel +44 (0)8457 484950 JOURNEY TIMES: Aberdeen 3 hours 30 minutes Glasgow 45 minutes Edinburgh 1 hours 40 minutes Manchester 4 hours London 7 hours

OUR LINKS

Some recommendations of ways to spend your time, places to visit or attractions to explore when you visit the magical Isle of Arran

LINKS

Ferry Travel

Auchrannie Leisure

Arran Coastal Way

Arran Mountain Festival

Brodick Castle

Lochranza Distillery

Machrie Stones

Holy Isle

Arran Coast

Golf on Arran (7 courses)

Music on Arran

ABOUT ARRAN

Isle of Arran

The Isle of Arran (Scots Gaelic: Eilean Arainn) is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. The island is sometimes referred to as "Scotland in miniature", as it is divided into "Highland" and "Lowland" areas by the Highland Boundary Fault which runs northeast to southwest across Scotland. The 90 kilometres (56 mile) long coastal road circumnavigates the island. Two other roads traverse the Island.

There are lots of outdoor activities: hillwalking, cycling, climbing, paragliding. There is the distillery, brewery, Brodick Castle the Heritage Museum and numerous art and craft outlets, cafes, bars and restaraunts. The Auchrannies spa and swimming pool, Arran Aromatics and the Chocolate shop.
There has been continuous habitation since the early Neolithic period, from which time on there are numerous prehistoric remains. Several Bronze Age sites have been excavated, including "Ossian's Mound" near Clachaig and a cairn near Blackwaterfoot.Standing stones are scattered over the Island from prehistoreic times. Brodick Castle played a prominent part in the island's medieval history.

There is diversity of wildlife on Arran. Over 200 species of bird have been recorded on Arran including including Black Guillemot, Eider, Peregrine Falcon and the Golden Eagle.

Red Deer are numerous on the northern hills, and there are populations of Red Squirrel, Badger, Otter, Adder and Common Lizard.

Offshore there are Harbour Porpoises, Basking Sharks and various species of dolphin.

The profile of the north Arran hills as seen from the Ayrshire coast is a well-known sight referred to as the "Sleeping Warrior" due to its resemblance to a resting human figure.

The highest of these hills is Goat Fell at 873.5 metres (2,866 ft). There are three other Corbetts all in the north east; Caisteal Abhail, Cìr Mhòr and Beinn Tarsuinn.

Oakbank Farm is conveniently situated about one mile from Lamlash, the second largest village on Arran. Lamlash is a picturesque village with a large bay over looking Holy isle.
Lamlash is the home of Arran's Hospital, High School, Council Offices, Coast Guard station, Police Station and has it's own Fire station. There is a well stocked Co-op and a General Dealer / Newsagent, a Post Office, Chemist, Butchers, Jeweler's and a hand made craft shop. Both the Bank of Scotland and Royal Bank of Scotland's, Bank buses stop here.
There are some very fine walks all around Lamlash and going through the forestry land. A regular bus service runs through Lamlash to either Brodick and the North End, or Whiting Bay to the South End. Lamlash Bay has the first Scottish No take zone to protect it's coastal waters and allow fish to breed.