Things To See And Do On The Isle Of Arran

Situated in the mouth of the Firth of Clyde Arran is commonly referred to as “Scotland in miniature”.  Similar to the country of Scotland the Isle of Arran has varied scenery and an immensely diverse range of flora and fauna, the island features sandy beaches, lochs, rocky coves, glens, moors and even has a lowlands and highlands region. To complete the likeness Arran also has stone circles, a brewery, a distillery, castles, museums and excellent local crafts and produce. Arran is a terrific destination for a vacation, especially for tourist who enjoy rambling or similar. In the article below I introduce Arran attractions and a quick look at Arran hotel accommodation.

Brodick Castle

Brodick Castle is an impressive structure of red sandstone which at one time was owned by the dukes of Hamilton. Situated a distance from the town of Brodick, encompassed by beautiful parks and gardens Brodick Castle sits on the site of an old Viking fortress. Visiting Brodick Castle is a great family day out children will enjoy the adventure playground while older members of the family will be pleased by the castle’s fascinating collection of works of art, silver and porcelain. Expect to spend around 2 hours exploring the castle.

Arran Heritage Museum

Arran Heritage Museum is housed, on the site of a school, in Brodick and opens April-October from 10:30am to 4:30pm. Consisting of a selection buildings; a cottage, farmhouse, smiddy and croft plus laundry, milk house, stable, coach house and harness room and more. Exhibits reflect the geology, social history and archaeology of the Isle of Arran.

Isle of Arran Distillery

Wherever you are situated in Scotland it appears as though are rarely far away from something associated with the whisky industry such as a distillery. The Isle of Arran Distillery uses traditional processes in the newest working distillery in the country. The distillery is open to tourists from April-Oct and it features a restaurant and visitor centre.

Isle of Arran Brewery

The Isle of Arran Brewery is located at the main entrance to Brodick Country Park.  Tourists can view the process of brewing via observation windows and a viewing gallery as well as getting a taste of the end product. The micro-brewery uses the latest high-tech equipment to produce an ale using natural ingredients without artificial preservatives and other additives.

Lochranza Castle

The final Arran attraction I want to introduce is Lochranza Castle located on the North coast. On first looks all you can see is a ruined sixteenth century tower-house but it is possible to gain access to the interior using keys from the Post Office. Once you are inside the L-plan tower you begin to see hints of a grand structure.

Arran Accommodation

Finding the most suitable Arran accommodation shouldn’t be a huge task as hotels on the Isle of Arran can be found in most of the largest villages/towns (Brodick, Lamlash and Blackwaterfoot all have at least 1 hotel as well as guest houses). Establishments to look out for include the Glenisle Hotel and the Lamlash Bay Hotel (in Lamlash), the Auchrannie Spa Resort (in Brodrick,) and the Best Western Kinloch Hotel (in Blackwaterfoot) which all have a reputation of excellence.