We recently visited the beautiful Isle of Arran off the West Coast of Scotland despite growing up in Scotland I had not yet managed to visit an Island. So we planned a wee two day visit to Arran, we choose Arran as its easy to get to and known to be great for food and scenery.
It was fun taking the car ferry over from Ardrossan with the kids and exploring the little Island, it really is like Scotland in miniature with mountains, great beaches, cute little towns and villages, and a historic castle.
Arran has a long history dating back as far as 7000 BC and has influences from many invaders and rulers over the centuries such as the Irish, the English, the Vikings and the Celts also various clans. It has always had a small population and it dwindled in the 1800's with the highland clearances and many set sail for America. Most of the folks on the Island are now are involved in Tourism and many are from other countries the locals often leave to find work in other places. The Dukes of Hamilton used the castle up until the 1950's and hunted on the island. With the introduction of a regular ferry service in the early 20th century it started to gain popularity as a holiday destination and it remains this way to this day.
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| A farmer bringing the cows in for the day, just up the road from the creamery , home to the Worlds best cheddar, it recently won an international award for its aged cheddar |
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| Fishing boats Kildonan |
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| Whiting Bay |
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| Brodick Castle dating from 1588 |
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| The amazing castle gardens |
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| A beautiful mountain stream flowing into the sea |
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| mountains in the distance Brodick |
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| Lamlash |
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| Looking out over Holy Isle, you can take a ferry to this Island, where there is a Buddhist Monastery |
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| An old ship wreck |
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| pretty garden complete with palm trees the Island enjoys mild weather, although rainy as its in the gulf stream |
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