Arran Villages and Towns

The various Arran villages and towns are scattered around the island, with all but Shiskine being on the coast. To help you plan your visit to the island, these pages give you the information on each of the main places

Photo title

With a total population of less than 5,000 people scattered around the island there are no large places.

We are starting the tour at Brodick and working our way clockwise around the island.

 

Brodick

As the arrival point for the ferry from Ardrossan, Brodick has grown to become the largest place on the island. With a good range of specialty shops, Brodick Castle and the Heritage Museum it is easy to spend a whole day simply exploring.

Brodick is also the hub of the transport system on the island. From here it is possible to catch buses North, South and across the Island.

Lamlash

Lamlash

Set in a wide bay and protected by Holy Island, Lamlash is a beautiful setting.

It has long been a popular tourist destination and can also be considered to be the capital with the hospital, secondary school, council offices and the police station all located here.

From here you can take a boat trip out to explore Holy Isle now owned by a Buddhist Community. They are happy for people to visit but they ask that you respect their privacy as people come here on retreats.

Whiting Bay

Another of the Arran villages which is a popular holiday location, Whiting Bay has a good range of tourist facilities. A popular walk from the village is Glenashdale Falls. The falls drop over 140ft and are especialy spectacular after a few days of rain. Along the walk you will also pass prehistoric site including the remains of a fort,

The beach is a mixture of sand, pebbles and rock pools, perfect for the kids. Whilst for the adults there is an excellent golf course

Kildonan

Ailsa Craig

The most southerly of the Arran villages, Kildonan is easily missed as it is one of the few places not to be on the A841. It is worth the diversion as the village commands excellent views of Pladda Island with its lighthouse and further away the iconic island of Ailsa Craig is unmistakable. The village also has a good beach which can be reached via the steep cliff path

Kilmory

Kilmory is the next village along our route. Whilst only a small place it is the home of the Torylinn Creamery. The village hall is the location for the excellent monthly Farmers Market.

Lagg

Straight after Kilmory you come to Lagg. Situated in a steep valley it is the only one of the Arran villages without a view of the sea, even though it is close by. The Lagg hotel is the main reason for stopping. Built in 1791 it has a beautiful location and serves some great food.

Blackwaterfoot

Blackwaterfoot

Several miles further along the road we finally reach Blackwaterfoot on the west coast. This is the place where all the buses from Brodick terminate before turning round and retracing their journey.

Blackwaterfoot has the longest beach on the island, but it is unlikely that you will find it to be too busy. It's also the best place on the west coast to do any shopping as there is a village store, post office, petrol station and a butcher.

 

Shiskine

The only non-coastal village on the island, Shiskine is still a pleasant place to visit and though not by the sea it still has some wonderful views. Nearby is the Balmichael Visitor Centre where you can have a go at quad biking, have a helicopter ride, try laser shooting or just enjoy the shops and cafe on site.

Machrie

Machrie is a straggle of small settlements but it is worth stopping for a number of reasons. The main interest is the standing stones and stone circles which are scattered around the area. The best of these can be seen on an easy 3 mile walk

There is also a small beach which unusually has a changing hut. Nearby by is an old boathouse and the imposing Dougarie Lodge, formerly the Summer residence of the Duke of Hamilton. Both of these places are now privately owned

Pirnmill

Pirnmill Church

We are now about half way up the west coast on your tour of Arran villages and have arrived at Pirnmill, which takes its name from the mill that used to produce pirns or bobbins used in the Glasgow spinning mills.

The village has a small store, the last one for over 20 miles until you get back to Brodick. Next door is the Lighthouse restaurant (there is no lighthouse) which uses local produce to make some sumptious meals. It has no drinks licence but you can bring your own bottle.

Look out for the tin church. The Church of Scotland church is located in a field and made of corrugated sheets, it also has a bell on a stand outside.

Catacol

A tiny place, but there is still a pub. The Catacol Inn does good food and holds a wide range of special evenings, such as poker and pool tournaments.

The 12 Apostles

Next to the pub are the much photographed 'Twelve Apostles', a row of whitewashed housesbuilt in the 1800's and used for a long time by fishermen. The houses are all the same except for the upstairs windows which are all different shapes and sizes.

The story is that if there was an emergency at one of the houses, they would put a light in the window and the fisherman would know if it was for their house and would return home. A good method long before mobile phones !

Lochranza

We are now at the very top of the island at arguably the prettiest of the Arran villages - Lochranza. This is where the small ferry to Claonaig on the Mull of Kintyre departs from. Guarding the entrance to the loch are the much photographed Lochranza Castle ruins.

For many people Lochranza also has the most important place on the island, the Arran Distillery . A tour is highly recommended and is finished with a wee dram.

Sannox

Sheep Bollard

Continuing South we return to the east coast after climbing over the 600ft Boguillie hill to Sannox. This charming village has lots of white cottages spread along the seafront and a good beach.

Anyone walking along the coast here will see large white posts. These are spaced 1 nautical mile apart and have long been used as a means of measuring a ships speed.

Corrie

Our last stop on the tour of Arran villages is Corrie. A similar village to Sannox it does still have a few points of interest of its own. Look out for the sheep in the harbour, these models are for tying boats to. There is also a sculpture of a seal on one of the rocks. Many people driving by are convinced they have seen a real seal and I still get caught out some days.

Opposite a house called Avertor is the 'Doctors Bath' Created in the rocks next to the beach by a Dr MacRedie who retired here. He believed that bathing in sea water was good for his health.