Fairy Dell walk from Lochranza

The Fairy Dell walk is an excellent 4 mile low level walk suitable for families starting at Lochranza. There is always a good chance of seeing wildlife including seals and red deer.

Fairy Dell Cottage

Distance 4 miles - Start and finish at Lochranza
Height gain 75M
Road, paths and coastal track. Muddy in places.

The Fairy Dell walk goes along the North shore of Loch Ranza which can be excellent for birdlife. Curlews, oystercatchers and redshanks are plentiful and depending upon time of year red breasted mergansers may also be seen. Arran is a site of national importance for this bird.

If it is low tide, seals may often be seen basking on the rocks at the end of the loch. For the fortunate a sight of an otter is a possibility.

After the road ends the walk continues as a path which can be muddy in places.

Look out for a couple of posts and a small stone circle (it's a recent creation). Close to this on the sea rocks is 'Hutton's Unconformity' where 2 different types of rocks are layered. The lower vertical layer is schist and the upper horizontal layer is sandstone. From this discovery the 18th century geologist James Hutton realised that the earth was much older than had previously been thought. This discovery was regarded as the geological equivalent of Darwins 'origin of species'

Eventually you will reach the remote Fairy Dell cottage where the path climbs the hill and returns around the hill. En route you will pass The Whins Cottage the home of Arran Stonemen. Why not call in and buy a souvenir of your visit.

View Fairy Dell Walk in a larger map

Fairy Dell Walk

• The walk can be started anywhere in Lochranza
• Look out for a road near the Church turning to the North Shore of the Loch
• Follow this road around the golf course and along the side of the loch. At low tide there may be seals basking on the rocks.
• At the end of the road continue along a path which becomes grassy and muddy in places.

Walk Signs

• About 1 mile from the end of the road you will come to ‘Fairy Dell’ Cottage
• Just before the cottage take the small track which twists and turns up the hill before leveling out
• Continue along the track and reach the end of a minor unsealed road
• Continue along the road passing a few cottages and you will soon reach Whin Cottage the home of the Arran Stoneman maker. Why not call in and pick up a souvenir of your holiday or enjoy a snack.
• Continue along the road which now descends and then reaches the North Newton Shore Road
• Turn left and rejoin your outward route back to the main road.