Why You Should Visit The Isle of Arran
Why Visit the Isle of Arran? Well, if you like the idea of – beautiful coastal landscapes with dramatic mountain backdrops, mysterious woodland areas with unique wildlife, and nibbling on delicious, locally-made chocolates and oatcakes while you experience all these scenic wonders…
Then you and the Isle of Arran may be a match made in heaven!
This isle, which is just a short boat ride away from Scotland’s southwest coast, is a little-known UK getaway spot with to-die-for charm.
Affectionately nicknamed “Scotland in miniature”, with its highland and lowland terrain, authentic Celtic culture, and some of the country’s best Scotch whisky – Arran has everything the whole of mainland Scotland has to offer.
All packed onto one quaint little island gem.
Sounding good so far? Great.
Now, let’s dig deeper into all the reasons why you need to visit Arran ASAP.
1. The Thrills
Ever daydream about thrilling adventure holidays in the middle of a mundane work day? Arran may be the destination for you to make your great escape to.
Kick off your action-packed getaway with an exhilarating paragliding experience as you take to the skies 1000-meters above the awesome coastlines.
And, back on land, you can hike and bike your way around miles-upon-miles of picturesque country trails, some of which will even lead you all the way up to Goatfell’s summit – Arran’s highest mountain peak.
Then, why not round off the excitement by gliding through the beautiful Lamlash Bay waters by canoe or kayak?
2. The Sights and Scenery
Maybe your idea of island exploration is something a little less adrenaline-inducing? If so, no problem!
When you visit Arran, you’ll find dozens of short and medium trails that’ll lead you through thick forests, sandy Scottish beaches, and rolling green hills at a leisurely pace to suit you.
For a dose of Scottish and Viking history, a country park walk up to Brodick Castle is an absolute must – the castle itself has been around since 1510, but the site has had fortresses sitting here since way back in 400AD.
Kildonan beach is a favourite among Arran locals and visitors alike. It’s super sandy, has spectacular views of the mainland, and you may even get to share your afternoon with a cute seal or two!
Which brings us to our next cuddly chapter…
3. The Animals
Why visit the Isle of Arran? Well, if you love animals, this may be the only reason you’ll need.
Scotland has several animal species that you’d seriously struggle to find elsewhere in the UK.
And Arran is home to all of them.
Kick off your animal-watching tour at King’s Cave – the perfect place to do some otter spotting. Then head up to Lochranza hills, where you can watch as pairs of golden eagles swoop majestically over the distillery (an incredible sight that goes down well with a whiskey – but more on that later!).
Any idea what the largest land animal in Britain is? You could probably insert a cheeky joke here about a friend or family member, but the actual answer is the Red Deer. And you can find lots of them running around confidently in many parts of Arran.
Red squirrels can be sighted scurrying across most woodland areas, and different seal species are often seen sunbathing all along Arran’s shoreline.
And you may even be lucky enough to glimpse groups of bottlenose dolphins on your boat ride over from the mainland.
4. The Food and Alcohol
Tasty local treats and top-quality tipples. Two staples of the great British holiday. And Arran has both areas well and truly covered.
Mara Fish Bar is renowned for its fresh-as-can-be seafood, caught straight from the Firth of Clyde waters that surround the isle.
Arran is a great place to devour all kinds of fresh dairy delights. Locally produced cheese is extremely well made here, and the ice cream is fresher than you’re likely to find in any city.
For more desserts, a visit to the Arran Chocolate Factory is an absolute must. And those tasty locally-made Scottish oat cakes? You’ll find them island-wide.
And for drinks…
Why not grab yourself a bottle of award-winning single malt Scotch whiskey at one of the distilleries? There’s one in Lochanza (where a couple of eagles may join you) and another at Lagg.
And if crisp homegrown beer is your bag, you should definitely swing by the Isle of Arran brewery for a wee swig.
Cheers!
5. The Golf
You can’t talk about Scottish country getaways without mentioning one of the nation’s most famous exports. Golf is Scotland’s gift to the sporting world, and as such, it has a ton of golf courses. And the little Isle of Arran has 7 of them.
You’ll have the option to play 9 or 18-hole courses with breathtaking forest, coastal, and mountain views. Or simply ping ball after ball at one of the numerous driving ranges.
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