Arran Island

...was early January 2007. I stayed with a friend whose family owns a small holiday cottage in Brodick. (There were 4 of us total.)

The cottage was drafty and at one point it was so windy the electricity went out, so my main experience of Arran was that it was VERY damp and VERY freezing cold. Thankfully there was a pretty well-stocked Co-op supermarket within walking distance from us, because I don’t think there were many options for eating short of take-aways.

We tried a few local pubs in Brodick but since it was a few days after New Years, they were pretty dead and the atmosphere wasn’t exactly lively. We also tried a pub in Whiting Bay, but surprisingly it was filled with mostly English people, which, while not a bad thing, was not what I’d expected either. (The pub quiz was fun though, ignoring the fact we came last!)

Arran is a lovely isle, but I’ve only experienced it on the off-season, so I didn’t get the nicest impression of it. I’d like to see it again someday in the summer, when I can actually hike up to Brodick Castle. But Arran in the dead of January? NOT recommended!

I thought Arran would have the usual touist tac scottishness that in many ways I don’t mind but what I found was a wonderful, exciting little island with beautiful scenery, so many things to do for kids and just a lovely place to be. I can’t wait to go back we even went in the see 3 times in 1 week in June in Scotland now that must be good!

i had a week here with school at 17, and was completely blown away by the beauty of the place. we stayed at lochranza youth centre thingy, and hiked all over the island. it was spring, so the weather wasn’t brilliant, but honest to god, i’d go back again at the drop of a hat. most beautiful place i’ve ever been.
i was dazed for weeks when i got back.

My parents used to run the mothergoose café in whiting bay back in the 70’s and I used to crawl out the back of the house and play with stray cats. I have been back since and enjoyed hill walking. Generally speakng I love islands and would gladly go back again

I loved Arran, cycled round the whole island in no time at all. Went pony trekking and was walking like John Wayne the next day.