Isle of Arran

[Don Madge]

Is the Isle of Arran worth a visit?

We have to get from the west coast of Scotland (North Ayrshire) to Campbeltown some time in the next week or so.

Option 1 Ferry via Arran Ardrossan - Brodick and Claonaig - Lochranza.

Option 2 Ferry via Gourock - Dunoon.

Option 3 Drive all the way, would like to avoid this if possible.

Any info on Arran, camp sites, wild parking spots would be most welcome.

I assume the ferries will be heavily used at this time of the year. I've checked out the ferry details, costs etc but any additional info will be a big help.

We leave on Monday morning 30th July.

Don

 

[PaulC]

Hi

Arran is worth visiting. It's quite small it could take only an hour to drive around it, but is worth exploring. The west side of the island is more wild and I believe there are recommendation on this site for suitable places. There is a campsite at Loch Ranza in the north.

 

[swingsandroundabouts]

We loved the Isle of Arran. Look out for the deer on Lochranza beach .
We have spent a minimum of 3 nights each time we visited and never had a problem getting a spot on the ferry from Ardrossan. The ferry at lochranza is a 'first come,first served' type, you take position in the numbered lanes,ferry fills up and it just runs continuously.

While we have visited the island we wildcamped in the north and stayed on a Cl in the south, the scenery is lovely from all over the island.

The standing stones were on the west coast of the Island.
The picture of the motorhomes are of us waiting for the Lochranza ferry to arrive.
The picture of us in a 'field' is the CL

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l93/swingsandroundabouts/scotlandhighlandsandislandstourj-1.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l93/swingsandroundabouts/IMAG0287.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l93/swingsandroundabouts/IMAG0282.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l93/swingsandroundabouts/IMAG0256.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l93/swingsandroundabouts/scotlandhighlandsandislandstourj-2.jpg

 

[guest]

swingsandroundabouts

they are great pics..looks very nice there..sammx

 

[cipro]

Hi

Arran is worth visiting. It's quite small it could take only an hour to drive around it, but is worth exploring. The west side of the island is more wild and I believe there are recommendation on this site for suitable places. There is a campsite at Loch Ranza in the north.

Hi Paul are the roads quite narrow on Arran, also told that wild camping has been made more difficult to do because of sites complaining about loss of fees. PS could of been another island though

All the best Tim.

 

[PaulC]

Hi

It's a while since I've actually been to Arran, but I don't think the majority of the main roads are on the small side, perhaps the ones cutting across the island are(?). Could the island kicking a fuss up about "wilding" be Lewis or Harris?

 

[swingsandroundabouts]

Thanks Samm

Thanks for that Samm but they do not compare with the shots of your adventures!

 

[Karmann]

As mentioned the west cost of Arran has some wild camping spots. Take the ferry to Lochranza to Clonaig the east coast of Kintyre is worth exploring then travel to Tarbert, you can stop overnight at the ferry port. From there get the ferry to Cowal - you may be able to stop at Otter Ferry with permission from the hotel. From Colintraive on cowal you can take the ferry to Bute a lovely Island and you can stop at either Etrick or St Ninians Bay. A short drive to Rothesay get the ferry to Weymss Bay back on the mainland. Hope you get this in time for your journey.

 

[guest]

swingsandroundabouts

Thanks for that Samm but they do not compare with the shots of your adventures!

ah thanks,but dave always says...more photos,ohhh...hhee hhee
i must admit i do love photography but i cant seem to get the scenery pics that some of our other member get mainly due to location...but we are heading up to scotland in september so i will try and get a good few shots up there..yours were fab sammx

 

[swingsandroundabouts]

ah thanks,but dave always says...more photos,ohhh...hhee hhee
i must admit i do love photography but i cant seem to get the scenery pics that some of our other member get mainly due to location...but we are heading up to scotland in september so i will try and get a good few shots up there..yours were fab sammx

Don't forget to order your Avon skin so soft from your local friendly rep. Worked for me this time against the dreaded midge. If you go to the east coast they don't seem to have midges there. It is the west coast that is rife with them. At least with mozzies you can hear the buggers!!

 

[guest]

Don't forget to order your Avon skin so soft from your local friendly rep. Worked for me this time against the dreaded midge. If you go to the east coast they don't seem to have midges there. It is the west coast that is rife with them. At least with mozzies you can hear the buggers!!

oh the dreaded midges....iv heard so much about them..are they really that bad..
we are going ayrshire & dumfries area,sammx

 

[swingsandroundabouts]

One word :- YES

I have tried everything in the past even taking Brewer's yeast tablets, they made me physically sick !!!

Last year when we were on Arran at the CL ( which is where this thread started off ) we had the BBQ going, Boots' mosquito coils going, citronella incense sticks plus insect repellant lotion. It was a beautiful evening and you could see the little peskies everywhere. Fortunately we survived with few bites. There was another van ( high top) on site who were all trussed up inside as they had not brought enough deterrants/repellants. If you haven't any protection the only place is inside and even then they can get in through the tiniest gaps. It is all worth it though

 

[guest]

One word :- YES

I have tried everything in the past even taking Brewer's yeast tablets, they made me physically sick !!!

Last year when we were on Arran at the CL ( which is where this thread started off ) we had the BBQ going, Boots' mosquito coils going, citronella incense sticks plus insect repellant lotion. It was a beautiful evening and you could see the little peskies everywhere. Fortunately we survived with few bites. There was another van ( high top) on site who were all trussed up inside as they had not brought enough deterrants/repellants. If you haven't any protection the only place is inside and even then they can get in through the tiniest gaps. It is all worth it though

sounds great....
scotland & midges here i come...
just found this site..dedicated to midges.. http://www.ihatemidges.co.uk/
hey i will dream of these pesky midges tonight...im off to bed now goodnight...watch the midges dont bite.. sammx

 

[alanval]

oh the dreaded midges....iv heard so much about them..are they really that bad..
we are going ayrshire & dumfries area,sammx

Ayrshire and Dumfries isnt bad for the dreaded midge,The farther north you go the worse they are.Especially near water or in long grass.Avon skin so soft didnt work for us we tried everything when we lived in Lochalsh one thing that did help was called Bug Off not sure if you can still get it.
Val

 

[guest]

Ayrshire and Dumfries isnt bad for the dreaded midge,The farther north you go the worse they are.Especially near water or in long grass.Avon skin so soft didnt work for us we tried everything when we lived in Lochalsh one thing that did help was called Bug Off not sure if you can still get it.
Val

thanks val...for a moment we were thinkin if we should travel to scotland hhee hhee
i suppose the best way is to see for ourselves although we will take protection against the little critters..

 

[alanval]

Strange some people they dont bother .When we were in France alan Hubby. was bitten alive with mozzies as was my sister in law,they were in a right mess spent a fortune at the chemists lol .I didnt get bitten neither did my brother ...must be something in the blood lol alan wasnt amused think he would have prefered me to have been eatebn alive lol We have been home 4 weeks now he still has the scars because he scratched and picked them lol

Val

 

[guest]

Strange some people they dont bother .When we were in France alan Hubby. was bitten alive with mozzies as was my sister in law,they were in a right mess spent a fortune at the chemists lol .I didnt get bitten neither did my brother ...must be something in the blood lol alan wasnt amused think he would have prefered me to have been eatebn alive lol We have been home 4 weeks now he still has the scars because he scratched and picked them lol

Val

yes i agree they go for certain types...i dont normally get bitten but on our recent trip to zante i got bit by mozzies ten times,they itched like mad and i still have scars from the critters..my hubby doesnt get bitten at all...its strange isnt it..maybe its something to do with the blood or skin type..sammx