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Highlights
The Isle of Arran is a walker’s dream and we are delighted to be able to offer trips to this fabulous island in 2024! Often called Scotland in Miniature, Arran has a mountainous north and more gentle south...along with a bit of everything that makes Scotland so special. Don't be fooled by its location south of Glasgow - the remarkable granite peaks of the Arran mountains stand comparison with the best in the Scottish Highlands. Its southern half contains low, rolling hills and lush farmland, interspersed with ancient archaeological sites, fine waterfalls and excellent coastal hikes. During your holiday you will climb the island's highest mountain, Goatfell (2,867ft, 874m), hike the finest sections of the Arran Coastal Way, visit the remarkable King's Cave (where Robert the Bruce is famously supposed to have met that spider!), see two very different castles, wander amongst Neolithic stone circles and explore the graves of giants. Along the way we will be keeping our eyes open for Arran's abundant wildlife, including golden eagles and red squirrels, both of which are frequently seen on the island. We pack a lot into this week! |
2025 Dates:
Sat 19th - Fri 25th April 7 places left Sat 30th August - Fri 5th September 8 places left How long: 6 nights, 5 days walking Grade: Moderate / Challenging (see our Grading Information page for more details on how we grade our tours) Start: Ardrossan Price: £1,745 Single supplement £160. ***£50 discount for returning clients!*** |
Tour Details
(please note that this schedule may be subject to change depending on weather conditions during the trip).
DAY 1 - TRAVEL TO ARRAN
We will meet at Ardrossan ferry terminal at 11:30am and take the lunchtime ferry over to Brodick. Trains depart for Ardrossan from Glasgow Central station every 30 minutes - the journey takes 45 minutes and takes you right to the ferry terminal.
In the afternoon we will spend a couple of hours hiking through beautiful woods and along forest tracks south of Brodick, a lovely route which will provide our first views of Arran's spectacular mountains.
(Walk details: 6 miles / 9.5km).
DAY 2 - KING'S CAVE & MACHRIE MOOR
For our first full day we will head down to the lovely village of Blackwaterfoot on Arran's south west coast. From here we will set off along a beautiful sandy beach before walking underneath the dramatic basalt columns at Drumadoon Point. Our route continues close to the sea, sometimes rocky, at other times through flower-rich meadows, until we eventually arrive at King's Cave. As well as being famous as the location where Robert the Bruce encountered his spider, this dramatic natural cave is home to some fascinating animal carvings, some of which are thought to date to pre-historic times. After a leisurely lunch we will explore more of this wonderful coastline before returning to Blackwaterfoot and driving to Machrie Moor, where we will be able to wander amongst the finest stone circles in southern Scotland.
(8 miles/15 km).
DAY 3 - BRODICK CASTLE & GLEN ROSA
One of the most enjoyable walks on the Isle of Arran is the loop around Brodick Castle and Glen Rosa. Starting from the centre of the village we will walk the old fisherman's path along the shoreline, admiring the wildflowers and seabirds, before heading up to Brodick Castle. Dating back to the 13th century but heavily rebuilt in 1844, this imposing Scots Baronial castle is surrounded by hundreds of acres of beautifully maintained gardens and a large, wooded country park. We will explore both, admiring the exotic plants and keeping an eye open for the red squirrels that live here, before hiking part way up Glen Rosa, Arran's most beautiful valley.
(7 miles / 11km).
DAY 4 - GOATFELL
A big day, today, as we hike up Goatfell, the highest peak on Arran. It's a long climb - 3.25 miles each way and 2,867ft / 874m of ascent - and we start from sea level, but it is worth the effort! Despite its height, Goatfell can be climbed by anyone with a decent basic level of fitness - like Ben Nevis it attracts all sorts and ages of walkers. You will be surprised at some of the people you see on the way up!
A good path rises steadily from Brodick Castle and takes us first up through attractive woodlands and then across open hillsides all the way to the summit. We will be taking it slowly, with plenty of time for rests, photographs or (if we are lucky) eagle watching. The views from the summit are some of the finest in Scotland and take you into the heart of one of our most dramatic mountain ranges. Beyond the spectacular granite cliffs of the Arran hills the view stretches to the Argyll mountains on the mainland, the Kintyre Peninsula in the west and even, if it is especially clear, the coast of Northern Ireland, some 44 miles (72km) to the south west.
(6.5 miles / 10km).
DAY 5 - CLAUCHLAND HILLS, GLENASHDALE FALLS & GIANT'S GRAVES
In the morning we will doing a circular walk which will take us along the crest of the Clauchland Hills, a gentle range of forested hills just south of Brodick. After yesterday's exertions this will feel like easy walking! The summit ridge provides superb views of Goatfell and the Arran mountains to the north, whilst to the south Holy Isle has the appearance of a wizard's hat floating in the middle of Lamlash Bay.
After lunch we will head south for a hike to Glenashdale Falls, impressive waterfalls which look even better after heavy rain. After the falls we will continue along forest tracks to the Giants' Graves, ancient tombs built from huge boulders in Neolithic times.
(9 miles/14.5km).
DAY 6 - SANNOX TO LOCHRANZA
Our final day is a superb linear walk along Arran's north-east coast. Starting in the tiny settlement of Sannox, we will follow good paths all the way with the sea our constant companion as we head towards the island's most northerly point. There is much of interest along this route and beautiful views over to the neighbouring islands of Bute and Great & Little Cumbrae. After a short but not too difficult climb over a grassy ridge we will descend to Lochranza, one of Arran's prettiest villages, which comes complete with its own whisky distillery and dramatic medieval castle on the shores of the sea loch which gives the settlement its name.
(7.5 miles/12km)..
DAY 7 - DEPART
In the morning we will take the ferry back to Ardrossan from where regular trains will take you to Glasgow.
(please note that this schedule may be subject to change depending on weather conditions during the trip).
DAY 1 - TRAVEL TO ARRAN
We will meet at Ardrossan ferry terminal at 11:30am and take the lunchtime ferry over to Brodick. Trains depart for Ardrossan from Glasgow Central station every 30 minutes - the journey takes 45 minutes and takes you right to the ferry terminal.
In the afternoon we will spend a couple of hours hiking through beautiful woods and along forest tracks south of Brodick, a lovely route which will provide our first views of Arran's spectacular mountains.
(Walk details: 6 miles / 9.5km).
DAY 2 - KING'S CAVE & MACHRIE MOOR
For our first full day we will head down to the lovely village of Blackwaterfoot on Arran's south west coast. From here we will set off along a beautiful sandy beach before walking underneath the dramatic basalt columns at Drumadoon Point. Our route continues close to the sea, sometimes rocky, at other times through flower-rich meadows, until we eventually arrive at King's Cave. As well as being famous as the location where Robert the Bruce encountered his spider, this dramatic natural cave is home to some fascinating animal carvings, some of which are thought to date to pre-historic times. After a leisurely lunch we will explore more of this wonderful coastline before returning to Blackwaterfoot and driving to Machrie Moor, where we will be able to wander amongst the finest stone circles in southern Scotland.
(8 miles/15 km).
DAY 3 - BRODICK CASTLE & GLEN ROSA
One of the most enjoyable walks on the Isle of Arran is the loop around Brodick Castle and Glen Rosa. Starting from the centre of the village we will walk the old fisherman's path along the shoreline, admiring the wildflowers and seabirds, before heading up to Brodick Castle. Dating back to the 13th century but heavily rebuilt in 1844, this imposing Scots Baronial castle is surrounded by hundreds of acres of beautifully maintained gardens and a large, wooded country park. We will explore both, admiring the exotic plants and keeping an eye open for the red squirrels that live here, before hiking part way up Glen Rosa, Arran's most beautiful valley.
(7 miles / 11km).
DAY 4 - GOATFELL
A big day, today, as we hike up Goatfell, the highest peak on Arran. It's a long climb - 3.25 miles each way and 2,867ft / 874m of ascent - and we start from sea level, but it is worth the effort! Despite its height, Goatfell can be climbed by anyone with a decent basic level of fitness - like Ben Nevis it attracts all sorts and ages of walkers. You will be surprised at some of the people you see on the way up!
A good path rises steadily from Brodick Castle and takes us first up through attractive woodlands and then across open hillsides all the way to the summit. We will be taking it slowly, with plenty of time for rests, photographs or (if we are lucky) eagle watching. The views from the summit are some of the finest in Scotland and take you into the heart of one of our most dramatic mountain ranges. Beyond the spectacular granite cliffs of the Arran hills the view stretches to the Argyll mountains on the mainland, the Kintyre Peninsula in the west and even, if it is especially clear, the coast of Northern Ireland, some 44 miles (72km) to the south west.
(6.5 miles / 10km).
DAY 5 - CLAUCHLAND HILLS, GLENASHDALE FALLS & GIANT'S GRAVES
In the morning we will doing a circular walk which will take us along the crest of the Clauchland Hills, a gentle range of forested hills just south of Brodick. After yesterday's exertions this will feel like easy walking! The summit ridge provides superb views of Goatfell and the Arran mountains to the north, whilst to the south Holy Isle has the appearance of a wizard's hat floating in the middle of Lamlash Bay.
After lunch we will head south for a hike to Glenashdale Falls, impressive waterfalls which look even better after heavy rain. After the falls we will continue along forest tracks to the Giants' Graves, ancient tombs built from huge boulders in Neolithic times.
(9 miles/14.5km).
DAY 6 - SANNOX TO LOCHRANZA
Our final day is a superb linear walk along Arran's north-east coast. Starting in the tiny settlement of Sannox, we will follow good paths all the way with the sea our constant companion as we head towards the island's most northerly point. There is much of interest along this route and beautiful views over to the neighbouring islands of Bute and Great & Little Cumbrae. After a short but not too difficult climb over a grassy ridge we will descend to Lochranza, one of Arran's prettiest villages, which comes complete with its own whisky distillery and dramatic medieval castle on the shores of the sea loch which gives the settlement its name.
(7.5 miles/12km)..
DAY 7 - DEPART
In the morning we will take the ferry back to Ardrossan from where regular trains will take you to Glasgow.
The holiday starts and ends in Ardrossan, a small harbour town some 26 miles / 42km south west of Glasgow. Trains run every 30 minutes from Glasgow Central Station to Ardrossan Harbour and take approximately 45 minutes. Train tickets can be booked at www.scotrail.com. Your guide will meet you outside the front of Ardrossan Harbour terminal building at 11:30am. The holiday ends when you arrive back at Ardrossan at the end of the trip. From the ferry terminal frequent trains will take you back to Glasgow.
What's Included: 6 nights accommodation, 5 days walking. Accommodation at good quality island guest houses*, with full Scottish or continental breakfasts; packed lunches; evening meals at local restaurants (note that lunch on the first and final days is not included).
All transport during the holiday and all ferry crossings. The services of an experienced walk leader.
Transport is provided by our comfortable, modern minibus.
What's Not Included: Food at any cafes we may visit. Entrance to any visitor attractions, including Brodick Castle. Alcoholic drinks. Restaurant tips. Travel insurance.
We will be staying in carefully selected guest houses. All rooms will have ensuite or private bathrooms. Single occupancy rooms are available at an additional cost of £160.
We may have to split the party up between several guest houses. However, we will be dining together each evening in local restaurants so there will be plenty of opportunities for socialising with the rest of the group.
All transport during the holiday and all ferry crossings. The services of an experienced walk leader.
Transport is provided by our comfortable, modern minibus.
What's Not Included: Food at any cafes we may visit. Entrance to any visitor attractions, including Brodick Castle. Alcoholic drinks. Restaurant tips. Travel insurance.
We will be staying in carefully selected guest houses. All rooms will have ensuite or private bathrooms. Single occupancy rooms are available at an additional cost of £160.
We may have to split the party up between several guest houses. However, we will be dining together each evening in local restaurants so there will be plenty of opportunities for socialising with the rest of the group.
Moderate / Challenging. This is one of our more energetic holidays. For holidays of this grade you will need to be capable of undertaking longer walks of up to 10 miles, though not all days will be this long. Most days will involve some ascent, though this will vary from day to day, with the hardest being the ascent of Goatfell (2,867ft / 874m). You also need to be confident walking away from paths on uneven terrain, over grassy and heathery hillsides.
Whilst this is one of our more difficult trips, it does not require endurance athlete levels of fitness! If you are capable of climbing some of the smaller peaks in the Lake District or Snowdonia and are happy walking away from paths over remote terrain you should be fine on this tour.
See our Grading Information page for more information about how we grade our holidays.
Whilst this is one of our more difficult trips, it does not require endurance athlete levels of fitness! If you are capable of climbing some of the smaller peaks in the Lake District or Snowdonia and are happy walking away from paths over remote terrain you should be fine on this tour.
See our Grading Information page for more information about how we grade our holidays.
This holiday is new for 2024 so there are no reviews yet. We will publish them here as they come in.