Southern Scotland - Scotland - page 319

able rooms decked out in pink. The showers are pleasingly powerful, and the double and
twin at the front (room Nos 1 and 10) have super views. Rooms are a bit overpriced, but
they get cheaper if you stay more than one night.
WEST COAST
On the western side of the island is the Machrie Moor Stone Circle , a pleasant 20 to 30
minute stroll from the parking area on the coastal road. There are actually several separate
groups of stones of varying sizes, erected around 4000 years ago. You pass a Bronze Age
burial cairn along the path.
Blackwaterfoot is the largest village on the west coast; it has a shop and hotel. You can
walk to King's Cave from here, via Drumadoon Farm - Arran is one of several islands
that claim the cave where Robert the Bruce had his famous arachnid encounter. This walk
can easily be extended to the Machrie stones.
SOUTH COAST
The landscape in the southern part of the island is much gentler; the road drops into little
wooded valleys, and it's particularly lovely around Lagg . There's a 10-minute walk from
Lagg Hotel to Torrylinn Cairn , a chambered tomb over 4000 years old. Kildonan has
pleasant sandy beaches, a gorgeous water outlook, a hotel, a campground and an ivy-clad
ruined castle.
In Whiting Bay you'll find small sandy beaches and the Arran Art Gallery (
01770-700250; www.arranartgallery.com ; Shore Rd) , which has exquisite landscape por-
traits of Arran. From Whiting Bay there are easy one-hour walks through the forest to the
Giant's Graves and Glenashdale Falls , and back - keep an eye out for golden eagles and
other birds of prey.
Sleeping & Eating
HOTEL
Kildonan Hotel££
( 01770-820207; www.kildonanhotel.com ; Kildonan; s/d/ste £75/99/135; )
Luxurious rooms and a grounded attitude - dogs and kids are made very welcome - com-
bine to make this one of Arran's best options. Oh, and it's right by the water, with fab-
ulous views and seals basking on the rocks. The standard rooms are beautifully furnished
and spotless, but the suites - with private terrace or small balcony - are superb. Other at-
tractions include great staff, a bar serving good grub, a restaurant doing succulent seafood,
an ATM, book exchange, and laptops lent to guests if you didn't bring one. Applause.