Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRAN GOLF PASS
The
Arran Golf Pass
(
W
golfonarran.com) currently costs £99, which is remarkable value given
that it entitles you to a round on each of the island's seven courses; three 18-hole and three
9-hole courses, as well as the superb 12-hole course at Shiskine. You can buy the pass online or
at any of the seven clubs.
he town's shops and guesthouses are spread out along the south side of the bay,
along with the tourist o
ce and the CalMac pier. Its tourist sights, meanwhile,
are clustered on the west and north side of the bay, a couple of miles from the
ferry terminal.
Arran Heritage Museum
Rosaburn • April-Oct daily 10.30am-4.30pm • £3 •
T
01770 302636,
W
arranmuseum.co.uk
Up along the road to the castle, the intermittently interesting
Arran Heritage Museum
is housed in a whitewashed eighteenth-century crofter's farm, and contains an old
smiddy and a twee Victorian cottage with box-bed and range. In the old stables, the
main exhibition considers the island's intriguing geological and archeological heritage -
the most notable exhibit is an incredibly well-preserved early Bronze Age cist grave,
complete with intact food vessel - while another section recalls the island's
prominent wartime role, as testified by the dozen or so air crashes here during the
course of World War II.
4
Brodick Castle
Two and a half miles north of town, just off the A841 •
Castle
Daily April-Sept 11am-4pm • £12; NTS •
Gardens
Daily 9.30am-dusk •
£6.50;
T
0844 493 2152
Former seat of the duke of Hamilton,
Brodick Castle
is set on a steep bank on the north
side of Brodick Bay. he bulk of the castle was built in the nineteenth century, giving it
a domestic rather than a military look, and the interior is decidedly dour in tone,
though there are a few gems to look out for. Don't miss the portrait of the eleventh
duke's faithful piper, who injured his throat on a grouse bone, was warned never to
pipe again, but did so and died. here are also a handful of sketches by
Gainsborough
in the boudoir. Probably the most atmospheric room is the copper-filled Victorian
kitchen, which conjures up a vision of the sweated and sweating labour required to feed
the folk upstairs.
Much more attractive are the walled
gardens
and extensive grounds, a treasury of
exotic plants, trees and rhododendrons, which command a superb view across the bay.
here's an adventure playground for kids, but the whole area is a natural playground,
with waterfalls, a giant pitcher plant that swallows thousands of midges daily, and a
maze of paths. Buried in the grounds is a bizarre Bavarian-style
summerhouse
lined
entirely with pine cones, one of three built by the eleventh duke to make his wife,
Princess Marie of Baden, feel at home.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
BRODICK
By bus
The main bus station is by the ferry terminal.
Destinations
Blackwaterfoot (Mon-Sat 8-10 daily, 4 on
Sun; 30min); Kildonan (4-6 daily; 40min); Lamlash (Mon-
Sat hourly, 4 on Sun; 10-15min); Lochranza (3-5 daily;
45min); Whiting Bay (Mon-Sat hourly, 4 on Sun; 25min).
Tourist o
ce
By the CalMac
pier (Mon-Sat 9am-5pm,
also June-Sept Sun 10am-5pm;
T
01770 303776,
W
visitarran.net).
ACCCOMMODATION
Dunvegan Guest House
Shore Road
T
01770 302811,
W
dunveganhouse.co.uk.
Within striking distance of the
ferry terminal, this prominently positioned sandstone
guesthouse has a selection of bright, m
oder
n and
comfortable rooms, most with direct sea views.
£80
Ì
Glen Rosa
T
01770 302380,
W
arrancamping.co.uk.
