Argyll - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 108

Holy Island
The Holy Island boat runs May-Sept daily and more or less hourly, though it's subject to cancellations in windy weather • £11 return •
T 01770 600998, W holyisland.org
The best reason for coming to Lamlash is to visit the slug-shaped hump of Holy Island ,
which shelters the bay. The island is owned by a group of Tibetan Buddhists who have
established a long-term retreat at the lighthouse on the island's southern tip and built a
Peace Centre at the north end of the island. Providing you don't dawdle, it's possible to
scramble up to the top of Mullach Mór (1030ft), the island's highest point, and still
catch the last ferry back. En route, you might well bump into the island's most
numerous residents: feral goats, Eriskay ponies, Soay sheep and rabbits.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING

1

LAMLASH AND AROUND

Drift Inn In the centre of Lamlash Bay T 01770
600608. Despite its undistinguished exterior, the food at
this seafront pub - including smoked haddock Scotch egg
(£9.95) - and its convivial beer garden, make the Drift Inn
a fun place to hang out, plus there's live music at weekends.
Daily noon-midnight.
Glenisle Hotel In the centre of Lamlash Bay T 01770
600559, W glenislehotel.com. High-end and by no
means cheap option with thirteen gorgeous rooms, each

of which has been painted and furnished in colours that
reflect those of t he is land itself. Only the Superior rooms
have a sea view. £120
Lilybank In the centre of Lamlash Bay T 01770
600230, W lilybank-arran.co.uk. Just a few paces along
from the Glenisle , this sunny B&B is a typically welcoming
island guesthouse, offering six flo ral, pastel-coloured
rooms, four of which overlook the bay. £70

Whiting Bay
An established Clydeside resort for over a century now, Whiting Bay , four miles south
of Lamlash, is spread out along a very pleasant bay, though it doesn't have quite the
distinctive architecture of Lamlash. It is, however, a good base for walking, with the
gentle hike up to the Glenashdale Falls probably the most popular excursion; this
two-hour walk sets of from Ashdale Bridge at the southern end of the bay, for the
most part passing through pretty woodland. With more time, you can branch off this
path up to the Giant's Graves , a group of Neolithic chambered cairns. The walk is well
signposted from the bridge.
EATING WHITING BAY

The Coffee Pot Shore Rd T 01770 700382. This
unassuming white building on the corner of a residential
street is deservedly popular for its freshly baked baguettes

and home-made cakes, not to mention great coffee. Daily
10am-5pm.

Kildonan
Access to the sea is tricky along the south coast, but worth the effort, as the sandy
beaches here are among the island's finest. One place you can get down to the sea is at
Kildonan , an attractive small village south of Lamlash, set slightly of the main road,
with a good sandy beach, which you share with the local wildlife, and views out to the
tiny flat island of Pladda, with its distinctive lighthouse and, in the distance, the great
hump of Ailsa Craig.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING KILDONAN

Kildonan Hotel On the beachfront T 01770 820207,
W kildonanhotel.co.uk. Smart, sixteen-room country
hotel enjoying a prominent position right on the beach-
front; the restaurant is of a high st and ard too, with
unbeatable views from its patio terrace. £99
Sealshore Camping T 01770 820320, W campingarran

.com. Lovely, laidback family-owned campsite next to the
Kildonan with its own private beach. Facilities include
modern shower blocks, self-catering kitchen, lounge and
und ercov er BBQ area, plus there's an onsite shop. March-
Oct. £14 /pitch