Isle ❤ Arran

A great week in the isle of Arran. 

Sunday

After a looong drive up to get the ferry at Ardrossan, and a choppy crossing, arrived at  Bridgend Campsite, near Blackwaterfoot. A nice rural site in a central location.

Monday

Down to Blackwaterfoot for a nose around and a cup of tea. Then on to the start of the King's Cave walk. 

A good circular route to a cave rumoured to be 'the' Robert the Bruce and the spider cave. The outward route through dripping forests full of red toadstools and various fungus.

It was a steep climb down to a shingle shore and the cave. On the way back some walkers showed me the second cave full of stone towers - gorgeous.

The route back was along the clifftops, with great views and warm sun.

Drove on to the village of Pirmill for an ice cream and bought a print from Robert Stevens at his Goblach studio. Seals and cormorants on the way back home. 

Tuesday

Over to the main town of Brodick, had a slap-up lunch at Little Rock cafe, then joined the Mogabout tour for a trip on forest tracks to a huge waterfall drop at Glenashdale Falls and up to lofty Giant's Graves. 

Home in time for an evening beer down at Blackwaterfoot, staring at the sea.

Wednesday

Early drive up to Lochranza to join a Geopark walk with a geologist. We walked along the coast looking at schists (!) over to a famous feature called Hutton's Unconformity. We climbed up through Fairy Glen to walk back along the hilltop.

I didn't stop and Lochranza castle, but popped in to the distillery for some whisky, and baslamic-whisky dressing. Then it was a high fabulous road over the top and back down to the coast near Brodick. Picnic by the sea of venison salami, and then called in at Arran brewery and picked up some beer. 

Thursday

My last day. I went down to the cute Arran Heritage Museum life at Brodick, then on to a restaurant called Wineport for a luscious crab sandwich and glass of white, sitting out in the sun. 

From the pub garden I walked up to Brodick Castle gardens, and had a lovely time in a hide watching the red squirrels. Such sweet little faces. 

For the last of the day, I took a tour of the south on narrow roads, through Whiting Bay and Kildonan, where I could see Ailsa Craig on the horizon.

So much more to see, will definitely make a return trip.