Arran Itinerary Highlights
25th September 2025
‘Scotland in miniature’ - the Isle of Arran, off the coast of Ayrshire, is one of the easiest Scottish islands to access due to its proximity to Glasgow and a regular ferry service. This enchanting island brings together everything that makes Scotland so special: rugged mountains, sweeping coastlines, ancient castles, whisky distilleries, charming villages, and an abundance of wildlife.
Arran is an excellent place to see Scotland’s ‘Big Five’ - red deer, red squirrels, golden eagles, otters, and harbour seals, particularly when travelling along the String Road (B880) in the autumn. If wildlife spotting is high on your Scotland bucket list, Arran should definitely be on your tour itinerary. We visit the island on our 7 Day Scottish Borders, Arran & Galloway Forest Park tour.
Arran has a circular road around the whole island (which you can cover in 2.5 hours if you don’t stop), so the best way to explore the island is by following the sights along the coastal loop. In this blog, we will take you through an itinerary that does exactly that, telling you about all of our favourite spots.
Most visitors arrive from Ardrossan on the mainland at Brodick Harbour, so we will begin our itinerary here and travel around this gorgeous little island clockwise, visiting the south of the island first.
The itinerary described will take you at least two days, so we recommend a stay in the unrivalled Auchrannie Resort - a stunning spa hotel with beautiful food served at the Cruize Restaurant, fantastic views, and luxurious accommodation options. Auchrannie Resort is in Brodick, where our tour starts, but there is a road running through the middle of Arran (the String Road mentioned above), so you can use that to save you driving the bottom half of the coastal road twice.
Brodick
Brodick is a fantastic base for your Arran adventure. There are plenty of delightful tourist shops to purchase souvenirs (or treats for yourself). The Arran Chocolate Factory and the Arran Cheese Shop are two of our favourite delicatessens in the whole of Scotland.
We will begin our Arran adventure at Brodick Castle and Gardens, both the castle and the surrounding estate are full of wonder. The 19th-century fortress is packed full of interesting artefacts and an interactive experience that immerses you in the lives of the castle's historical inhabitants. The castle grounds offer a fantastic mix of formal gardens with artistic ponds, contrasted with rugged woodland trails featuring waterfalls. Make sure you give yourself several hours to explore both inside and out.
Another fascinating sight in Brodick is the Isle of Arran Heritage Museum, which has been showcasing Arran’s rich history since 1976. Learn about the social history, archaeology, and geology of the island from the hard-working group of volunteers who run the museum.
After you’ve had your fill of Brodick, head south along the coastal road to see some of Arran’s best beaches.
Arran’s Beaches
There are plenty of beaches worth visiting on Arran’s south-east coast, but our two favourites are Lamlash Bay and Kildonan Beach. Lamlash offers excellent views across to Holy Isle - a tiny religious monastery island just off Arran’s coast. It is also a great place for wildlife spotting, with a vast array of fish, sea mammals, and bird species calling these waters home. If you love meeting local wildlife, you can visit the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) Discovery Centre, where you can book shore scrambles and snorkelling excursions, or simply enjoy their displays, which get you up close and personal with Arran’s sea creatures.
A little further along the road, you’ll find Kildonan Beach. Kildonan is a ‘Silver Sands’ beach and is one of the prettiest beaches on the island. It is a great place for seal spotting and has beautiful views over to the mainland.
That’s a lot of sights to work your way through already! You’ll be feeling a little parched…
Lagg Distillery
Island whiskies - is there anything better? Arran is home to two, and we would highly recommend both! If you follow our route, you’ll come to the Lagg Distillery first. While many Scottish distilleries are strong champions of upholding tradition, Lagg takes a more modern and innovative approach. Their motto is “We don't see whisky for what it was. We see it for what it could be.” and they even refer to themselves as ‘brand new’! A bold move in such a historic industry, but we love them for it!
Strong, peaty, and full of a wild mix of flavours, the taste of Lagg Whiskies absolutely fits their ethos. They offer guided tours of the distillery, which show you how their distinctive malts are made, followed by a tasting, which we are sure will have you considering making a purchase in their shop.
After a few wee drams, it’s time to start heading north along Arran's rugged west coast.
Machrie Moor Standing Stones
Not one, not two, but six ancient stone circles? Take us there! Machrie Moor is a sprawling archaeological site home to stone circles, standing stones, burial cairns, and hut circles, some of which date back 4,500 years. You can visit the various historical features on the site by following a 3-mile walk which takes around 90 minutes and offers views of Arran’s stunning mountain range on a clear day. There are information boards which explain what we know about the ancient history of the site.
Lochranza
Our penultimate itinerary highlight is Lochranza - a small town on the northern tip of the island. There is a ferry terminal here with a route over to Claonaig on the Kintyre Peninsula. Once you arrive, drive up to Lochranza’s ruined castle, which offers a very different visitor experience from the castle in Brodick. Wander through the airy ruins and enjoy views across the glistening waters to Kintyre.
After the castle, it’s time for another dram! Arran’s second distillery has a longer history than its southern counterpart, but it is still fairly new by industry standards, having began distilling in 1995. However, Lochranza’s Arran Whisky draws on the legacy of the many small stills which peppered the island during the 1800s, making tasty and unique whiskies.
The guides at the Lochranza Distillery are extremely knowledgeable, and tours here are an interesting and educational experience. The tastings at the end are the highlight of course, and while we rate their single malts very highly, it is their cream liqueur, the Arran Gold, that leaves a lasting memory on our taste buds. This warm, rich, creamy liqueur is a real experience and the perfect souvenir to take home and enjoy on a cold winter’s evening.
If you are feeling peckish, head to CASKS Café within the distillery. They serve lunch and light snacks made up of local ingredients produced by brands that you will likely have spotted as you were driving around the island.
Now time to make our way south back towards Brodick, we have one final stop before we wrap up our tour of Arran.
Goatfell
I know what you are thinking... How could there be anything else left to see on this little island? Arran didn’t get the nickname “Scotland in miniature” for nothing! And our final destination is perhaps the most spectacular sight on the island - the towering mountain of Goatfell and the surrounding peaks.
Arran’s mountains can be viewed from many points across the island, including a viewpoint at Brodick Country Park. You’ll see right away that getting to the top is no easy feat! If you do feel up to the hike, you’ll need to factor an extra day into your itinerary.
The main path starts back in Brodick at Cladach Visitor Centre, and the 6.5-mile return route takes up to 6 hours for experienced hillwalkers. There is a good path for the majority of the way to the summit, meaning this is a manageable hike for those with good fitness in the summer months. However, it is important to check the weather ahead of your walk - Scotland’s mountains may seem small, but they should not be underestimated. We wouldn’t recommend that you attempt this hike in winter or early spring unless you have experience of trekking in winter conditions.
Touring the Island of Arran
The island of Arran invites you to slow down, breathe in the sea air, and discover a place rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. In just a few days, you can climb mountains, wander through ancient ruins, sample island whisky, and watch seals basking along the shore. Arran offers a little taste of everything that makes Scotland so magical, all wrapped up in one accessible and welcoming island.
If you’d love to visit this magical little island, check out our 7 Day Scottish Borders, Arran & Galloway Forest Park tour. Or get in touch to find out more about our tours of Scotland.
