Arran Coastal Way

We offer three itineraries on the Arran Coastal Way ranging from 4 to 7 days walking, which are detailed on the right. Each itinerary is made up of the following sections. 

Section 1: Brodick to Sannox – 8 miles – 13 km

The start of your walk and you have two options. The coastal option follows the road north out of town while the inland route heads up the slopes of Goatfell. If you are feeling energetic I would recommend the inland route as the views are superb.

Section 2: Sannox to Lochranza – 9 miles – 15 km

This is one of the loveliest sections of the walk although the final section round the Cock of Arran does involve some scrambling over boulders which can be tricky after a long day. Lochranza is a beautiful sleepy village and you will often see deer coming into the village in the evening.

Section 3: Lochranza to Machrie – 14 miles – 22 km

You follow the coastal road for most of this section. But don’t worry the roads are very quiet and the scenery is spectacular. Look out for the Lighthouse in Pirnmill which does fantastic food and coffee. If you are finishing the stage in Machrie you will have to catch a local bus to Blackwaterfoot.

Section 4: Machrie to Blackwaterfoot – 4 miles – 6 km

This section of the walk is laden with history spanning a rather long period of time.  Firstly there is a short detour of a couple of miles from Machrie that will take you up to see the Standing Stones on Machrie Moor, a very worthwhile diversion.  When back on the route proper your next era of history is a little more modern with the spectacular Kings Cave where Robert the Bruce is reported to have stayed on his journeys to Ireland.  You are then thrown back in time with Triassic dinosaur footprints and 60 million year old cliffs before coming to 2000 year old Doon Fort and then walking down into Blackwaterfoot for your nights rest.   

Section 5: Blackwaterfoot to Lagg – 8 miles – 12 km

Todays walk has some of the more difficult terrain on the whole trip and should be walked with caution.  Leaving Lagg with some great views over Drumadoon Bay the path starts to become slightly more trecherous with boulder hopping and some overgrown sections of walking.  Halfway through the day the volcanic plug that is the iconic Ailsa Craig comes into view and is your companion until you reach the comfort and hospitality of the Lagg Hotel. 

Section 6: Lagg to Whiting Bay  – 10 miles – 16 km

Again this section of the Arran Coastal Way is rather difficult going, meaning that you have to cross several rock falls and at certain times of year the path becomes overgrown and difficult to navigate. We have devised an alternative route from Torrylinn Creamery in Kilmory up through forrestry paths and down into Whiting Bay which may appeal after the walking the day before. There are still glorious views of the Ailsa Craig, but the walking is much more pleasant. Either path brings you into Whiting Bay which is one of the larger settlements on the island with a good choice of shops and restaurants for dinner.

Section 7: Whiting Bay to Brodick – 14 miles – 22 km

There are many highlights on this last section of the walk.  Firstly upon departing from Whiting Bay you can climb up to see the Giant's Graves, neolithic graves which pre-date the Egyptian Pyramids.  Also along this side trip you can rest for a while and view the glorious Glenashdale Falls.  After this diversion a quick walk through an iron age fort brings you onto a pleasant path to Lamlash.  This is the final section of your circumnavigation and you are rewarded with some fantastic views of the north Arran hills. There has been some development on this section of the trail recently so please follow the way marking as appropriate.

Accommodation

The hotels, inns, guesthouses and B&B’s we use are hand-picked to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. All offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local food. We do recommend that you book this trip early as the area is always popular and the hotels and inns do fill up early, especially in high season.  Below you will find a list of the accommodation we regularly use which will give you a good idea of the standard of accommodation we use. 

Single Rooms

This independent walking holiday is available to solo walkers but as all our holidays are priced per person based on two sharing there is a single supplement payable to cover the additional costs we incur. If you require single rooms within your party we will of course try to accommodate your request subject to availability.

Meals

Breakfast is included each morning while lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Your accommodation will be more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival, alternatively your guidebook also includes details of local shops and convenient lunch stops on the way. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby pubs and restaurants and your info pack will of course have recommendations.

Baggage Transfer

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 15kg per person.

Additional Nights

Many of our clients choose to add extra nights along the walk and these can be added at the time of booking. 

 

 

 

Bed & Breakfast

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Belvedere House - Brodick

Enjoying a picture postcard view across Brodick Bay towards Goat Fell, the tallest mountain on the Isle of Arran. Accommodation is comfortable, yet informal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bed & Breakfast

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Kincardine Lodge - Lochranza

Kincardine Lodge, built in 1908 by a sea captain, still retains many of its original features with two stunning fireplaces of the “Arts and Crafts” era and today has been transformed into a lovely guesthouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hotel

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Lochranza Hotel- Lochranza

The Lochranza Hotel stands amidst this timeless village and has a spectacular panoramic view across the bay One of Arran's original hotels; The Hotel is tastefully decorated throughout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bed & Breakfast

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Blackwaterfoot Lodge - Blackwaterfoot

The hotel is named after the village in which it is located, no more than 50 yards from the picturesque Blackwaterfoot harbour and a five minute stroll from the long and wide sandy beach bordering the unique 12 hole links of Shiskine golf course

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bed & Breakfast

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The Greannan - Blackwaterfoot

The Greannan is situated in an elevated position with panoramic views over the village of Blackwaterfoot and the Shiskine Valley

 

 

 

 

 

 

Country Hotel

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Lagg Hotel - Lagg

Lagg Hotel has thirteen bedrooms, including two single and two family rooms, two dining rooms, a residents lounge, sun lounge and lounge bar. Log fires blaze throughout the public areas with the homely smell of burning logs to welcome guests in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bed & Breakfast

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Invermay - Whiting Bay

A stunning Art Deco shorefront guest house overlooking beautiful sandy beaches situated in the heart of Whiting Bay, Invermay offers extremely comfortable accommodation and wholesome breakfasts together with breathtaking views of Holy Isle and the Ayrshire coast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest House

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Isle of Arran Brewery Guesthouse - Whiting Bay

The newly refurbished guesthouse sits in the heart of Whiting Bay and offers great comfort and service along with a plethora of the delightful ales brewed by them. Red Squirrel ale comes highly recommended by Macs Adventure.

 

 

 

Getting to/from Brodick on the Isle of Arran

Arran is easily accessible from Glasgow, which is one of the reasons it is so popular. From Glasgow catch the train and then ferry to reach Arran within a few hours.  

By Air:

Glasgow is served by two international airports. Prestwick airport is the most convenient for Arran and is only a 20 minute taxi journey to the ferry terminal at Ardrossan. Glasgow airport is 8 miles south of the city centre and approximately one hour by taxi to Ardrossan.

By Road:

Ardrossan is one hour south of Glasgow and there is a large secure car park where you can leave your car during your time on Arran.

By Rail:

There are regular services from Glasgow Central Station to Ardrossan which connect with the ferry to Arran.

Should you be arriving into Prestwick airport you can take the train from the airport and change at Kilwinning to get to Ardrossan

Ferry:

The Ferry which runs between Ardrossan and Brodick is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne and you will find a ferry timetable on the Calmac website.

Planning a long distance walking trip can be daunting, especially if this is your first long distance walking holiday. We are often asked the following questions and I hope that you will find the answers useful.

How fit do I need to be?

We offer a number of different itineraries on the Arran Coastal Way and you can choose one that includes daily distances that you are comfortable with. 

How far in advance do I need to book?

We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as The Isle of Arran is extremely popular especially over bank holidays and from May - August. You will find up to date availability on our website and we will always try and accommodate your plans.

What personal equipment do I need?

You will need good walking shoes/boots (ideally waterproof), comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack and hats/gloves etc. You can download a full equipment list from the downloads page of our website.

When is the best time of year?

Traditionally April/May has always been the most popular time of year because the theory goes that the weather is better. Although I believe any time between late March and October offers a wonderful experience.

Am I able to take my dog?

Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate walkers with dogs as many of the accommodation providers we use do not accept pets.

What happens if I can’t walk a stage?

Local buses run round the island regularly and you can use these to skip a stage if you wish.

The Arran Coastal Way is available to start on any date from March to October. To make a provisional reservation select "Book" for the itinerary you are interested in.

Option prices will be displayed as part of the booking process.

Because every Arran Coastal Way holiday we book is unique availability changes from day to day and our booking process works as follows:

• You provisionally book the tour you are interested in for your preferred dates and pay a 20% deposit online or by phone.
• We confirm availability and book all your accommodation and options and send final confirmation as soon as everything is confirmed (max 5 working days).
• If we are unable to accommodate you on your confirmed dates/tour or an alternative of your choice your deposit is fully refunded.