Scotland walking break
Walking on the Isle of Arran

Explore one of Scotland's most beautiful islands with this 7 day walking holiday to the Isle of Arran - "Scotland in Miniature" - a beautiful mountainous island in the Clyde Estuary between the Scottish mainland and the Mull of Kintyre.

Often referred to as "Scotland in Miniature", this small island captures many aspects of the variety and beauty of Scotland, from sculptured granite mountains in the north to tranquil sandy bays and rich gardens in the south.

Trip Summary
The island also has an abundance of wildlife, especially seabirds and seals but also deer, otters and even eagles. There are coastal caves and trails, high mountain walks and spectacular views over the surrounding islands, the Highlands on the mainland and even the Antrim coast of Ireland. For anyone unfamiliar with this island let us convince you that it has everything the Scottish Highlands have to offer!

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 (Sunday): Travel to Arran, and walk the ‘Cock of Arran’.
Departure from Edinburgh at 9.30am and travel to Ardrossan on the west coast to catch the 12.30pm ferry to the island. The crossing takes about 1 hour, just enough time to relax and take in your first views of the island - a dramatic skyline with Goatfell holding pride of place and 16 century Brodick Castle watching over our approach.

After a short picnic lunch we drive to Lochranza in the north of the island with its picturesque 14 century castle (formerly a Royal hunting lodge). Here a path heads off round the north east point of Arran – the Cock of Arran – for a coastal walk that is one of the very best on the island. The ocean here is being visited more regularly now by Minke Whales and basking sharks – so keep your eyes peeled! The return route takes us over the back of the peninsula, opening up further the views to the mainland.

(7.5m/12km, 320m/850ft, tracks and paths, some rough walking, 4-5hrs)

After checking into our accommodation we will meet for dinner, when we will have the opportunity to discuss further our plans for the week.

Day 2 (Monday): Goat Fell
We have a full day's mountain walking today, with an ascent of Goat Fell - the highest mountain on the Island. The ascent starts near the picturesque village of Corrie, and follows cascading mountain streams up a well marked path to the summit. Views open up through 360’, and this is a superb place to linger – picking out the mountains of the Scottish mainland 80km/50 miles and more away, and in the opposite direction, tracing the northern coastline of Ireland. We continue along the ridge to North Goat Fell, either by easy paths or via some interesting pinnacles! A simple descent returns us back down to Corrie.

(6.5m/10km, 874m/2850ft, good trail, 7 hrs)

Day 3 (Tuesday): The Sleeping Warrior - Beinn Nuis and Beinn Tarsuinn
These summits form a clearly visible skyline known as the "Sleeping Warrior” which you will have already spied from the ferry on the way over to the island. Starting near Brodick, we firstly walk into the beautiful Glen Rosa, before turning uphill to Coire a Bhradain around which our three summits for the day form a superb horseshoe. Once the initial summit of Beinn Nuis is gained, there is some superb and straightforward high level ridge walking, with incredible views to the corries below. Part way round look out for the ‘Old Man of Tarsuinn’, a natural rock formation resembling a head staring stonily out over the corrie!

(10m/16km, 980m/3270ft, tracks and mountain paths, 7-8 hrs)

Day 4 (Wednesday): Machrie Moor Stone Circles.
This is an easy day with a trip to see these amazing Neolithic and Bronze Age relics. The moor is on the west side of the Island – geographically very different than the mountainous country of our previous two days - and the site has a unique atmosphere. This is an ideal location for taking lots of photographs, or simply the place for quiet introspection.

(Level walking, 2m/3km, good tracks and paths)

Other possibilities for today abound – a short walk to King’s Cave perhaps, or if the group has more energy to burn off, a boat trip to Holy Isle to climb the diminutive, but gloriously positioned hill, Mullach Mor (314m/1030ft)

Day 5 (Thursday): Coire Fhoinn Lochain and Beinn Bhreac.
We are back on the west side of the Island today, but further north at Thundergay, and following a gurgling and cascading burn up to the idyllic Corrie Fhion Lochain. It will be impossible to pass the shingle beaches of the lochan without stopping for a rest, a paddle, or even a swim! We move off north around the corrie and on to Bheinn Bhreac – at 711m (2350ft) this is another excellent vantage point, giving open views west to the Mull of Kintyre, with the distinctive shapes of the Paps of Jura in the distance. We return to the lochan by way of Meall Biorach and pick up our outward route back to our transport.

(6m/10km, 700m/2320ft, good paths, some rough and steep ground, 6 hrs)

Day 6 (Friday): Caisteal Abhail and Cir Mhor.
These are two very distinctive and very different peaks. Caisteal Abhail is crowned by several tors of granite blocks that offers the opportunity for some optional scrambling. Cir Mhor is capped by a short steep rocky pyramid with easy scrambling to reach the small, airy summit platform. The ascent route to Caisteal Abhail is a superb easy angled walk along the curved lip of the giant bowl that is Garbh Corrie, and it is linked to Cir Mhor by a similar corrie rim. There is a short steep descent into Glen Sannox for our final walk out of the week.

(9m/14km, 990m/3270ft, mountain paths, sometimes steep with minor scrambling, 8-9 hrs)

Day 7 (Saturday): Travel to Edinburgh.
We leave Arran on the 11.05 am Ferry, arriving back in Edinburgh around 2.30 pm. We will be happy to drop you off at the Airport, or in central Edinburgh.

Accommodation and Meals
Your accommodation for this weekend is in homely bed and breakfast/guest house. Evening meals are not included for this tour however we have arranged for the group to eat together in a local restaurant each night.

Grading of Walks
The hiking throughout this weekend we class as “moderate” to “challenging” – suitable for people of reasonable fitness who enjoy walking or the outdoors but who needn’t necessarily have any previous hiking experience.

Walks each day are between 6-9 hours and involve mountain ascents in the order of 750-990 metres (2500 – 3300 ft) and distances covered of between 6 - 11miles (9-18km). Some rough ground and rugged terrain should be expected. As always, your enjoyment of the trip is paramount and if you have any doubts as to your suitability for the trip just ask!  Please Read our grading guide here.

You can book your trip online now! If you need more information, please do contact us.